High action + terrible obvious buzz.

W0MB13 · #1 08-20-2006, 03:28 AM

Hello there, my current ibanez S470 has buzzed like a mofo since the day i got it(2nd hand). With a light pick attack the buzz is kinda gone (cant hear it through distortion anyhow). In terms of playing clean the buzz is still evident on the fatter strings no matter how light you pick. There is no buzz what so ever on the skinny E, barely any on the B, but after that its buzz buzz buzz.

The buzz is particulary insane on the D string, litterally equally buzzy (VERY) all the way up the neck.

Normally i don't mind a little buzz, but i REALLY do when its this bad and the action is HIGH.

I am using 9 - 42 gauge elixirs.

Hopefully these pictures help. I will take more if you can specify what i should take photos of.

W0MB13 · #2 08-20-2006, 03:29 AM

jemuniverse777 · #3 08-20-2006, 03:48 AM

Dude, is that a bra on the left horn?

W0MB13 · #4 08-20-2006, 03:53 AM

lol no, guitar was resting on bedsheets. ANYWAY, someone help..

Lefty Robb · #5 08-20-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W0MB13

well, judging by this picture, it looks like your guitar has a nasty backbow and the frets are raising up a bit (look at the 14th), and they could use a leveling, crowning and a polish. of course I'm only going by the picture.

W0MB13 · #6 08-20-2006, 10:21 AM

Sorry, im a newbie at these things....when you mention backbow i really can't see it, (dont really know what to look for either).

wemedge · #7 08-20-2006, 10:25 AM

How is the action at the nut? Does it buzz on the open strings? Lefty Robb is correct, check the condition of the frets? Check you neck relief (not to adjust the action, but you need the proper relief to gauge the frets, etc.). Also, check if the neck is straight or twisted. Use a straigtedge to see if you have a hump on the neck joint area that is preventing you from bringing the action lower there.

If the nut height is ok, and there is no hump, you may can try a shim in there to adjust the neck angle to bring the action to a more reasonable height at the high frets.

Sorry, this is not too detailed; just some suggestions, but hopefully it can get you started to diagnose your problem.

wemedge

ps have you tried the set-up section on this site? It may answer some of your questions also.

Lefty Robb · #8 08-20-2006, 10:37 AM

Yeah, its hard to see and might just be the picture, but if you look at the string as compared to say, the binding, the binding looks curved downward a bit, as if someone was stading in the middle of it.

Ozzdoc · #9 08-20-2006, 10:55 AM

Yea the frets look complelety bent lol, they should be nice and striaght, same with the actual neck

W0MB13 · #10 08-20-2006, 11:31 AM

theres no buzz on open strings, neck isnt twisted, not sure how to check relief.

it was "professionally setup" at venue music in sydney. I know those guys know what they are doing and the owner was very confident of the setup job he had done. The buzz doesnt normally annoy me, only reason it does now is because the action is high AND there's buzz.

Ozzdoc · #11 08-20-2006, 11:51 AM

To check relief you have to look down at the neck from the headstock. It's easy to tell if it needs adjustment etc..

thadood · #12 08-20-2006, 03:32 PM

Do this.

Hold down the low E string at the first fret and the 17th. Look at the gap between the string and the 7th fret. How large of a gap is it? For a properly setup neck, there should be just enough of a gap to be noticeable, with the string nearly touching the fret.

If it's ok, then your neck is warped somehow and would probably need some expensive reshaping.

LonePhantom · #13 08-20-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W0MB13

theres no buzz on open strings, neck isnt twisted, not sure how to check relief.

it was "professionally setup" at venue music in sydney. I know those guys know what they are doing and the owner was very confident of the setup job he had done. The buzz doesnt normally annoy me, only reason it does now is because the action is high AND there's buzz.

I'd hate to say it but if you have high action and strings still buzzing then the guys at Venue Music must not know what they are doing. I'd go back and say to them "how is this playable with incredibly high action and persistant buzzing, and if you can't fix it give me my money back and I'll find someone who can do the job properly".

If they really know what they are doing then they should be able to fix it.

Racerx2k · #14 08-20-2006, 08:05 PM

I'd be apt to try putting a little relief into the neck, re-adjust the height, and see if that helps. Strings move in an eliptical pattern, and if not given enough room to move, you can have buzzing issues. Just a thought.