string buzzing and bad sustain

[callen3615]

hey guys, i got a few questions about my js100. the action is set up around 2mm @ the 22 fret and i have some buzz around the 9-14 fret area. I checked the neck relief and its has very little. (enough where I could barely get a piece of paper under it) I have slinkies on it 9s i think. Do i need to shim the nut or raise the bridge? I dont want the action much higher than it already is, and I dont want to change gauges. thanks

[S-man]

Sounds like you need more relief.

[Foulacy]

mmmm buzz in the 9-14th doesn't generally mean you need more relief. usually the buzz starts in the lower frets and as you add relief it dissappears or moves up the neck. Relief usually ends at the 14th area. you can try more relief and see what it does but it could just make playing up near the 12th fret miserable. poor sustain on the other hand is not a good thing which leads me to believe the frets need to be leveled.

[callen3615]

hope not. i dont think the guitar is worth that.

[callen3615]

unless i can do it myself...i have a file and some free time.

[Foulacy]

yea you can do it yourself but it will take some time to crown the frets by hand without a crowning file. search craigslist and see if there's someone offering to do it for a low price.

[Factory5150]

That is definetly an uneven fret problem, or maybe a few frets came loose. I have nearly every tool for fretting in the stew mac catalog. To be honest, what works best for me with leveling/crowning is:



and



About 30.00 worth of tools give plus the cost of sandpaper. I truly believe making the investment is worth it to make your instrument play as best as it can. I would suggest getting a straight edge along with a fretting book as well if you plan on doing this yourself. Good luck and have fun!