Low E fret buzz first fret

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peshewah
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Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:07 pm
Location: Nixa Mo.

Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by peshewah »

Bought a Tribute ASAT deluxe on 3-31-12 from Hoover Music in Sprinfield Mo. It has had a kinda buzz to it every since we had it setup with the action low. I really don't know that much about guitars but I have been doing alot of research. When I look down from head to the body the neck looks twisted clock wise but not a whole lot. But I do know its twisted. I took it in to Hoover Music and told them about it. The sales guy said that the strings were shot and the neck needed adjusted. So he threw on a new low E string and adjusted the neck and it was worse. So I left it there to be setup and new strings put on it by the repair guy. Went to pick it up on Tuesday and it has the same buzz to it. The neck was the same. Salesman told me it looked straight to him and told me a guitar will have a buzz if I use bigger strings( 10-46)and it only matters if you can hear it when its plugged into a amp. So when I got home I plugged it into the amp and the buzz is still there. Tryed another amp, buzz was still there. Does all guitars have a buzz when the action is set low with 10-46 gauge strings? I'm sure the repair guy knows what he is doing. Is there anyone from the Springfield Mo area who knows a good tech guy? I would be grateful for any input.
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Elwood
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by Elwood »

peshewah wrote: Does all guitars have a buzz when the action is set low with 10-46 gauge strings? I'm sure the repair guy knows what he is doing. Is there anyone from the Springfield Mo area who knows a good tech guy? I would be grateful for any input.
No, He doesn't know know what he's doing, a good tech will make you happy and your guitar sound good .
A good tech will file your nut to work perfect with your preferred string gauge, or install a new nut if it is cut badly or too low to begin with.
You could always try to fill in the low E slot with some superglue and baking soda so you can refile it allow it ti vibrate freely over the first few frets. A good tech will also evaluate your relief/any twisting, and might find a fret job is in order too.
It sounds like finding a good tech and deciding how much time you want him to devote to it is the next step.

(edit: after re-reading your title I'm guessing you mean a buzz with the first fret fretted, same remedy...hopefully someone here can recommend a (more than just a) good local tech for ya .)
Last edited by Elwood on Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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suave eddie
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by suave eddie »

I'm sure the repair guy knows what he is doing.
NOT!!!

There is no reason to have fret buzz after a proper setup unless that is the way you like it.
Salesman told me it looked straight to him and told me a guitar will have a buzz if I use bigger strings( 10-46)
If I understand correctly, there was no buzzing until the tech lowered your action, and the salesman told you that the only fix is to go to heavier gauge stirngs?

Either bring it back to the same tech and demand to have it set up the way you want at no additional charge or find another tech.

My $.02 worth.
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darwinohm
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by darwinohm »

Any small problems will show up with low action. If you have a buzz on the low E first fret, measure the gap under the strings between the nut and the first fret. All six strings should have about the same clearance underneath. I would guess that the low E notch on the nut is cut a bit low. A quick test would be to loosen the string and put a thin piece of paper under the string in the grove. If it goes away you need to fill the grove a bit. I have fixed this issue with very thin brass shimming material. The perfect solution is a new nut.-- Darwin
sscandyman
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by sscandyman »

hey pesh,im also in springfield .im not gonna say that the tech at springfield music is great but he has never done a poor job for me ( couple setups in the past ) if nothing else i dont think a second opinion would hurt. my wifes bass has been at hoover for three weeks now for a rewire , im not terribly impressed.
peshewah
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Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:07 pm
Location: Nixa Mo.

Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by peshewah »

I contacted the Hoover Music tech via email. Then he took the time to call me. He was very nice. He said he dosen't recall my guitar crossing his bench. So I'm thinking someone else did the setup. I will meet with him next Saturday. Hope to get it all straighten out. Hoover has been around for 100 years. They gotta be doing something right. Thank you guys for your replys and input. I'm grateful.
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KenC
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by KenC »

I'd love to hear what the tech says!

Ken
louis cyfer
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Re: Low E fret buzz first fret

Post by louis cyfer »

peshewah wrote:I contacted the Hoover Music tech via email. Then he took the time to call me. He was very nice. He said he dosen't recall my guitar crossing his bench. So I'm thinking someone else did the setup. I will meet with him next Saturday. Hope to get it all straighten out. Hoover has been around for 100 years. They gotta be doing something right. Thank you guys for your replys and input. I'm grateful.
the store maybe doing something right, but good techs simply don't work at music stores very often. they work out of their own shop, keep all the money instead of splitting with the store.