Still got fret buzz

stu

A few months ago I posted asking for some help with my fret buzz problem. I was advised to change my strings which I finally did but that didnt help, sadly.

So whats the next step?

FruitarGeek

Try changing the action of your guitar. i.e. how high your strings are above the fretboard.

Take the troublesome string, and tweak the knobs, which you will find by the bridge, there should be some fine screws or something to indicate where you can set the hight of the saddle. You may need an allen key.

Tonedef

Make sure truss rod is tensioned correctly. You may need to dress your frets. My own axe has frets as even as a fat, acne'd american teenager's skin and I have terrible buzzing that I have to work around for the time being by increasing the action.

Bob-Dubery

stu wrote: A few months ago I posted asking for some help with my fret buzz problem. I was advised to change my strings which I finally did but that didnt help, sadly.

So whats the next step?

The advise was to change strings as a first step and then re-evaluate. Old strings get full of gunge and that effects the way in which they vibrate which can cause problems. Also you always want to have new strings on the guitar when you're making adjustments.

Have things stayed the same? Got better? Got worse?

If you want to try to find the buzz yourself then this may be of assistance
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/startbuzz.html

But what to do when you find it? If you're handy with tools and have the right tools you might have a go yourself.

Or just cut to the chase and take it to a good technician. Costafonix on this forum is well regarded. My recommendations, based on dealings that I've had, are Mark at McGibbon's or Mando at Music Connection.

VellaJ

Stu, I've had do also fiddle quite a lot with a couple of guitars before, fret buzz on Vesters and my Strat-Epiphone. I'm also in Northcliff, so if you'd like me to take a look at it I wouldn't mind.

Also remember, if you want to try yourself, you can't break the guitar by adjusting things, unless you force them.

Gearhead

Adjusting buzz out of a guit by raising the action is like covering a black eye with a pirate style eye patch. One difference - the black eye will cure itself.

VellaJ

Gearhead wrote: Adjusting buzz out of a guit by raising the action is like covering a black eye with a pirate style eye patch. One difference - the black eye will cure itself.

True, but waiting for the black eye to cure itself doesn't cost in excess of R1,000. Re-frets do... I guess changing the action is the next best thing.

Gearhead

Please don't talk people out of having minor surgery done on their guitars. A good press and some dressing will cure 99% of average Joe's guit buzz. A refret is only necessary after you have dressed the meat out of your frets - a decade later.
@OP: bring the guit in to the usually recommended stores and let them set it up. If you cannot afford, take it to any forumite who knows what he's doing.

ezietsman

VellaJ wrote:
Gearhead wrote: Adjusting buzz out of a guit by raising the action is like covering a black eye with a pirate style eye patch. One difference - the black eye will cure itself.
True, but waiting for the black eye to cure itself doesn't cost in excess of R1,000. Re-frets do... I guess changing the action is the next best thing.

Didn't read the first part of the thread. BUT, IF the frets are shot, as in worn very unevenly, you will need to have them dressed at least. Else you'll just raise the action and the guitar becomes crap to play. However, if they're not that worn or worn evenly, a simple setup may be sufficient, the neck should be bowed a little bit and the action set accordingly. My Guitar now needs a truss rod adjustment because it was set up for 11 gauge strings and I've started using 10 gauge again, now the neck is too straight and I have some very minor buzzing going on in places. You need to assess what is needed on your guitar and then do it, or live with less-than-optimal playability or tone/sustain etc.

Bob-Dubery

VellaJ wrote:
Gearhead wrote: Adjusting buzz out of a guit by raising the action is like covering a black eye with a pirate style eye patch. One difference - the black eye will cure itself.
True, but waiting for the black eye to cure itself doesn't cost in excess of R1,000. Re-frets do... I guess changing the action is the next best thing.

OK... I'm confused. Does Stu need a re-fret or not? If he does then raising the action isn't a substitute, it just exchanges one sub-optimal situation for another.

DaFiz

I use the trusty steel ruler to search for the problem...

My old Ibanez acoustic clearly has a concave fretboard. ?
The ruler touches the first fret and the last few, but the middle is bowed by half a mm...
This could indicate that the truss rod needs to be stiffened :-\ I don't think the bridge needs to be raised as there is already a two and a half mm gap between the unpressed string and the final frets.
The problem will manifest itself around the 3rd to 5th frets because I'm pressing the string, and it's touching higher up the fretboard. :-[

With a strat style electric guitar there are more ways to do minor adjustment at the bridge... set the height and length of the strings (get someone to show you how to set the intonation).
The indentations on worn frets should be clearly visible if they're the cause of the problem... ???

methinks... :-\

Gearhead

@Bob: Stu only needs a refret if:
1. he has buzz in certain places but not in others right next to it;
2. re-seating the offending frets does not help;
3. a fret dress is out of the question since his frets are too low already.
I presume most people will be able to assess 1 and it is not so much work to assess 2 and 3.

@DaFiz: a forward bow of 0.5-1mm is actually what one should be after since the string vibrates further in the middle than closer to the nut/bridge. If you fret in the region of trouble (3rd-5th), what frets does it buzz on? If it is 14th or up, your fretboard does not have enough fall-away. Can be dressed if it not too much but otherwise a partial refret will enable a luthier to sand down the fretboard over the body. Short of a fret dress, you could loosen the truss a touch(10 degrees or so) or raise the saddle.

DaFiz

Thanx gearhead but aint gonna bother too much with a 40yo Concord that's been to too many dronken braais. :-[
Fact of the matter is it's pointless speculating with no available details, and a process of elimination should surely ensue... :-\

I find it incredibly interesting have an expert talk me through his process and solve the problem on my guitar and I get to practice it next time.

(Damn... I lent my very comprehensive guitar book to my nephew and never got it back... :'()

stu

Gearhead wrote: @Bob: Stu only needs a refret if:
1. he has buzz in certain places but not in others right next to it;

Thats the problem, and its only on the low E string. I used to have a very small peace of paper under the string to lift it a bit but I would like it to be done properly.
How much could I expect to pay to have it fixed?

If the guitar where my Squier I would try fix it myself but my MC150 is my baby.

Bob-Dubery

@Stu, cut to the chase & take it to a good tech. You have 3 recommendations in this thread. Ask for a quote

Gearhead

Think between R400 and R700 depending on what other work they claim they want to do on it. If you go for an upgrade saddle you could let them raise the bass side a bit, this is not uncommon. It would however make sense to go for the dress in any case, so you can get to the lowest possible action - it is easier to raise by shimming the saddle than to lower by sanding it down.

TomCat

X-rated Bob wrote: @Stu, cut to the chase & take it to a good tech. You have 3 recommendations in this thread. Ask for a quote

+100.....

Hammeron

 forward bow of 0.5-1mm is actually what one should be after since the string vibrates further in the middle than closer to the nut/bridge.

+1 :?

stu

Okay then it will being going to a pro when I have some money.
Thanks guys.