Guitar Technicians/Luthiers In London??????

robbiedp · #1 03-21-2005, 02:15 PM

Does anyone know of a RELIABLE, and GOOD guitar tech that will set my guitar up properly for me in the London area??? Someone you may have used yourself that will do a great job of setting everything on my 7VWH???

Anywhere in London or just a bit outside would be fine?? Everyone I go to seems to know nothing about setting up Edge pro trems, and says that fret buzz along a majority of the low E string is relatively normal!!!!!

Why are there so many cowboys out there?

I dont care how much it costs, I just want my guitar to play well!!!

Help Please!!!

Rob

Tom Gilroy · #2 03-21-2005, 02:19 PM

Fret buzz along the low E is normal.

robbiedp · #3 03-21-2005, 02:27 PM

Are you sure bro???

I swear I have played other Jems where there is no fret buzz at all really??
Maybe its just me??

If so do other people get this??? Please make me feel better!!!

Thanks

Tom Gilroy · #4 03-21-2005, 07:18 PM

Some guitars have it and some don't. It doesn't make a difference plugged in and so long as that the buzz is so bad that it kills the note instantly (which is a problem) so that you have no sustain you should be fine. I've never seen an electric guitar with zero fret buzz and I wouldn't mind if I never do, because you can't completely eliminate it. Look at the tech section of this site for info on setup but don't get too worried about it. And STAY AWAY FROM THE TRUSS ROD. This is very risky and should be the last thing to look at doing, definitely not the first. And even then a tech should do that, and unless they're just muppets they'll know about what to do. SHIMMING is a far better option (sticking a small width between the body and the neck). This is perfecty safe. Just take off the neck (safe so long as it isn't impacted when removed) and add the shim. Trial and error should get this near perfect for you. But DON'T WORRY because the set up that suits you best might involve some buzz in some or even most frets. CONCLUSION: If you are getting enough sustain and you're happy with the action then a little fret is completely NORMAL, especially on the low E. Hope that helps!

robbiedp · #5 03-21-2005, 07:33 PM

Yeah it did!!!

Thanks alot Tom!!!

I shall now try and sleep easy@@!!!

Tom Gilroy · #6 03-21-2005, 07:47 PM

Glad to help.

Rich · #7 03-21-2005, 08:13 PM

Truss rod?!?!

FIRST thing everybody should do is grab their truss wrench and tighten it, loosen it, and OBSERVE what it does to the neck. How are you supposed to set any guitar up or maintain a setup if you're afraid [or somebody tells you not to] play with the truss rod?!?!

ScottB · #8 03-21-2005, 10:18 PM

There's nothing I enjoy more than tweaking my truss rod.

robbiedp · #9 03-22-2005, 11:20 AM

So what do you think I should try Rich as I hear you are the man for setups??
Its a brandnew guitar, which has had a setup already, but just a couple of aspects I dont Like?? Eg... the only way I can stop the slight buzz is to take the action Really high?? I have tried lossening my trus rod but doesnt seem to help??

Thanks Mate!
Rob

Rich · #10 03-22-2005, 11:36 AM

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/action.htm

Tom Gilroy · #11 03-22-2005, 03:01 PM

The truss rod can result in a lot of change in the feel of the neck and can result in some "odd" bending of the wood. Wood is wood. It responds to pressure by moving guaranteed but the movement maybe completly different from what you want and what's worse is that you mightn't be able to get it back the way you had it. That's pretty risky. I jus tlike the feel of my necks and don't want to change that, so for me this is a last resort and only a last resort, because you can do other things to fix it. Rich I'm sure you know that a little turn can make a huge difference. I've friends who have ruined their necks by using the truss rod. Sorry but I don't want that to happen to me.

Tom Gilroy · #12 03-22-2005, 03:50 PM

Rich you are confident with your knowledge and that's a good thing as being afraid would stop you getting the setup right. I am impressed and this is really selling the idea of buying from you at Ibanez Rules. I meant that robbiedp mightn't like an adjustment becuase it would change the guitar and he mightn't like it. And I did say "if you're happy with the action". I meant that the action may not need changing. I was just warning him that is risky to over adjust the truss rod if you're not sure what to do.

Rich · #13 03-22-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

I've friends who have ruined their necks by using the truss rod. Sorry but I don't want that to happen to me.

Sounds like urban legend. To damage your guitar by adjusting the truss rod you pretty much have to be on the verge of neanderthal, in brain and brawn.

Can't get it back where it was?! Of course you can, and anywhere else you want it. It is part of the adjustment of a guitar, and in the case of neck relief, which is constantly changing, is the very *first* adjustment to make.

Tom Gilroy · #14 03-22-2005, 05:01 PM

Maybe but tell that to a friend of mine. He couldn't get it where he wanted it and the rod caused the neck to twist due to a wood grain abnormality. But you're the tech and I'm just a teenager who has seen a few (and truly only a few) bad results. I'll take your word for it and I accept you know better than me. I'm still not going to experiment with this unless I need to though.