Damn G String

[Light]

What SHOULD happe when you bring your guitar into a good repair shop is that some one who has a clue (preferably the person who is going to do the work, but sometimes in a large shop it is not possible) needs to first ask you what problems you are having. Next, they should evaluate the guitars geometry and function. The first thing they should do is look at the neck relief (everything else flows from there). If that is the only problem, in my shop at least, we just fix it and you're on your way, but that doesn't sound like the issue here. Next up, they should check the nut slot adjustment, then the action, and then everything else. At some point in here they are going to ask you what kind of music you play, how hard you play, and maybe even ask you to play for them for a bit (though that is less infomative than you might think). If your problem includes electronics, they should look inside the cavity, though if it is something like a Strat where the electronics take a few minutes to get to (that's a damn lot of screews) they might wait until it is on the bench. If it is an acoustic, they will likely look inside the guitar for loose braces, etc.

Once they have heard your complaints and looked over the guitar, they should tell you exactly what is causing the problem (one caviat here; with electronics it is not always possible to tell what is wrong without extensive exploration), and how they propose to fix it, giving you options if there are any. If the person doing the work is not avalible, then they should tell you that the person doing the work will call you with a revised estimate once they have looked at the guitar.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[NYMorningstar]

Setting up a guitar is not rocket science and you should learn how to do it yourself or at least know whats happening so you can prevent the problems.

You said at first what he did helped for awhile but now you have a string buzz. Most likely this happened because you swapped the strings out and changed the gauge(lighter and thinner) which makes them sit lower in the bridge saddle. This would cause the string to be closer to the fretboard and cause your buzz. Solution, use a heavier gauge string, they sound better anyhow.

Another reason for your buzz could simply just be fret wear. If a fret wears, when you push the string down, it gets too close to the fretboard and buzzes off the next fret. Often all you need to do for this is raise the bridge a little. If that doesn't work, it's time to take out the fret file and even things out again. Unless you are a good machinest or mechanic you might want to get help with this.

Another possibility for the buzz is you pulled on the neck too hard when playing. Although it's unlikely, it is possible especially after you've had a couple drinks. To fix that you need to pull out the ole carpenter's square or anything else that is straight and true and adjust your truss rod. You want to check and make sure the neck is not twisted(like the ladies when you walk by) and that it is straight end to end with no bow. Check the height of all the frets too!

Last but not least, the out of tune problem could simply be from the way you wrap your string. Make sure the final turns are wrapped on the tuning peg and not wrapped over a previous turn of the string. Also, when you initially tune the string, stretch it out 1 to 2 inches from the guitar and then retune it. That will set your string and prevent alot of unnecessary tuning after each song.

 

[muttley600]

Setting up a guitar is not rocket science and you should learn how to do it yourself or at least know whats happening so you can prevent the problems.

No its not but it's not a walk in the park either.

You said at first what he did helped for a while but now you have a string buzz. Most likely this happened because you swapped the strings out and changed the gauge(lighter and thinner) which makes them sit lower in the bridge saddle. This would cause the string to be closer to the fretboard and cause your buzz. Solution, use a heavier gauge string, they sound better anyhow.

Sorry but that simply is not the case. When a string is fretted the nut and the slot are no longer part of the equation as far as buzzing is concerned. A nut slot can and often does sit lower than the first fret depending on the action and neck break angle. From the description by the OP the buzzing or more correctly "choking" of the strings is down to not enough relief in the neck as a result of over tightening the truss rod. Any high frets then will become far more critical. The string gauge does have an effect but not in this case. A proper setup involves settting the neck relief and then dressing the frets so they are level in relation to one another.

Another reason for your buzz could simply just be fret wear. If a fret wears, when you push the string down, it gets too close to the fretboard and buzzes off the next fret. Often all you need to do for this is raise the bridge a little. If that doesn't work, it's time to take out the fret file and even things out again. Unless you are a good machinest or mechanic you might want to get help with this.

More commonly its the next fret but one ie 2 frets up but not always. Raising the bridge is not the correct solution. A fret file is not the tool to use to correct this. To do it correctly you would need to examine first the actual relief in the neck and then each fret above the low one. If you attempt to lower one fret you will normally just push the problem up the fret board. Most set up guys will have a selection of FLAT wet stones, diamond stones and fine flat files that they trust and will use the one thy know will take the top of the high frets for the job in hand. Then they will use a fret file and re-crown the frets. Then you burnish and polish the frets so they play smooth.

Another possibility for the buzz is you pulled on the neck too hard when playing. Although it's unlikely, it is possible especially after you've had a couple drinks. To fix that you need to pull out the ole carpenter's square or anything else that is straight and true and adjust your truss rod. You want to check and make sure the neck is not twisted(like the ladies when you walk by) and that it is straight end to end with no bow. Check the height of all the frets too!

Sorry but the reason for the buzz is because a guitar tech who didn't know what they were doing yanked the truss rod with no real idea of what they were doing. If you are not 100% sure of how a truss rod works leave it alone. Where can I get an "ole carpenter's square" and how will it help me measure the relief in a guitar neck? How will it show me if the neck is twisted. You also might want a little bow in the neck from end to end. Us luthiers call it relief. You want to measure this when the guitar is upto tension and its what stops you from getting unwanted buzzing with a low action.

Last but not least, the out of tune problem could simply be from the way you wrap your string. Make sure the final turns are wrapped on the tuning peg and not wrapped over a previous turn of the string. Also, when you initially tune the string, stretch it out 1 to 2 inches from the guitar and then retune it. That will set your string and prevent alot of unnecessary tuning after each song.

Nonsense. The string would slip just once if that was the case and just a little. If it is a consistant problem it is most commonly a sticking nut slot.

Sorry to be harsh but most of the advice you have offered is not relevent or correct. Guitar setup is not rocket science as you say but it is a demanding skill that requires accuracy and attention to detail as well as a good understanding of how the parts of the guitar work together and against each other. Sure go ahead and do it yourself, but if anyone does feel like doing a bit of setup work please get a few old junkers before you work on your fav guitars. You'll find many expereinced guys out there willing to offer advice and good books on the subject as well as some good online stuff. Use them.

 

[RandyW]

There are a lot of variables in a good setup. But first is your action set the way you like it right now? With out seeing it would be hard to determine your problem. I played a new Gibson LP this weekend that had the action set so high from the factory you could shot an arrow with it.

Do the strings buzz on only the first couple frets or only on the higer register frets or every where? Only of the first couple frets would indicate you probably need a bit more relief loosen the truss rod a quarter of a turn.
If it is only in higer positionx I would raise the bridge a little bit.

A new guitar even with cheap tuners should not have a tuning problem so I suspect your problem to be the nut. Here is a quick way to find out if your strings are getting pinched in the nut slots. Hook up a tuner and tune it as best as you can.
Next press down as hard as you can on a string between the nut and the tuner. Check and see if it is still in perfect tune, I'll wagger it is slightly sharp.
Now on that same string do a smear or vibrato bending it atleast a full step and check the string again did it go back in tune or get a little flater? If so then your tuning problem is nut related. Usually this only happens on a couple of strings. What you need to do is get some 400grit sand paper wrap it around and old string and smooth out that slot you also need to put a little bit of a ramp on the tuner side of the nut. Do like the previous post suggested and do a search on guitar nut adjustments. Then do one on truss rods just remember a little bit of a turn goes a long way.

The tip about wrapping 400 grit around a strings works great I have a couple sets of nut files but still use the sand paper wrapped around the next string size down for the final polishing on my nuts

 

[muttley600]

Lets get some order to this debate!! The most important thing with any decent setup is as Light said earlier, listen to the customer ask him what problems he is having. A decent shop will always have a check list to work to for setups BUT you need to listen to the customer to find out what areas may need special attention. I make notes on the job sheet as I listen. If we can all agree that this is the best starting point lets listen to what the OP stated in the first post.

He had no buzzing until he took it to the shop. After that he had buzzing. He knows the guy tinkered with the truss rod. Right there is the cause of the buzzing. He has four options

Live with it, take it back to the shop, have someone else look at it, look at it himself. I have said what I think he should do.

By listening we can also understand that the original problem had to do with holding tune. Any tech worth his salt would identify this as a nut problem and should note on the job sheet what needs to be checked. ie nut slots, failing this the saddle or finally the tuners. If none of these work it is symptomatic of a much more obscure and possibly significant problem. Time to stop and call the customer at this point.

RandyW, I'm not going to rubbish your post but you are not listening. This is not a new guitar he has had it for 5 or 6 years. The first part of a setup other than listening and eyeballing the general condition of the guitar is to examine the neck relief and dressing frets if required. Only then can you set the action at any level you want.

The key here is that the guy had no buzzing until after someone had tinkered with his neck setup and messed with the truss rod. And that the original tuning problem was not addressed. Trying to fix it himself now is coming from the wrong starting point. Neither problems are huge and it should be fixable easily but I would suggest it needs someone at this point with as bit of experience to give it the once over to make sure that the original work has not caused any more harm than a bit of buzzing. Missuse of truss rods can cause other unseen problems.

 

[NYMorningstar]

Us luthiers call it relief.

LOL, there's no need for you to be so sorry

 

[muttley600]

LOL, there's no need for you to be so sorry

Sorry about that, its a British thing!! Won't happen again, terribly sorry.........

Truth is I don't want to sound like the "Big I am" but when guitars are concerned I do know a bit. As for recording techniques and Mics etc I'm relatively clueless thats why I came here and I'm learning thanks to the search option...Just like to try and contribute where I can.

 

[Slowrider]

Just another case where- if you don't have the guitar right in your hands- it could be a combination of problems. Most are an easy fix- once it's in your hands.