Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

[NT02]

Recently purchased Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass.
Love the neck and overall vibe of this guitar, but the string buzz is driving me nuts.
I couldn't work it out, so I took it to a tech. He set it up and basically said this is the best it's gonna get with 9s, that 10s would be better.
The neck relief is perfect, string height is 5/64" on the bass side, a hair under that on the treble side. The top three strings are really buzzing on the lower frets.
Is this normal?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

If it's buzzing through an amp, the relief is not perfect. Add some more and see what happens. If you're not into doing it yourself, take it to a different tech. There are a variety of things that could be causing this problem.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

Yup, add a tad more relief and then lower a little bit your bridge to make height uniform. IMO your action already is a little bit high, all my axes buzz a lot more than that (my main Ibanez has 1mm at 24th fret high E and 1.4mm low B). Nothing to worry about. If the buzz is uniform, then the guitar is set up in a balanced way. Also reduce your pick attack maybe a little bit.

 

[NT02]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

Thanks for the confirmation and advice. The relief has been adjust both ways, nut is right on, and pickups lowered. I'm thinking it's a fret thing at this point.

 

[Byron123]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

I have been looking at these gtrs...and I noticed on the demo videos on the MM site that there seemed to be string buzz....i did think it was odd as this is the "best case scenario" for the gtr???? So if you are having buzz (and it seems to be pretty annoying in your video) right out of the box, and need tech support already, then that is not necessarily a good thing...makes me think twice about buying.

 

[NT02]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

I have been looking at these gtrs...and I noticed on the demo videos on the MM site that there seemed to be string buzz....i did think it was odd as this is the "best case scenario" for the gtr???? So if you are having buzz (and it seems to be pretty annoying in your video) right out of the box, and need tech support already, then that is not necessarily a good thing...makes me think twice about buying.

I returned it. Guitar Center offered to order another and use my credit towards it, but I declined. I told them I would check it out when a new Cutlass arrives, but I won't be ordering one. I played the Sting Ray they had, and noticed some of the same buzz. Not as severe, but not for me.
I've chatted with other folks online who have lower string action with no buzz, so there are good one out there.
FWIW, the neck is more comfortable and faster than an Ibanez rg3550mz and Jackson Dinky Pro, both of which are very nice to play.

Too bad the EBMM buzzes so much. I was looking forward to popping in a bridge hb and making it my main axe.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

Guys, hunting down buzz is not easy, and definitely cannot be done while in the short return period. If it was a fretwork problem, or a neck twist problem, or a abnormality in neck shape problem, you may go through many iterations to find one that is 100% good. But for the premium they charge ($1500) they should be perfect from the factory.
Frets can be corrected, action/relief can be set up, neck bow/twist not so much.

I had tried a Schecter 7-string long scale. This guitar had moderate relief, high action *and* buzz in the higher notes! I *knew* this was not good, but with a super low action I would accept this buzz.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

My guess is that the nut was cut too low. The buzz seemed to lessen the higher you'd go up on the neck.

That being said. Imho, MM's fretwork is horrid. I've seen and played too many to be impressed. I love their timbers and finishes, though.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

My guess is that the nut was cut too low.

Was there any buzz in any open string? All the buzz was from fretted notes.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Normal String Buzz? - Video Content of New Guitar

I have 2 Music Mans, a Silo Special, and a USA SUB1. Neither buzz and have pretty low action (one is scalloped). My guess it is just the guitar, and if you put money into it and it didn't get better with normal adjustments, I would have returned it too.