Fret buzz on new MIM Standard Tele

Ranger · December 26th, 2005, 12:40 AM

I have been playing acoustic guitar for several years now but am new to the electric. My main guitar is a Taylor 514 that I use for fingerstyle playing. I am accustomed to a fairly light touch due to the responsiveness of this guitar.

I have a new MIM Standard Tele and am experiencing more fret buzz than I believe should be there. As I have been playing this guitar for the last couple of days the buzzing seems to be getting a little worse. The shop I bought it from claimed to have set it up completely. However, they also told me fret buzz should be expected on an electric, especially one with a maple neck. I find this explanation completely unreasonable and will work it out with them later.

In the meantime, I would like to ask all of you for your opinions. How much buzz is reasonable to expect on such a Tele? Thanks for your help.

Colo Springs E · December 26th, 2005, 01:21 AM

.....if you have the action set "baby-low" (like I like it!) and you play pretty aggressively, it is pretty much inevitable you'll have *some* fret-buzz--but it shouldn't be excessive.

Your guitar likely needs a good set up--by someone other than the shop you bought it from. By the way, it's not unusual for a guitar to "change" a little over the course of a few days--humidity, temp, etc can all play into that.

Good luck, once you have it set up well, I'm certain you'll enjoy that Tele as much as that nice Taylor you own!

benderking · December 26th, 2005, 03:02 AM

+1 on the setup.
You need to setup every guitar you buy/own to your own liking. I generally have mine setup by a good friend of mine that always gets my stuff right, and apparently knows more about what I like than i do! Those MIM teles generally need some tweaking from the store. Start with the truss rod and string height, then set the pup height, set your intonation, and if you really cant get what you want out of it you may look at getting a new nut cut the way you want. I really dislike newer fender Nuts that come from the factory.

-jerry

Mark Davis · December 26th, 2005, 03:16 AM

Try this change your playing style slightly.

Turn up the amp and strum the guitar way softer than you do an acoustic.

It also probably needs more neck relief.

The guys that tested it might have had a real light touch and it didnt buzz when they played it.

Take it to a pro who is really good for a complete real setup not the music store kind it will be the best $40-60 you ever spent.

Geo · December 26th, 2005, 12:49 PM

Make sure you have done the "3 finger string stretch"
at the 12th fret. This is 3 fingers beneath the string,
lift up 3/4" or so on each string. Repeat this several
times until the string holds pitch at least very close
and "set in". I've played new ones that buzz and this
eliminated it.
That and often the strings on a new model are either
not that great or have been on it a while since leaving
the factory. So change to new if the stretch doesn't
help.
If you get a little buzz acoustically above the 14th fret
that is not audible through the amp, it is fairly standard
but can be eliminated if desired.

December 26th, 2005, 12:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ranger TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 32	Fret buzz on new MIM Standard Tele I have been playing acoustic guitar for several years now but am new to the electric. My main guitar is a Taylor 514 that I use for fingerstyle playing. I am accustomed to a fairly light touch due to the responsiveness of this guitar. I have a new MIM Standard Tele and am experiencing more fret buzz than I believe should be there. As I have been playing this guitar for the last couple of days the buzzing seems to be getting a little worse. The shop I bought it from claimed to have set it up completely. However, they also told me fret buzz should be expected on an electric, especially one with a maple neck. I find this explanation completely unreasonable and will work it out with them later. In the meantime, I would like to ask all of you for your opinions. How much buzz is reasonable to expect on such a Tele? Thanks for your help. __________________ Peter

December 26th, 2005, 01:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5,204 5 Photos	Their response is partially correct.... .....if you have the action set "baby-low" (like I like it!) and you play pretty aggressively, it is pretty much inevitable you'll have some fret-buzz--but it shouldn't be excessive. Your guitar likely needs a good set up--by someone other than the shop you bought it from. By the way, it's not unusual for a guitar to "change" a little over the course of a few days--humidity, temp, etc can all play into that. Good luck, once you have it set up well, I'm certain you'll enjoy that Tele as much as that nice Taylor you own! __________________ Think I'll pack it in and Buy a pickup Take it down to LA...

December 26th, 2005, 03:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
benderking Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kentucky Age: 26 Posts: 286	... +1 on the setup. You need to setup every guitar you buy/own to your own liking. I generally have mine setup by a good friend of mine that always gets my stuff right, and apparently knows more about what I like than i do! Those MIM teles generally need some tweaking from the store. Start with the truss rod and string height, then set the pup height, set your intonation, and if you really cant get what you want out of it you may look at getting a new nut cut the way you want. I really dislike newer fender Nuts that come from the factory. -jerry __________________ www.myspace.com/jerrysolonsmith www.johnnyhilandband.com

December 26th, 2005, 03:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Try this change your playing style slightly. Turn up the amp and strum the guitar way softer than you do an acoustic. It also probably needs more neck relief. The guys that tested it might have had a real light touch and it didnt buzz when they played it. Take it to a pro who is really good for a complete real setup not the music store kind it will be the best $40-60 you ever spent. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

December 26th, 2005, 12:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,484 15 Photos	Make sure you have done the "3 finger string stretch" at the 12th fret. This is 3 fingers beneath the string, lift up 3/4" or so on each string. Repeat this several times until the string holds pitch at least very close and "set in". I've played new ones that buzz and this eliminated it. That and often the strings on a new model are either not that great or have been on it a while since leaving the factory. So change to new if the stretch doesn't help. If you get a little buzz acoustically above the 14th fret that is not audible through the amp, it is fairly standard but can be eliminated if desired. __________________ "Somewhere between culture and agriculture"