strange

xklusivly4u · #1 02-02-2009, 01:09 PM

When I play my JEM in low volume around 9 o’ clock on amp volume, I can hear fret buzz on low E sting in open E, F and G. But when amp volume is up around 12 o’ clock, buzz goes away. Is it normal? If it is not, what could be the problem?

I don’t want to higher the bridge more because there is 1.5 – 2mm gap between fret and low E string at 12 fret.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

thanks

JEMShredder · #2 02-02-2009, 01:38 PM

Try giving the truss rod a tad more relief.

callen3615 · #3 02-02-2009, 04:31 PM

Yeah thats probably it.

xklusivly4u · #4 02-02-2009, 05:56 PM

ok, did the truss road relief and action went high, so I lower the bridge a bit and 6 string buzz everywhere. So tighten it again and now back to original position and buzz is still there. Only 6 string, the rest are okay and no string choke or anything.

What next? thanks for the help!

rvai · #5 02-02-2009, 06:58 PM

did you give a lot of relief? if so try it with only a tad more relief

xklusivly4u · #6 02-02-2009, 07:57 PM

if there is too much relief, strings will stay far away from fret and buzz should go away? no?

anyway i made a tad more relief and check it tomorrow. Do I need to loosen the strings if I want to tighten the truss rod?

JEMShredder · #7 02-03-2009, 11:43 AM

If the truss rod adjustment doesn't work out for you, try shimming the nut.

xklusivly4u · #8 02-03-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEMShredder

If the truss rod adjustment doesn't work out for you, try shimming the nut.

ok, buzz on open E is gone, G is barely noticeable and still a bit of buzz on F. how do I shim the nut?

skins345669 · #9 02-03-2009, 06:57 PM

Take it out, put a shim in, put it back. You just have to be careful the shim is very thin and very flat.

xklusivly4u · #10 02-03-2009, 08:07 PM

I read Rich's Nut Height session, a bit scare to try myself. will be good if someone has illustrated pictures

So I presume I need to shim on bass side.
If anyone knows good Ibanez tech in London, let me know please!!

bakerman · #11 02-04-2009, 04:52 AM

Shimming the nut does nothing for fretted note buzz; it only corrects open string buzz. Clear open string yet buzz on fretted notes indicates you may even be able to lower the nut, but that isn't necessary to see what can be done for the fretted notes now.

Unless you have uneven frets (you mentioned F and G--does the 2nd fret F# also buzz?), you may just need to make more slight adjustments to truss rod & bridge height. Try some more forward bow then lowering the bridge to get the overall action near where you'd like it. Or maybe you're hoping for buzz-free action that's too low for any guitar... a thicker 6th string could help.

JEMShredder · #12 02-04-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakerman

Shimming the nut does nothing for fretted note buzz; it only corrects open string buzz. Clear open string yet buzz on fretted notes indicates you may even be able to lower the nut, but that isn't necessary to see what can be done for the fretted notes now.

Unless you have uneven frets (you mentioned F and G--does the 2nd fret F# also buzz?), you may just need to make more slight adjustments to truss rod & bridge height. Try some more forward bow then lowering the bridge to get the overall action near where you'd like it. Or maybe you're hoping for buzz-free action that's too low for any guitar... a thicker 6th string could help.

Read the very first post ....

"When I play my JEM in low volume around 9 o’ clock on amp volume, I can hear fret buzz on low E sting in open E, F and G."

I overlooked that the first time around too, or I would have suggested shimming the nut right off the bat.

xklusivly4u · #13 02-04-2009, 11:26 AM

Confused

let me clarify.

Before relief the truss rod, there is a buzz on open E, after adjusting truss rod, there is no buzz on open E but buzz on F, F# and barely noticeable on G.

What do I do now? Lower the nut? How to? Or shim the nut? or relief more?

I presume when I remove nut from neck, shims come out? I need to add extra shim on bass side? Never seen shim before

sorry.

bakerman · #14 02-04-2009, 12:21 PM

Right, I read your later post about the open E being fine. There's no need to shim the nut because it will have no effect on the remaining buzz. It sounds like you could add some more forward bow to the neck (loosen the truss rod). Those symptoms are exactly what can happen with the neck too straight--buzz worst at the 1st fret and improving by the 3rd or 4th.

As I mentioned before, you might even be able to lower the nut, but that's better done later when fretted notes are fine. How much you can lower it depends on if you want the open string to have the same "buzz response" as fretted notes (say a slight amount on the hardest plucks) or be a little higher for clearer notes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEMShredder

Read the very first post ....

"When I play my JEM in low volume around 9 o’ clock on amp volume, I can hear fret buzz on low E sting in open E, F and G."

I overlooked that the first time around too, or I would have suggested shimming the nut right off the bat.

Shimming the nut isn't a good first step when that's the case either--something has to be done for the fretted notes' buzz as well. If you shim the nut then adjust the truss rod, you're left wondering if the open string specifically needed any more height or if neck bow/bridge height were the only things needing adjustment.