Guitar Tech says Teles always buzz. Is he right?

[cwcowell]

Many of the strings on my cheapo Saga Tele kit guitar buzz--some when open, some when fretted, some in both cases. This occurs even with very high saddles and an absurd amount of neck relief. I'm playing with .10s and a medium touch. I suspect the buzzing is due to uneven frets, but I don't want to pay to have the frets fixed on an instrument that only cost $75.

My guitar tech says that's normal for Teles, and that unless the buzz comes through the amp (it doesn't) or dampens sustain (it doesn't seem to), I should ignore it. Which I'm doing. But it is annoying when I practice at low volumes or not plugged in.

So I'm curious: is he right that Teles all buzz to some extent? When I've noodled on Fender or G&L Teles in stores, I don't seem to recall them buzzing at all.

[tpaul]

no.

[Voodoo Child]

Mine don't buzz after I set it up.

[infrapista]

Absolutely false, after a good tune a good neck don't buzz !!!

Regards, Infrapista

[Nick Fanis]

Fire your tech and get a REAL one...

[Fourth Feline]

No.

Any guitar might benefit from / need a degree of fret dressing from the factory, but I agree with the above posts, it's certainly not a 'Tele' thing.

I'm with Nick Fanis on this one, get a new tech.


F.F.

[johnreardon]

Had a similar post on another place where a guitar tech had told someone that all 'brand X' guitars buzz.


Funny enough, as others here have said my Teles or 'brand X' guitars don't buzz. Perhaps the calibre of guitar techs is buzzing a bit

[Rob DiStefano]

Of course your guitar tech is correct - a Tele is impossible to setup and will always have some sort of string buzz or rattle.

I know this to be true since I normally always have a buzz going on in my head, too.

YMMV.

[cwcowell]

Wow, this may be the first time I've seen a completely unanimous response on TDPRI! Thanks, all.

I'll be moving on to a new guitar tech, then...

[esteban]

HUH?

I thought buzzing only had to do with how well you set it up... maybe he doesn't realize that sometimes, the adjust for the truss rod is on the other side of the neck...

[Mark Davis]

Ate you sure you went to a guitar tech or the Dentist?

[Ed P]

What a fun thread - what a silly guitar "tech".

[Daddydex]

Okay, I'll be the first to say maybe your tech is giving good advice. None of us were present during the conversation. Are you sure he didn't say something like "I can fix this with a fret level and dressing but it is a 75 dollar guitar and if the buzz isn't happening when amplified, I wouldn't worry about it". Maybe something on those lines. Lets not hang the tech without a proper trial.

Dan

[davidge1]

Well I dont agree most people here necessarily...

It depends on how low you want the action, how light your strings are, and how hard you pick. With low action and light strings, I couldnt imagine there wouldn't be at least a little buzz if you hit it hard enough.

I use 9s... In 30 years of playing I've never played a Fender that didn't buzz a little with 9s on it if I was playing aggressively. Leo Fender always refused to have Fender market a light guage of strings, becuase it would cause the strings to buzz. Personally, I dont mind a little string buzz.

[RodeoTex]

If you already have the action set high and are STILL buzzing I'd suggest checking the adjustment of the trussrod. Once that is set with the proper amount of relief, take a look at the frets.
It may be necessary to do a complete grind/recrown/polish.

This is really not that hard to do and the only special tool you need is a fret crowning file (stewart-mcdonald and other suppliers).

A $75 guitar would be a great place to get your first lesson in fret work (I'm assuming you've never done it before) so even if it doesn't come out perfectly it doesn't sound like it would be any worse.

Oh yeah, sometimes a poorly slotted nut can contribute to buzzing.
Again, not that hard to do but yet more special files required.

[Tele The Truth]

To eliminate tele buzzing, the first thing I do whenever I buy a new tele is to take off the pickguard and bridge and fill the cavities with a can of spray foam and then put everything back together. Be aware that the foam expands as it dries, so you'll have to cut away any excess that seeps out with a razor knife. You usually have to do this yourself unless you buy a higher end tele like a Shur, Crook, Valley Arts ect. where they come from the factory with this modification done already. If you're not comfortable doing this kind of work yourself.....ask you tech to do it for you.

[GilmourD]

I think that tech should be pulled over by the stupid police.


A guitar with a proper fret level and a proper setup should only buzz if you're beating the snot out of it because you have Popeye arms and no control.

[andy__woods]

Originally Posted by GilmourD

I think that tech should be pulled over by the stupid police.


A guitar with a proper fret level and a proper setup should only buzz if you're beating the snot out of it because you have Popeye arms and no control.

Meow listen here. A tele shouldn't buzz with a real setup. I have a Saga strat, that right after putting it together, it did buzz a bit meow than I was used to. After I took it in to get a set up, it played meow like a real guitar. He said he did a fret dressing and all the other fixin's.


hmm, could only work in 3 meows, oh well

[Rob DiStefano]

I based my opinion on what the topic poster typed ...

"My guitar tech says that's normal [the string/fret buzzing] for Teles ..."

If that's a verbatim statement, he's way wrong and he really isn't a worthy guitar tech.

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

If that's a verbatim statement, he's way wrong and he really isn't a worthy guitar tech.

Egg-Zack-Ter-Lee