Buzzing on the first fret - How can I fix it

[Vai the god of Sound]

On the new Jem that I'm buying, it has buzzing on all of the strings on the first fret.

I haven't been able to adjust anything yet because it isn't mine (yet). But I've looked at a few factors such as action, truss rod adjustment, and fret dressing... and even raising the nut a bit.

Will any of these work?

[ScottB]

You need to answer a few questions first:

1.) By "new" Jem, do you mean new from a music store, or used or second hand , but "new" to you only. If you're buying a brand new Jem from an authorized Ibanez dealer, they should do a proper setup and remove any buzzing before you accept it.

2.) If the buzzing only occurs when you fret the strings at the first fret, your problem is most likely a high second fret which the strings are buzzing against. If this is the case, changing the nut height won't help because once you fret a string, the nut is out of the vibration path. The second fret needs to be lowered and level with the others.

3.) If the buzzing occurs with the strings in the open position, and they are hitting at the first fret, a nut shim could help.

[Two hands31]

I agree, hopefully a good setup should help. *And the guitar shop should do that for you. *

[Vai the god of Sound]

sorry, I should't have said new...

I got the same suggestion as to shim the nut...how do I do this?

[AC1Chuck]

Actually I popped in here to drop the same topic..

For me, its the second fret. *First on my blue flake RG570, now on my JEM7VWH, theres a small indent forming below the G and B strings on the fret itself. *I'm just a hobby player and am not sick enough to do fret dressing myself... I was wondering if other guys and gals have the same problem or am I just too hard on the strings?

Thanks all-
Chuck

[Project Guitar]

A little about Neck Shim's Here.

[kcuhc91270]

I have the same prob on my rg7620mostly on the g and a little on the dbut this may sound odd ,but the b seems tovibrate differently when the locks are tight in the middle of the nut was grinded a little by a tech to keep the strings touching the channelthere is another prob when I fret higher on the b it buzzesnear the second fret I thinkannoying mostly but the buzz when it is open and locked down comes thru the amp sounds like crap too and I understand when tuned down a half step the lower the action = more buzz the action on all strings is good and the others sound fine I was thinking about getting a new nut and some small shims what do you think???????

[littlegreenman]

If it's only buzzing on the first fret (open strings) then all you need is to shim the lock nut up a little tiny bit, like maybe .010" to .015". *it's just sitting a little low and your strings are buzzing off the first fret. *If when you fret the first fret, you are still getting a buzz, then you may need to either raise the action at the bridge, or loosen your truss rod off a little bit. *I don't see the need for a neck shim really, just a nut shim, or a neck adjustment or bridge adjustment.

[kcuhc91270]

loosening does that mean straightening =tightening or put more bow on it

[littlegreenman]

To tighten the truss rod would put more back bow into it, or, like tightening a bolt, it puts more tension in. *Loosening means to turn counter clockwise, or like undoing a bolt, this allows the string tension to pull the neck forward, or, flatten the neck,or increase the front bow. *

[kcuhc91270]

thanks I'll give it a shot.