YAGT: Yet Another *Guitar* Thread

[rpc64]

I recently re-stringed my guitar and I'm having problems with string buzz. This is like my 2nd time re stringing a guitar so I'm not exactly a pro at this. I have tried adjusting the string heights and it seems like when I get one string sounding right another one (or more) will start to buzz. I can't seem to get it so that none of the strings are buzzy.

The guitar is a Fender Strat. Do any of you more experienced guiltar players have any advice to get my strings sounding right? Thanks.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

I have that same question too....my low E string has always buzzed a lil bit, even after restringing (once my A string was buzzing but I restrung it again and it got rid of it)

 

[Eli]

Hmm.. I've never had problems with fret buzzing, and I've restrung my guitar dozens of times...

Are you sure you aren't mistaking the sound of new strings for buzz?

 

[rpc64]

Yeah it's my D string that's buzzing the most. I really hope I don't have to restring this thing again :|

Eli: It's buzzing quite a bit. I don't think it's just because it's new. Also this is my first time re stringing this particular guitar.

 

[ThaPerculator]

Could be a lot of things... could be anything from having a screwed up neck, to wrong saddle height, to maybe lowering your bridge, to needing a new nut from your strings digging down deep... I would say more than likely its saddle/bridge height, or just that your strings have somehow dug through the nut... (i've had to replace my nut like 5 times on my strat already.... dunno why but they all suck for some reason...) Hope I helped...

 

[rpc64]

Originally posted by: ThaPerculator
Could be a lot of things... could be anything from having a screwed up neck, to wrong saddle height, to maybe lowering your bridge, to needing a new nut from your strings digging down deep... I would say more than likely its saddle/bridge height, or just that your strings have somehow dug through the nut... (i've had to replace my nut like 5 times on my strat already.... dunno why but they all suck for some reason...) Hope I helped...

Hmmmm. I did lower my bridge some because when I put these strings on they pulled it up a heck of a lot. I'm guesstimating it's a quarter inch off the body though, which I thought was supposed to be ok.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Stupid question but how do you lower your bridge?

 

[rpc64]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Stupid question but how do you lower your bridge?

Take the plastic plate thing (I don't know the exact name of it) off the back of the guitar and there are some screws in there attached to springs which control the bridge height.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: rpc64

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Stupid question but how do you lower your bridge?

Take the plastic plate thing (I don't know the exact name of it) off the back of the guitar and there are some screws in there attached to springs which control the bridge height.

Hey rpc - thanks. I've had mine for 2+ years and I've never done that :| My bridge height has always been kinda high after restringing

 

[JetBlack69]

Try taking it into a music store and get it checked out. Is it only your D string?

 

[rpc64]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello

Originally posted by: rpc64

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Stupid question but how do you lower your bridge?

Take the plastic plate thing (I don't know the exact name of it) off the back of the guitar and there are some screws in there attached to springs which control the bridge height.

Hey rpc - thanks. I've had mine for 2+ years and I've never done that :| My bridge height has always been kinda high after restringing

Heh no problem. I never did it either until I put these strings on

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

My low E string buzzes when I'm just playing, not thru my amp, but when I hook it up to my amp it sounds fine so I don't worry about it. I've restrung it i don't know how many times and the low E string is the only one that buzzes. Its okay with me as long as it sounds good through my amp =)

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
My low E string buzzes when I'm just playing, not thru my amp, but when I hook it up to my amp it sounds fine so I don't worry about it. I've restrung it i don't know how many times and the low E string is the only one that buzzes. Its okay with me as long as it sounds good through my amp =)

That's my exact problem! Sounds great through the amp, but buzzes a lil without it on.

 

[rpc64]

*plugs his guitar in*

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Hey rpc - help me out here for a second - when you take off the plastic plate, there should be 3 springs (depending on type of Strat) attached to a metal thingy that has 2 screws right? I'm adjusting the screws and that's changing the action as opposed to the height of the bridge. Am I missing something totally wrong here?

 

[rpc64]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Hey rpc - help me out here for a second - when you take off the plastic plate, there should be 3 springs (depending on type of Strat) attached to a metal thingy that has 2 screws right? I'm adjusting the screws and that's changing the action as opposed to the height of the bridge. Am I missing something totally wrong here?

Hmm just a second. *goes to open up his guitar*

 

[rpc64]

That should be changing the bridge height. Look at the springs and then bend the wammy bar. When you tighten those screws it pulls the bridge down toward the body. When you loosen them it raises it. From what I know, action means the height of the strings off the neck (frets), which is adjusted by turning tiny allen screws on the saddles.

That's all I know. I'm not very experienced at adjusting guitars. If I'm wrong, someone correct me.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: rpc64
That should be changing the bridge height. Look at the springs and then bend the wammy bar. When you tighten those screws it pulls the bridge down toward the body. When you loosen them it raises it. From what I know, action means the height of the strings off the neck (frets), which is adjusted by turning tiny allen screws on the saddles.

That's all I know. I'm not very experienced at adjusting guitars. If I'm wrong, someone correct me.

oops you're right - I only tightened it maybe a turn or two, just played with it more and it did lower the bridge height. My bad.

 

[rpc64]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello

Originally posted by: rpc64
That should be changing the bridge height. Look at the springs and then bend the wammy bar. When you tighten those screws it pulls the bridge down toward the body. When you loosen them it raises it. From what I know, action means the height of the strings off the neck (frets), which is adjusted by turning tiny allen screws on the saddles.

That's all I know. I'm not very experienced at adjusting guitars. If I'm wrong, someone correct me.

oops you're right - I only tightened it maybe a turn or two, just played with it more and it did lower the bridge height. My bad.

No problem. You gotta kinda wrestle with it. The screws may be hard to turn and you might have to turn them quite a bit to see any difference in the height.

Also, I noticed that my strings don't really buzz through the amp either. But I can still hear the buzz over my tiny amp unless I crank it up. I still want to fix it.

 

[ScottMac]

You can try heavier strings too. Heavier strings will put a little more bow in the neck.

Usually you find some strings you like, then adjust (or have it adjusted) for those strings. If you go with radically lighter guage strings, the neck bows to the front a little more .... if you use heavier strings, the neck bows toward the back more.

Depending on where the strings are buzzing, you may need to adjust the nut (not usually), the bridge / saddle, or both.

You can do some serious damage to the neck if you don't know what you're doing ... don't be adjusting it too much, or if might cost you.

FWIW

Scott

 

[TrueBlueLS]

fret buzz = time to get your guitar re-setup

 

[rpc64]

You mean like take it in to a shop? I guess I didn't realize how screwed up it is if strings are buzzing.

 

[Rastus]

I keep my action real low and use light strings. Fret buzz is something I live with as long as the intonation is correct.

 

[Lithium381]

is it just when you hit open? or is it only when you play specific frets? are you using the same guage string as before?

 

[slickcat]

Check out this page Guitar setup Click on the Fender link on the left hand side and then check out the setting up your guitar PDF. That should give you a basic idea on how to setup a guitar to sound perfect. Any questions feel free to throw a PM my way.

-Nick