F'ing fret buzz

A

arnarg

New member
Now that I have made my OLP MM4 look good, I want it to play as good as I can. I'm dealing with quite some fret buzz. I have Ernie Ball Power Slinky (image below) strings and normally tune it to D standard/drop C/C standard. I've searched some help but haven't really gotten rid of it yet.
B0002CZUB0.01-A3QI5PL377NJ1M._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Here's where it buzzes:
1st string: nowhere :)
2nd string: 12-21 (but It's not that noticeable)
3rd string: 9-21
4th string: 8-21
5th string: 6-21
6th string: 7-21

The guitar has 22 frets if that matters at all. If you need some more info, just ask and I'll snap some pictures if needed or anything. :)
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

Several things first.

You'll need to raise the action of the strings very very little, due to the larger elliptical string pattern.

Adjust the relief in the neck to where it's perfectly straight, or **** close (I personally like .003" of relief). Once you get that, you can adjust the action at the nut and saddle to eliminate close to all fret buzz.

Keep in mind, if you have a heavy hand, use a heavy pick, both, or just don't have a light touch, there's going to be fretbuzz. As long as it's not coming through and coloring the amp, then you're good.
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

Thanks guys. I adjusted the truss rod and action, a lot less fret buzz although when I play chords it buzzes pretty much but I don't think it's cutting though the amp.
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

I don't know where you are, but my suggestion would be pay the 30-70 dollars for a good setup. A qualified tech (or even better, luthier) will be able to get your guitar to play better than it ever has before.
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

arnarg said:
Thanks guys. I adjusted the truss rod and action, a lot less fret buzz although when I play chords it buzzes pretty much but I don't think it's cutting though the amp.
Click to expand...

That's normal. Low action so that you have the same amount of buzz that you can hear it acoustically is fine. It doesn't make it through the amp and even the "attack" doesn't seem to suffer.

The key here is to have the same amount of buzz all over the fretboard.

But it sounds like you straightened the trussrod without raising the bridge/saddles. That's not the way to go, of course.
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

You know, you really should go out and buy Dan Erlewine's (pronounced Early-wine) books "The Guitar Player's Repair Guide" and "How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great". I'd suggest the later for your personal benefit, and using the first to not only gain valuable knowledge on how the guitar itself works, but also so that you have a good idea on what will be done when you take it into a repair shop. After all, an informed customer is a good customer.
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

I live in Iceland so stuff like that is pretty hard to find, except either pirate it or order of the internet :(
 
Re: F'ing fret buzz

Whether you have the cash flow at the moment or not, think of it as an investment. It's an investment toward your instruments, your state of mind, and your playing as a whole. Unfortunately we guitarists think in such a way as "I don't have the money right now, so I'll just put up with it". The thing I hear the most is "I don't really need a setup, the action isn't THAT high", or "the fret buzz isn't THAT bad", or my favorite "It'll be too much work, I'll just buy another guitar".

Whether you think you can afford it right now or not, just bite the bullet and do what needs to be done. I'm not trying to sound rude or pushy, but at the end of the day a guitar needs to be properly setup.
 
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