Can't seem to get rid of fret buzz - help me please

[ketiov]

I want to avoid getting the guitar setup at a shop, because at the moment it is the only one I've got. I was told the setup could take a day, or it could take a week. I don't want to be stuck without a guitar for that long!

Anyway, I can't play a chord without buzzing. There's just way too much buzz, and it can all be heard through the amp as well. It also seems to kill sustain and artificial harmonics.

The action isn't very low - 2/16ths of an inch on the bass side and 1/16th on the treble side at the nut, and 3/16ths bass and 2/16ths treble near the end of the fretboard. Mind you this is off the fretboard, not the actual fret.

I think a shim is needed under the nut anyway, because the B string (well G in my case) buzzes slightly even without being fretted. However, I don't see this solving my problem when the fretted buzzing happens even on the first few frets.

I'm pretty sure the neck is straight. I spent a week getting it straight, and now I gave it a tiny bit of relief to try and solve the buzzing issue, but to no avail.

I would think that raising the bridge would help my problem, but it feels like the action is pretty high already.

I'm tuned to C standard with EB Beefy Slinkines 11-54 gauge. The string are pretty taught, and I'm confident that floppy strings are not to blame for the buzzing.




I appreciate any help anyone can offer. If anyone thinks they could use pictures of something to determine the problem, you're more than welcome to ask for them! If it has potential to help my problem, it's no hassle for me to do it.

Thanks in advance!

[Pursuit]

Can you tell us what the guitar model is and include what bridge type it is (or a photo - either will be ok).

You said that the action seemed high enough already... but you're tuned to C Standard. Try tuning the guitar to normal A-440 tuning (from low to high: E-A-D-G-B-E), then see if it still buzzes.

[Orochimaru]

You have to set-up the trus rod in the neck. That one is the most important. Sometimes the guitars need some extra relief.
Then you have to adjust the action acording to that.

Hope the next link helps you.

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/buzzing.htm

If this does not work it out then you have to level the frets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-l0Cg9Vs8U

LOL! It's a bit wierd and scary but the man knows what he's doing.

Few indications about how you should do that fret leveling.

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/le...s/Jul-06/22006

Anyway the best thing to do is to pay a professional. That job is really difficult and you could mess the whole fretboard.

[ketiov]

Originally Posted by Pursuit

Can you tell us what the guitar model is and include what bridge type it is (or a photo - either will be ok).

You said that the action seemed high enough already... but you're tuned to C Standard. Try tuning the guitar to normal A-440 tuning (from low to high: E-A-D-G-B-E), then see if it still buzzes.

1990 S540 with an original Edge.

I can try to tune to E standard, but even when it was tuned to that with normal gauge strings there was buzz all over. The high gauge I have now counters the lower tuning, and the tension is more or less the same.

Originally Posted by Orochimaru

You have to set-up the trus rod in the neck. That one is the most important. Sometimes the guitars need some extra relief.
Then you have to adjust the action acording to that.

It originally had a ton of relief in it (and a lot of buzz). I then made it flat, but it still had buzzing. I gave it a bit of relief because I thought maybe it had backbow, but that didn't help either. It does have relief, however.

If I do need a fret level, then I'll just take it to a tech. I already know of at least two places that have been recommended as having great techs.

Thanks for the help guys!

[Pursuit]

[quote=ketiov;883316]1990 S540 with an original Edge.[quote]

An Edge ay?

Hmmm. Not quite sure how those ones work when it comes to action and all, but you said action didn't seem to be the problem.

Mysterious.........

[andrewsfury]

bet you need shim under neck where nit goes into body .also a shim under nut will make it feel like your grabbing train tracks. try to get the proper negative relief in yur neck if it dont wotk put a shim under the neck pocket.