Guitar setup question

govendl3

Hi all
i tried to do my own setup as per a "Setup. A DIY guide" thread from the net
this has helped alot

All seems fine except that the LOW E has a buzz. none of the others do.
I did the itonation and action adjustment as per the setup and the axe is in much better shape and sound, also a lot easier on my figers.
Everything is great except the LOW E.

Does mean a truss rod adjustment
I have never done one before. Do i get to the truss by unscrewing the four screws that hold the neck and body or is it behind the plate at the back and centre of the guitar

Sorry if this is a duplicated thread. i did search and can not find anything I can use.

Spyke

Gathering this is a Strat-like bolt on neck electric? What guitar?

You'd gain access to the truss rod through the plate or opening at the headstock. Just above the nut.

Edit to add:

Check the relief first before playing with the truss rod. Push down on the first and last fret at the same time and check the gap at the 8th fret. Half a millimeter or so is what you're looking for.

Bob-Dubery

govendl3 wrote Hi all
i tried to do my own setup as per a "Setup. A DIY guide" thread from the net
this has helped alot

All seems fine except that the LOW E has a buzz. none of the others do.
I did the itonation and action adjustment as per the setup and the axe is in much better shape and sound, also a lot easier on my figers.
Everything is great except the LOW E.

Does it buzz at all positions? A range of positions? A certain fret?

And did you put on new strings?

I once had a buzz that seemed to defy all explanation. Then I looked very carefully at the string that was buzzing and found a little kink in it, right where it passed over the 2nd fret. And THAT was the source of the buzz.

You might also consult the "buzz guide" at www.frets.com.

AlanRatcliffe

It's probably not the truss rod - that affects all the strings and only between about the 3rd and 12th fret. You may just need a little more height on the low E string or it could be that the frets are not completely level on the bass side.

Does the amp hear the buzz or is it something you only hear acoustically? If the amp doesn't hear it, it's probably not necessary to worry too much

Riaan

If only Alan would now go on and buy a Plek machine, then none of us would have fret problems anymore... ?

govendl3

Sorry
Should have mentioned
It is a strat type guitar and truss rod adjuster is sticking out of the neck.
I did try adjusting the truss last night and I am still not sure if i am doing it the correct way. The buzz is on the low E when unfretted, and is fairly pronouncd. I never had this problem before so it is a new issue. i have not changed strings gauges or even strings for that matter. If i fret the 1st fret and 14th fret as per a setup guide there is virtually no clearance at the 12 fret.
i will also try "Check the relief first before playing with the truss rod. Push down on the first and last fret at the same time and check the gap at the 8th fret. Half a millimeter or so is what you're looking for." thanks Spyke
I have given the truss rod a couple of 1/8 turns but this is still the case. I have even raised the action and it is fairly high now. I do not like playing with this high action and the buzz is still there. You can not hear the buzz when playing through an amp. Should I just not worry about this and just return to the way it was before.

Werner-Carstens

Hi Govendl3, I nice place to start setting up any strat type guitar is with the standard setup specs used in the Fender Factory. It is as follows with a capo installed on the first thread:
1. String height at the 17th fret = 1,6 mm (This is higher than most heavy rock and metal players prefer)
2. Relief at 7th fret = 0,3 mm (measured by pressing the measured string down at the last thread)
3. Nut action = 0,5 mm (Measuring the distance between the underside of the string and the top of the first thread)
Remember that these are just indicators to start from and that it will differ from one intrument to another.

If your open E string buzzes then it might indicate a problem with your nut action. The nut might be cut too low. What I would recommend is to lossen the truss rod a bit further until the relief is 0,5 mm - you can even go further if you want. If the open E string still buzzes the nut is the problem.
If the buzz cannot be heard playing through your amp it should technically not bother you, but that is easier said than done - I know from experience.