Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

[av3nger]

Ok so I'm gonna be straight forward here.

When you measure the distance of the strings to the 12th fret do you press your fingers down on any frets?
What is the best setup for tone? What is the best setup for speed?
I am trying to eliminate as much buzz as possible.

My guitar is a Schecter Blackjack C-1 from 2006. It has a tonepros bridge and I believe it comes factory with a graphtech Tusq nut. I have had nothing but buzz forever and I want my notes to ring clear. I also want ease of play.

What is the distance from the top of the frets to the bottom of the fat and high E supposed to be respectively? I have a Baroque String action ruler, a metal ruler, 5/32 (4mm allen wrench) for the truss rod adjustments. It seems like no matter what I do I still have buzz up on the higher frets on the bass strings. The high strings are almost flawless.

Here is the guitar. I ended up modifying based on feedback from this forum and my own research:



RS Pots, RS guitarcap, Fender super Switch, Seymour Duncan Black Winter bridge, Wilde L-90 4H Neck.. Grover locking chrome tuners
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

Lower action until buzz is unbearable. Raise action until buzz goes away. Disregard measurement tools. Works for me anyway.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

What is the best setup for tone? What is the best setup for speed?
I am trying to eliminate as much buzz as possible.

Really is no "best" kinda have to figure out what works for you. EP actually gave a reasonable way to deal with buzz. (it just assumes the truss rod is where it needs to be) I know for me cause i tend to really pound the strings I need a bit higher action than someone who plays softer needs to eliminate buzz. I also find there is a limit (for me at least) to how low you can go before it becomes a detriment to speed.

Dont be afraid to play with the adjustments and find what you like, its what they are there for.

It is not uncommon to have a bit of buzz on the low strings above the 15th fret. This area is always a bit of a compromise.

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

Really is no "best" kinda have to figure out what works for you. EP actually gave a reasonable way to deal with buzz. (it just assumes the truss rod is where it needs to be) I know for me cause i tend to really pound the strings I need a bit higher action than someone who plays softer needs to eliminate buzz. I also find there is a limit (for me at least) to how low you can go before it becomes a detriment to speed.

Dont be afraid to play with the adjustments and find what you like, its what they are there for.

It is not uncommon to have a bit of buzz on the low strings above the 15th fret. This area is always a bit of a compromise.

I would say I would need a medium setup since I like vibrato, hammer-ons and pull-offs, plus hitting the strings harder. Every time I look up guitar setup it's some ridiculous process that has to be just perfect.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I agree with EP and Edge, forget about the numbers the tone(action in your hands) is the thing and that is very personal.

Definitely check your truss rod adjustment and if that is as good as it gets for your playing style, then adjust your bridge height. Don't be afraid to adjust the bass string side of the bridge higher than the treble side to get rid of the buzz there.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I tend to use the standard measures as a bench mark but then largely go by what feels good. Stew Mac usually has some useful tips as starting points, I'd check their site.

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I tend to use the standard measures as a bench mark but then largely go by what feels good. Stew Mac usually has some useful tips as starting points, I'd check their site.

Hey thanks I will check it out!

 

[EDX]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

a good trick i use is to set a medium or medium high action that's about 3mm from top of the fret to bottom of the string

i like to set my action on the fret 22 (last fret on my v) set at that and adjust from there, on my guitra i use medium low to medium high action, the high E is at 2.5 mm and the low one is 3.5mm from top of fret to bottom of the stringjust slight fret buzz when i pick really hard, however that buzz doesn't made it through the amp

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I am not a luthier or tech by any stretch. But like Jeff5, I measure to get my bearings. It's the best way for me to get all my guitars as close as possible to feeling/playing the same. Then I tweak. They never will feel quite the same but it allows me to be comfortable switching between any of them. Check your neck relief. My starting point is .010" fretting the first (capo) and either the 17th or the last fret. It just kinda depends on how the truss rod adjustment affects the particular neck. I measure clearance at either at the 7th, 8th or 9th fret. Whichever of those 3 frets has the most clearance, I take down to .010" by adjusting the truss rod and measuring with a feeler gauge. I try to give the neck overnight to settle but they usually move pretty quick. If you have a lot of relief, removing some of it will allow the bridge to be raised (sometimes a lot, relatively speaking) to achieve the same clearance (compared to having too much relief) measured between top of 12th fret and bottom of low E string. This may cure, or at least limit the buzz. There is a caveat, if you have a high fret/frets, you will be chasing your tail.
I'm not a shredder. I think my string heights are pretty close to what you would see listed as "recommended" clearances, but maybe a little higher on the high e side. 5/64" (2mm) low E, a hair shy of 4/64" (1/16" or about 1.5mm) high e (I can go lower without buzz but that's not my goal). Again, the .010 is a starting point for relief, sometimes it may end up a couple thousandths lower, sometimes maybe a hair higher.

A couple more things. Everyone here may do it completely differently than I do. I know a lot of guys don't measure. I can feel when a guitar is out of sorts and in which way without measuring, but I'll pull out the tools anyway to confirm. And I just prefer to measure to get a starting point. It may not be a bad idea for you to do the same for starters so you know exactly where your guitar is right now and have a reference for what your adjustments are doing. With experience, you may get to be like the guys who don't need to measure. I guess I just never got over the ruler and feeler gauge.

Maybe try and find some videos out there to walk you through this stuff.

 

[DonP]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

There is a lot to explain, but you may want to check out Dan Erlewine's books on guitar setup.

In general, if you have buzz on the high frets close to the bridge, you bridge is set too loo.

Make sure you have relief - a slight curve in the neck. You never want back-bow.

If string buzz when open and all other settings are correct, the nut may be cut too deep.

Buzzing on the low frets and not high frets is likely back-bow.

I learned how to adjust my action by reading. I don't usually measure, I do it by feel and by sight.

Good luck.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I have an axe just like that. If the relief in the neck is good, just raise that Tonepro a bit at a time until it stops buzzing. I'm curious, I have the original 59/JB set in mine except for having swapped the A5's for a UOA5 in the '59 and a DD ceramic in the JB in the bridge. I love the sound but I'm curious as to how you like the BWs.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

i have one almost like that. It buzzes a little too. But when you playing loud and metaru, it don't matter. j/k

are you using big thick downtuned strings? I forgot what i have but its not the biggest. i'm tuned to B standard.

 

[JRSOLDJA]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

Ok so I'm gonna be straight forward here.

When you measure the distance of the strings to the 12th fret do you press your fingers down on any frets?
What is the best setup for tone? What is the best setup for speed?
I am trying to eliminate as much buzz as possible.

My guitar is a Schecter Blackjack C-1 from 2006. It has a tonepros bridge and I believe it comes factory with a graphtech Tusq nut. I have had nothing but buzz forever and I want my notes to ring clear. I also want ease of play.

What is the distance from the top of the frets to the bottom of the fat and high E supposed to be respectively? I have a Baroque String action ruler, a metal ruler, 5/32 (4mm allen wrench) for the truss rod adjustments. It seems like no matter what I do I still have buzz up on the higher frets on the bass strings. The high strings are almost flawless.

Here is the guitar. I ended up modifying based on feedback from this forum and my own research:

View attachment 64695

RS Pots, RS guitarcap, Fender super Switch, Seymour Duncan Black Winter bridge, Wilde L-90 4H Neck.. Grover locking chrome tuners
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood.

Personally, I start with my truss rod in my Schecter C1-FR first. Then make the bridge adjustments after. If you're eliminating fret buzz then losening the truss rod and then tightening the bridge usually does the trick.

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

That is pretty coincidental. A fellow Shecter owner. Sweet. Thanks!

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

i have one almost like that. It buzzes a little too. But when you playing loud and metaru, it don't matter. j/k

are you using big thick downtuned strings? I forgot what i have but its not the biggest. i'm tuned to B standard.

I play in E Standard or drop D. Mostly E standard.

I'm into this type of sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jogtuOhg6E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KREx1QCOzhg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_HxzOIH8eE

I've managed to get this out of my Schecter:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_4d_edit.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_4c.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_Edit.mp3 (Go to 8:30-9:30)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Tone_METAL.mp3

Each of those should be one guitar track.

The playing is sloppy because Fruity Loops has some kind of delay in the sound coming back to my ears while I am playing.

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I have an axe just like that. If the relief in the neck is good, just raise that Tonepro a bit at a time until it stops buzzing. I'm curious, I have the original 59/JB set in mine except for having swapped the A5's for a UOA5 in the '59 and a DD ceramic in the JB in the bridge. I love the sound but I'm curious as to how you like the BWs.

I was slightly put off by the Black Winters at first I think. It doesn't feel as wild of a pickup as a JB. The JB seemed to be less tight with the frequencies more spread out there. The Black Winter is tight and well balanced. I didn't know how to palm mute when I was first playing with the JB in it so I can't tell you about the differences in palm muting. I will say that the Black Winter's palm mutes are tight and the heaviest. The 59 neck pickup that was in mine was decent. It had a partial vintage vibe to it. The L-90 gets bluesy and almost like a strat. It has plenty of all the frequencies. I don't think I would mind more highs though. I could just be dialing in my settings with too much bass.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

I play in E Standard or drop D. Mostly E standard.

I'm into this type of sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jogtuOhg6E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KREx1QCOzhg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_HxzOIH8eE

I've managed to get this out of my Schecter:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_4d_edit.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_4c.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Riffs_Edit.mp3 (Go to 8:30-9:30)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10208060/Portfolio/Music/Guitar_Tone_METAL.mp3

Each of those should be one guitar track.

The playing is sloppy because Fruity Loops has some kind of delay in the sound coming back to my ears while I am playing.

Cool.

Did you get the action dialed in?

 

[av3nger]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

That stuff is from a while ago. I haven't messed with it yet. I'm honestly a little confused by the measurements on that Baroque string action tool. I've had one of Dan Erlewine's books for a while now.

http://prntscr.com/7n5vau

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup

That stuff is from a while ago. I haven't messed with it yet. I'm honestly a little confused by the measurements on that Baroque string action tool. I've had one of Dan Erlewine's books for a while now.

http://prntscr.com/7n5vau

I use a ruler with 64th's. At any rate, ignore what you have circled in yellow. You can use the opposite corner which is in millimeters. Or just get a small metal ruler. If you want one, a flat feeler gauge set should be available from the local auto parts store.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Schecter Metal Guitar Setup