Buzz with little relief/high action.

[Pierre]

Right now on the Charvel model 1a I get buzz pretty much everywhere on the fretboard. The relief appears to be quite small (there definitely is MUCH less than a business card's thickness) and the action is relatively high (right 2.5mm on the 12th fret, low E). I was thinking of adding a little relief and lower the string height at the bridge a little and see what it gives. The other solution would be to shim the nut and lower the action as the bridge too but it's much easier to add a little relief I guess. What do you guys say? The neck is even (from treble to bass side it's flat) and there is very little wear on the frets, which also seem to be level (the guitar tech checked on them).

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Does your Neck havea truss rod?
If yes, do the following:
Fret a string at the 1st Fret & with the other hand at the 12th fret... then look a the string at the distance between the frets... there should be a little space between neck & fretboard...

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Hehe you didn't read did you? I have enough relief (well lack thereof) to allow for an adjustment.
I just turned it about an 8th of a turn (loosening it) and the buzz is MUCH LESS important now, but still there and annoying. I'll let it rest tonight, play it tomorrow and adjust it tomorrow again if needed. Is it ok if she rests flat in her case or is it imperative that she sleeps in playing condition? I adjusted the neck in playing conditions too, and I took all my measurements like this.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Does your Neck havea truss rod?
If yes, do the following:
Fret a string at the 1st Fret & with the other hand at the 12th fret... then look a the string at the distance between the frets... there should be a little space between neck & fretboard...

WTF?? What are you talking about here? Yes, there's a trussrod, it's a Charvel Model 1A. :smack: And what are you talking about "a little space bettween neck & fretboard". The neck and fretboard are attached to one another. This makes no sense.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Hehe you didn't read did you? I have enough relief (well lack thereof) to allow for an adjustment.
I just turned it about an 8th of a turn (loosening it) and the buzz is MUCH LESS important now, but still there and annoying. I'll let it rest tonight, play it tomorrow and adjust it tomorrow again if needed. Is it ok if she rests flat in her case or is it imperative that she sleeps in playing condition? I adjusted the neck in playing conditions too, and I took all my measurements like this.

It's fine if it's in the case. The fact that you're letting it sit a while before adjusting it further is great. Not many know to do that.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Is it a safe bet that I start having too much relief once I can slide a business card in between the frets and strings (with the capo first fret and fretted last fret, or between them and the straight edge) but that before it's fine? I have no feeler gauge

 

[ErikH]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

I don't go by the rules when it comes to the action. I go for what feels comfortable to me. If that feels good to you and there is no buzz, great. My Kramer gets a little buzz here and there but I attack it pretty hard but the action is low and you can't hear it when it's plugged in so it doesn't bother me. As for your relief, see what it's like in another 10 minutes and then go from there but the business card should just slide under.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

I didn't mean action, I meant relief. Right now I do by eye but I'm still rather beginning.
I'll check the relief tomorrow, right now I'm too tired and lazy!

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Guys please? The time to stop adding relief is when I can slide a business card between the frets and the streight edge right? Before that it's still healthy?

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Guys please? The time to stop adding relief is when I can slide a business card between the frets and the streight edge right? Before that it's still healthy?

Don't worry about it that much. You can't find an ultimate answer for issues such as this. It's a matter of personal preference.

You're on your way to techdom now. Have a happy ride!

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Well while I agree with you, I think there is a limit to relief that can be accepted is a good rule of thumb and I've heard it's the business card, which leaves me a little margin for another loosening and set up, but I just want to be sure.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Well while I agree with you, I think there is a limit to relief that can be accepted is a good rule of thumb and I've heard it's the business card, which leaves me a little margin for another loosening and set up, but I just want to be sure.

The business card thing is the generally accepted rule of thumb but the most important thing is what works for you. Things can vary based on fret wear, how hard you pluck, etc., so the advice to adjust until you find a combination of action/relief that works for you is quite sound.

BTW, I've always heard the business card thickness described as the typical amount of relief to set, not the maximum.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Buzz with little relief/high action.

Oh... damn haha I have quite a big margin then, thanks I'll give a try to another setup.

Ok third adustment done, I'm letting it rest for the night and I won't touch it tomorrow at all aside from playing (I did all I could to let it rest but 2 adjustements in a day... I fear for the poor thing). There is slightly more relief but I could get a little more (just the thickness of the business card I reckon) with another 8th turn in two days should the need arise. If it still buzzes I'll keep it there and have the frets checked more thoroughly.
The funny thing is, on my model 4 which doesn't buzz, the relief is less important. Guess I just got a winner :saeek: