can't get rid of string buzz on JS10th

SilverSurfer2 · #1 01-05-2003, 06:21 PM

I'm having a hard time getting rid of 1st, 2nd, 3rd fret buzz on the 1, 2, 5, and 6 strings on my Js10th. When i got it new, the action was incredibly low and there were NO string buzzes anywhere. Now i've got a lot of string buzzing going on especially in the lower fret registers mentioned above.....and on the 2nd string in the high frets(20-22.....it chokes out a tad also when i bend up there).
First of all, i straightened the neck and then heightened the bridge to where there is no buzz. (the action is way too high when all the buzzing goes away.....and there is no way i can play the guitar with that kind of action!)

I then tightened the truss to give a little backbow because i noticed that the neck had a forward bow. I tightened it to improve the action in the middle of the fretboard. Then i tried lowering the bridge as low as possible without allowing fret buzz, except maybe a couple buzzes only on the low E, as i'll accept that. The action at this point is still too high, not like it was when i got it new.

I tried readjusting the neck and height again....but i cannot get the action the way it was when it came to me brand new.

What must be done to get rid of the buzz at the 1, 2, 3 frets and 20-22 of the second string??

Do i have to readjust the nut height? Put some shims at the bridge? File the 1,2, 3 frets where the buzzing occurs??

Another thing i wonder is.......if the Js neck is multiradiused and the nut is one radius......doesnt this prevent lower action at the low frets??
What is the nut radius anyways? and what is the radius at the nut end and butt end of the fingerboard??

Any help would help!

SilverSurfer

SilverSurfer2 · #2 01-05-2003, 06:22 PM

Oh, i forgot to mention that i checked for any loose fret ends.......and i didnt find any.......especially where the buzzing occurs.

Silver

Rich · #3 01-05-2003, 06:29 PM

Loosen the truss rod again to get rid of the low fret buzz. Raising the nut will only affect open string choking on the first fret.

SilverSurfer2 · #4 01-05-2003, 11:17 PM

I tried loosening the truss rod again.....but the buzz is still there, but then the action gets higher in the middle again. When i raise the bridge height....it always ends up too high when the buzz goes away. When i get the action low to where it was when i got it new......i can't rid of the buzzing no matter how much i loosen or tighten the truss rod. Maybe i just need to file the first few frets where it is buzzing??

how much of a forward or backbow is considered too much already? I don't want to loosen or tighten the truss rod too much to where it is not good for the neck.

SilverSurfer

chromeboy · #5 01-06-2003, 11:04 AM

Since you've tried already, I would definitely have it professionally set up at this point. If I were you I wouldn't want to keep messing with it.

Just my $.02.

Rich · #6 01-06-2003, 01:08 PM

I'd second that

Predator · #7 01-06-2003, 04:01 PM

Yeah... I be ****in' with the action on my ax for the past couple of weeks now... Maybe I should get some pro-help on this one aswell.

I discovered a 2" long scratch on the high end of the neck and I hope it was from me scratching it with my pick or something. I adjusted the thrus rod a few times last couple of weeks, can that cause scratches and crackles?

SilverSurfer2 · #8 01-06-2003, 06:54 PM

I noticed that there are no shims on my chromeboys edge......but my other Js1000 guitars have shims. I wonder if putting some shims would help match the radius of the nut more......especially on the low E side.

All i know is that the only guitar luthier here will charge me an arm and a leg to work on it.......but i guess a lot of you guys would say it's worth it.

I'd rather pay for lessons on how to do it myself

Rich · #9 01-06-2003, 07:15 PM

?????

NO shims?!

SilverSurfer2 · #10 01-06-2003, 08:22 PM

I was surprised that there were no shims on my chromie. I just noticed it lastnight.....you think that may cause my problems Rich??

Rich · #11 01-06-2003, 08:47 PM

Acording to you it was fine when you got it so I doubt that's the cause of your current problem. Having said that, get it radiused!

SilverSurfer2 · #12 01-06-2003, 08:48 PM

I just took another look and i think it does appear to have shims.....all the saddles have shims except the 1st and 6th......just like my other Js guitars. So i guess i was wrong! It was just less noticeable on my chrome than the other ones. I think my frets in the lower registers need a fret dress......cuz i can see slight wear.....like a gouge starting to form at the 2nd and 3rd string on frets one and two.....and i think this could be causing the buzzing when i fret notes in that area. I'm going to try dressing the frets and see what happens.

Socialite · #13 01-07-2003, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predator

Yeah... I be ******' with the action on my ax for the past couple of weeks now...

Me too! But it seems that I finally got the action right, for now.
It would be nice just take the guitar to a tech to be set up correctly but hey I'm from Finland and since I'm living in a small town far way from capital city, it's rather difficult to find a good guitar tech nearby...

SilverSurfer2 · #14 01-07-2003, 06:30 PM

Rich, what is the lowest action (in mm) you can get on Js10th's above the 12th fret (for all the strings)......without string buzz?? I just need to know if i'm just trying for too low of action or what. All i know is that when the buzzing is gone after heightening the bridge and tweaking the truss......the action is too high especially from the 12th fret and up.

SilverSurfer

Rich · #15 01-07-2003, 06:40 PM

That would all depend on YOUR right hand. If you hammer hard you'll pull way more buzz than somebody with a light touch. I never really use a 12th fret measurement because it's too dependent on the bow profile of that particualr neck, which also makes any measurement erronious. But, at the 22nd low E at 2mm high E around 1.8. It's setup for non choking big bends on the high E between the 15th and 20th.