Fret buzz - G string - 5 to 12 fret

automaton_2 · June 27th, 2008, 09:02 PM

Hello all.
Since purchasing my CIJ 52 reissue tele special new this year, I have had problems, on and off, with fret buzz. The buzz is on the G string - 5 to 12 fret.

The problem seems to have suddenly got worse today, which is kind of strange (it was there, but bearable / unnoticable before now - the weathger has suddenly got very cold - so this might have something to do with it.). I tried raising action height just now, and the buzz is still there.

Right now I have the G string at 2mm above the 17th fret (5/64") and am getting pretty bad buzz (mainly when I dig in, not when playing very gently).

I feel I should be able to set my action to Fender's recommended specs:
Bass Side Treble Side
5/64" (2 mm)4/64" (1.6 mm)

With zero buzz.

When I got the guitar I noticed the buzz, and took it back to the guitar tech at the shop I bought it new from, and he fixed it, but he raised the action to a little higher than is my preference. I lowered the action to Fender's specs, and the buzz came back.

Any advice on how to reduce this buzz and get this guitar playable again would be very welcome!

WallyArms · June 27th, 2008, 11:38 PM

How is your neck relief? Are the saddle screws making good contact with the bridge?

mellecaster · June 28th, 2008, 12:39 AM

Are you getting noticeable buzz when playing through an Amp, or are you talking about it Unplugged ?

automaton_2 · June 28th, 2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WallyArms

How is your neck relief? Are the saddle screws making good contact with the bridge?

I have a six part saddle, not the traditional 3 part. The buzz is coming from frets, not the saddle.
Not sure what neck relief is? How can I check this and what should I look for?

The buzz is somewhat noticable amplified.

Should I be adjusting the truss rod in this situation?

pengipete · June 28th, 2008, 01:23 AM

How old are the strings? Old or dirty strings will buzz where clean, new ones won't.

Have you changed the strings since the tech set the guitar up and if so, did you change the string gauge?

The fact that the string buzzes between the 5th and 12th frets suggests neck relief but the fact that it only affects the G string could point to a number of other causes.

Is it critical that you have exactly 5/64ths action? Would an 8th turn on the saddle screws cure the problem without spoiling your playing?

If that's not possible then you may need to adjust the relief and that means adjusting the trussrod. It's not a difficult thing to do but it is something that can cause serious damage if done incorrectly.

Just for info, neck relief relates to the curvature - or lack thereof - of the neck when the guitar is strung. The tension of the strings and the fact that they do not follow a path that is exactly parallel to the neck tends to bow the neck forwards and a truss rod is fitted inside the neck to control this bend or even keep the neck entirely straight by acting against the pull of the strings. Tightening the rod tends to straighten the neck and loosening it usually allows more forward bend.

It is extremely important that you must never force a trussrod adjustment and all adjustments have to be made in very small steps - an 8th or even a 16th turn of the screw may be more than enough. The greatest danger is in over tightening and stripping the thread or even snapping the rod itself. If you do this then you can pretty well kiss the neck goodbye as any repair will require major surgery.

I would suggest that on this occasion you should take the guitar to a professional - not being rude but your lack of basic knowledge regarding neck relief suggests that you risk damaging your guitar if you do it yourself. Try and find a decent pro who will let you sit in and watch to give you a better idea of how it all works.

If you want to try setting up your own guitar and adjusting neck relief, it might be a good idea to practise on something a bit less valuable or desirable first.

boris bubbanov · June 28th, 2008, 02:03 AM

Another possible idea: Go with a good bit heavier 'G' string. My appreciation is that with most string sets with an unwound G, that string has a good bit less tension than do the other 5 strings. That alone could explain the buzzing.
Might be worth trying before taking the stronger medicine.

WallyArms · June 28th, 2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by automaton_2

I have a six part saddle, not the traditional 3 part. The buzz is coming from frets, not the saddle.
Not sure what neck relief is? How can I check this and what should I look for?

The buzz is somewhat noticable amplified.

Should I be adjusting the truss rod in this situation?

I have a six saddle bridge on my Nashville, which is why I mentioned the saddle screws - I have had one of the saddles move slightly a time or two - with the result that one of the screws wasn't sitting against the bridge completely - and it caused a bad buzz that sounded like it was coming from the frets.

June 27th, 2008, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
automaton_2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 20	Fret buzz - G string - 5 to 12 fret Hello all. Since purchasing my CIJ 52 reissue tele special new this year, I have had problems, on and off, with fret buzz. The buzz is on the G string - 5 to 12 fret. The problem seems to have suddenly got worse today, which is kind of strange (it was there, but bearable / unnoticable before now - the weathger has suddenly got very cold - so this might have something to do with it.). I tried raising action height just now, and the buzz is still there. Right now I have the G string at 2mm above the 17th fret (5/64") and am getting pretty bad buzz (mainly when I dig in, not when playing very gently). I feel I should be able to set my action to Fender's recommended specs: Bass Side Treble Side 5/64" (2 mm)4/64" (1.6 mm) With zero buzz. When I got the guitar I noticed the buzz, and took it back to the guitar tech at the shop I bought it new from, and he fixed it, but he raised the action to a little higher than is my preference. I lowered the action to Fender's specs, and the buzz came back. Any advice on how to reduce this buzz and get this guitar playable again would be very welcome!

June 27th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
WallyArms Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TN Posts: 947	How is your neck relief? Are the saddle screws making good contact with the bridge? __________________ Save The Hymnals!

June 28th, 2008, 12:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,776 17 Photos	Are you getting noticeable buzz when playing through an Amp, or are you talking about it Unplugged ? __________________ I have never owned an Ipod or Blackberry..and doubt that I ever will......

June 28th, 2008, 02:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,579	G's are bendy Another possible idea: Go with a good bit heavier 'G' string. My appreciation is that with most string sets with an unwound G, that string has a good bit less tension than do the other 5 strings. That alone could explain the buzzing. Might be worth trying before taking the stronger medicine. __________________ Bubban0v

June 28th, 2008, 01:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
pengipete Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gloucester U.K. Age: 47 Posts: 1,584	How old are the strings? Old or dirty strings will buzz where clean, new ones won't. Have you changed the strings since the tech set the guitar up and if so, did you change the string gauge? The fact that the string buzzes between the 5th and 12th frets suggests neck relief but the fact that it only affects the G string could point to a number of other causes. Is it critical that you have exactly 5/64ths action? Would an 8th turn on the saddle screws cure the problem without spoiling your playing? If that's not possible then you may need to adjust the relief and that means adjusting the trussrod. It's not a difficult thing to do but it is something that can cause serious damage if done incorrectly. Just for info, neck relief relates to the curvature - or lack thereof - of the neck when the guitar is strung. The tension of the strings and the fact that they do not follow a path that is exactly parallel to the neck tends to bow the neck forwards and a truss rod is fitted inside the neck to control this bend or even keep the neck entirely straight by acting against the pull of the strings. Tightening the rod tends to straighten the neck and loosening it usually allows more forward bend. It is extremely important that you must never force a trussrod adjustment and all adjustments have to be made in very small steps - an 8th or even a 16th turn of the screw may be more than enough. The greatest danger is in over tightening and stripping the thread or even snapping the rod itself. If you do this then you can pretty well kiss the neck goodbye as any repair will require major surgery. I would suggest that on this occasion you should take the guitar to a professional - not being rude but your lack of basic knowledge regarding neck relief suggests that you risk damaging your guitar if you do it yourself. Try and find a decent pro who will let you sit in and watch to give you a better idea of how it all works. If you want to try setting up your own guitar and adjusting neck relief, it might be a good idea to practise on something a bit less valuable or desirable first.