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August 2002
Posts: 110
| hi everyone, i just bought my first electic guitar, and it has a bad buzz on the first and second fret of the low E and A string. it can only be heard if i play without the amp. when i switch to the pickup(nearest to the neck) i can sorta hear the buzz. but when i switch to the other pickups, i dont hear anything through the speakers. i know how to adjust the neck and all, and i kinda like the action this way. i was just wondering if this is normal for electric guitars? sorry about the noobie question, but i have alot to learn. thanks |
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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | My guitar teacher always told me that as long as you don't hear the fret buzz through your amp, you shouldn't worry about it. Most electrics that I've played in stores have pretty thin strings on them (usually .009's). You might want to try a set of .010's to see if that helps. |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Point of clarification to TK17: are you saying that the sound cuts out when you switch pickups, or that the fret buzz diminishes?
If it is just the buzz being eliminated, you may have a pickup with poles too close to the strings. Try lowering the offender a bit on the bass side and see if it helps without cutting your output too much.
Slightly heavier strings might help, too, if the strings are sitting too low in the nut slots. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | As I understand it, the general method for removing fret buzz is to:
1)Adjust the bridge
2)Adjust the nut, if possible
3)Adjust the relief
4)Different gauge strings
Then fiddle around with these variables
After awhile if it doesn't work, then bring it to a tech
If it's the pick up height, follow paul's advice. |
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August 2002
Posts: 110
| the pickup isnt the problem, its the frets(1st/2nd fret, E and A). i have adjusted the neck/tremelo so that the buzzing would stop completely, but the action was too high for me(more like my acoustics). i have also lowered the pickups, so thats not the problem.
my question is: is it normal for electric guitars to buzz, while playing unplugged? i can only hear a minor buzz when i plug it in. should i leave it, or adjust it so it wont buzz at all?
thanks for the replies |
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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "should i leave it, or adjust it so it wont buzz at all?"
WEll that is up to you, but if as you state,"i have adjusted the neck/tremelo so that the buzzing would stop completely, but the action was too high for me" then most likely the neck is either not set properly (correct angle) or the truss rod needs adjusting. There is also the possibility of smoothing the frets, maybe one has swollen out or another been worn. Maybe a fret job even. Obviously can't tell without seeing it.
Many electric guitars do seem to buzz a little with low action, but they don't need too. However, often it is a problem that can't easily be corrected due to the quality of the guitar. I didn't notice what type of guitar you have. |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | If the low E string height is correct at the 12th fret (5/64" being a common standard) and the neck relief is proper adjusted, there shouldn't be noticeable buzz on the lower frets. If there is, Miles may be right in that one of the frets needs some smoothing OR it is probably a low nut slot. If the problem goes away when you fret the string higher up the neck, one of those is indeed your problem.
The least complicated test for a low slot is to put something in the slot which will raise it very slightly, like a tiny piece of paper. If the buzz goes away, leave the paper and live with the tone or look up one of the threads dealing with filling a nut slot or take it to your tech.
If it is a high fret, a tech can fix that easily enough. There are things you can do at home, but are not recommended for the inexperienced or faint of heart. :eek: |
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August 2002
Posts: 110
| i purchased it brand new, online (ibanez RG350DX ). paid about 350 for it. when i received my guitar, it was already buzzing.
does your electic guitars buzz at all, unplugged(Mr.O/Paul)?
thanks alot guys! |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | tk,
take a ruler and measure @ the 12th fret low e string, from the height of the fret top to the bottom of the string: to the nearest 32nd how high is it?
Also, did you try adjusting the relief? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | If I can't get my acoustic low E strings lower than 3/32 without buzzing on those frets I have a tech work on it. I set the height on my electrics' low E to between 2/32 and 5/64. In answer to your question, my primary guitars do not buzz. One's pick attack may affect that somewhat, too.
FWIW, some of the vintage style Fender necks are a bit more challenging to set up with low action sans buzz. I'm not a pro tech, tho. |
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August 2002
Posts: 110
| E string, 12th fret: from the bottom of the string, to the top metal part of the 12th fret, is about 3/32.
E string, 1st fret: from the bottom of the string, to the top metal part of the 1st fret, is about 1/32. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | OK TK,
Next thing is to adjust the relief. Give it a little bit more warp, about a 1/4 turn, and see what happens. |
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August 2002
Posts: 110
| i gave it a little bow, and made it worst. so a warped it a bit, and lowered the tremelo, and that actually helped a bit. the buzz is not that bad now. and now its about the same height as it was before, though it seems higher. i cant lower the tremelo anymore. it will cause a buzz in the higher frets(12+). :confused: |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I don't know how to adjust a tremelo. Now that it's almost gone try strings that are just a little thinner. |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Check to see if the third fret is high on the bass side of the neck. Use a short metal ruler and lay it parallel to the string then see if it rocks on the fret. Also look at the first few frets to see if there's a gap under any of them, check to see if the 1st and 2nd fret are sunk into the wood any. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 110
| when i use the metal ruler on the 1st fret all the way down the ruler, it doesnt rock. it has spaces between the 5th-8th fret though.
i might just try on thinner strings.
thanks for the replies! |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "does your electic guitars buzz at all, unplugged"
Well I have had it happen, but I fix it. I do not play guitars with string buzz. |
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electric buzz
