NGD...But not happy

Re: NGD...But not happy

allbutromeo said:
10"-16" compound radius IIRC
Click to expand...

According to the specs, its 12"-16"

SPECIFICATIONS

Adrian Smith SDX
products general
Model Name: Adrian Smith Signature SDX
Series: Artist Signature
products body
Body: Basswood
Body Shape: San Dimas
Body Finish: Gloss
products neck
Neck Shape: Speed Neck
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Jumbo
Position Inlays: Dot
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm)
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Oiled
Nut Width: 1.6875" (43 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Truss Rods: Dual-Action
Truss Rod Nut: Butt Adjustable
products electronics
Pickup Configuration: H/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Jackson Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup: Jackson Single Coil Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup: Jackson Single Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
products hardware
Bridge: Top Mount Floyd Rose Special
Tuning Machines: Jackson Tuning Machines
products tools
Truss Rod Wrench: Standard Truss Rod Wrench
Floyd Rose Nut Adjustment Wrench: Yes
products miscellaneous
Strings: NPS, Gauges: .009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042
Unique Features: H/S/S pickup configuration, 22 jumbo frets, maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard, Floyd Rose Special bridge, 5-way selector switch
products accessories
Pickguards: White
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

I'm sorry to hear that. Some good advice has been posted and I hope it all works out. That's a beautiful guitar. My buddy just got one as well and returned it for similar reasons. Some buzz, couldn't set it up the way he liked. The deal breaker for him was having to take off the neck to do truss rod adjustments. He's a Les Paul guy, so that just freaked him out, lol.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Sounds like the fret make have raised up and needs to be re-seated.
 
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Re: NGD...But not happy

If it takes you 15 tries to do a truss adjustment, you really shouldn't be doing it yourself. Besides, as others have said, a bad string (it really does happen) or a raised fret is far more likely the culprit here. You can change the string yourself, but a tech is definitely worth the investment if the problem persists.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

masta' c said:
If it takes you 15 tries to do a truss adjustment, you really shouldn't be doing it yourself. Besides, as others have said, a bad string (it really does happen) or a raised fret is far more likely the culprit here. You can change the string yourself, but a tech is definitely worth the investment if the problem persists.
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1. Thank you all for the suggestions. I've got more help here than the Jackson forum.
2. I did contemplate a string change, but couldn't believe that could cause the buzz on new strings.
3. I'm going to take it to the local Jackson service center this week for advice or warranty work.
4. I didn't expect it to be perfect out of the box. Who knows how long it sat in a warehouse or if UPS dropped it or whatever. Plus it is MII..
So again thank you all for your input and I can't wait to start playing this beast
 
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Re: NGD...But not happy

Bumping an old thread. I just got a brand new SDX today and it has bad fret buzz starting at the 7th fret upwards. Did you ever sort out the issue with yours?

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

You have two, well, three option really:

1. Give up on the thing, return it, get your cash back, bust a bank and buy a USA/CS, maybe those won't have these problems. Not a real solution though and I personally wouldn't do it. Busting a bank would be fine by me, but the USA/CS Jacksons are sold for stupid money. In my opinion the difference in price is immensely disproportionate compared to the difference in quality/features.
2. Take it to a tech and let him sort it out.
3. Learn how to do it for yourself. Really no rocket science. Change strings. Check relief. Check action. Check fret level with a rocker. If you find some high spots, saned 'em, polish 'em and enjoy. If too many spots or completely frets outta whack, take it to a tech/luthier, as doing a complete fret level on a compund radius board might be a more advanced job. Also, find a Jackson user's manual on the web. The one that they give with USA models. They list the recommended setup specs, use those as point of reference. Try to aim for the upper limits of those specs. An X series guitar will most likely not be able to perform within or below USA setup specs.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Usually this sort of thing is easily diagnosed and repaired by a good tech, and worth fixing. It mostly comes down to a fret issue, and it is silly to pass up a otherwise great guitar on something easily fixed.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Mincer said:
Usually this sort of thing is easily diagnosed and repaired by a good tech, and worth fixing. It mostly comes down to a fret issue, and it is silly to pass up a otherwise great guitar on something easily fixed.
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My concern here is that it would void the warranty and I wouldn't be able to return it if there's still issues after a professional setup.

I think I'm going to get the Charvel So Cal that I was originally looking at.

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Setups/fretwork shouldn't void the warranty. It is easy enough to look up what your warranty covers. Replacing parts and messing up the job probably would void it.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Mincer said:
Setups/fretwork shouldn't void the warranty. It is easy enough to look up what your warranty covers. Replacing parts and messing up the job probably would void it.
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This one.

A setup is like changing faulty tires on a new car. It should not void the warranty.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

I agree that they shouldn't. And then reality can cook up some really weird stuff. I have had so many bad experiences (not just in guitar stores, but in general), that I am literally surprised when I get a service which aims at helping me out with my problem and keeping me as a customer rather than getting the highest amount of money out of my pockets in the shortest possible time.

That being said, if you're afraid of voiding the warranty, than why don't try to get things straightened out under your warranty at the dealer?

Also, if you do decide to take it to a tech/luthier, he willmost probably inspect the instrument and if he sees any sort of unsalvageable structural problem with it, I doubt thet he will start hacking it up without letting you know that it has a sort of problem that he might not be able to repair. By the way very seldom does one hear of structurally unsalvageable guitars from these bigger brands these days (at least as far as I know), which means your problem can be solved most probably for under $100.

But if this is not what you originally wanted, then by all means go get the one you want! Just be warned that unless you pay up ( and I mean UP), these companies won't sell you a guitar which is perfect out of the box. I recently threw 1000+ euros at Jackson and spent the weekend finishing the job of the factory workers...
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

No production guitars have perfectly level frets unless they have been run through a fret machine, which is rare, or had a level done by hand, which I've never heard of. You can take it to a luthe and get that one spot leveled or get the entire neck leveled which will make it play good everywhere.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

A buzz on ONE fret only suggested the next is slightly high. Or that one is perhaps a little low...

But from the 7th fret on - that's a whole other beast. Might just need a touch of relief, or the action is just too low. Or there is a major neck issue.
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Aceman said:
A buzz on ONE fret only suggested the next is slightly high. Or that one is perhaps a little low...

But from the 7th fret on - that's a whole other beast. Might just need a touch of relief, or the action is just too low. Or there is a major neck issue.
Click to expand...
It's already sent back. Replaced with this!
668c20819fd43be86168b915dee8d90d.jpg
1b964b3572719a08f48f589473ac9c42.jpg


Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
 
Re: NGD...But not happy

Congrats! The new Charvel guitars are an amazing deal. And yes, those necks are wicked comfy!
 
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