First build, neck angle problem ??

Howdy again everyone, Well I,m back for more of your wisdom and advice. I am building my first Tele and I am thinking that I have a nech angle problem causing string buzz. Here is what I have so far......

I am using D,Addario flat wound .010 to .048 with wound G
Action at the nut is set to specs
neck relief is at .002
Action at the 12th fret is 4/32 and if I try to lower it, I get string buzz on just about every string.


Does this sound like a neck angle problem ? If so, how is the best way to set it up.

Thanks in advance for your advice
Bill

Fender's Telecaster Setup Guide (http://www.fender.com/support/articles/telecaster-setup-guide) calls for a starting point of 5/64" on the bass side and 4/64" on the treble side, at the 17th fret. This is all for a 7.25" radius fretboard. For a 9"-12" board it's 4/64" at both sides. The suggested neck relief is .012" (for a 7.25" board) or .010" (for 9"-12") but this is usually a matter of personal preference. How far are you off?

If you do have a neck angle problem, a simple shim (a piece of business card) at the front of the neck pocket should take care of it.

That's a Mighty High Action height...where are your Saddles sitting in all of this ?

1/8" is pretty high. Does the neck have a hump in it?

Sounds like the neck is back bowed.

Have you checked your straight edge? Is it indeed a precision straight edge?

I would check the neck bow by fretting at the first and 15th frets. Look to see if the string has any clearance.

The problem you describe points directly to a back bowed neck.

Sounds like the neck is back bowed.

Have you checked your straight edge? Is it indeed a precision straight edge?

I would check the neck bow by fretting at the first and 15th frets. Look to see if the string has any clearance.

The problem you describe points directly to a back bowed neck.

I just checked with both a good straight edge and the fretting the strings at the 1st and 15th, both checked at .005, so it does not look like neck bow might be the problem, I dont see any hump at the bottom of the fretboard as some have asked.

That's a Mighty High Action height...where are your Saddles sitting in all of this ?

Saddles are raised fairly high. But if I lower them any more, I get string buzz across just about all of the strings, seems like the buzz comes from around the 10 to 12th frets

It sounds like you've gone through all the correct steps IMO. What sort of neck is it? Brand new one? Have you leveled and crowned the frets? Personally I've found that every new neck I've bought has benefited from a fret level.

I could be wrong but it doesn't sound like a neck angle problem to me. In my (limited) experience neck angle problems usually cause buzzing a bit higher up the neck.

IMO .002 isn't enough relief. Try backing off the truss rod a quarter or half turn. If the relief adjustment doesn't make a difference, get a fret rocker and check for high frets.

It sounds like you've gone through all the correct steps IMO. What sort of neck is it? Brand new one? Have you leveled and crowned the frets? Personally I've found that every new neck I've bought has benefited from a fret level.

I could be wrong but it doesn't sound like a neck angle problem to me. In my (limited) experience neck angle problems usually cause buzzing a bit higher up the neck.

The neck is from StewMac http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Electric_guitar_necks/Blank-peghead_Guitar_Necks.html

Sounds like I need to look into doing some fret leveling.

Thanks for the advice

IMO .002 isn't enough relief. Try backing off the truss rod a quarter or half turn. If the relief adjustment doesn't make a difference, get a fret rocker and check for high frets.

Thanks for the advice, I,ll back it off alittle and if that does not help, I,ll look into getting a fret rocker and see if I have a high fret.

Thanks
Bill

Neck angle controls the overall action. The neck angle is varied to allow the saddles to be in their "optimum" adjustment range...not too high, not to low