Guitar string buzz

This means the 12th fret is a bit too high. If you are not familiar with adjusting frets take it to any local guitar shop for repair.

Taken from http://www.learnguitarsetups.com


There are a few golden rules when adjusting your truss rod. First, only use the rod to keep your neck as straight as it needs to be...do not use it to adjust your action! Second, only use the proper tools. If you do not know what the proper tool is, check with the manufacturer. Truss rod nuts are easy to strip, and once they're stripped, they are expensive to fix! Finally, do not force anything; an eighth of a turn can make a drastic change. Remember, if the truss rod feels tight or doesn't seem to be doing anything, take it to a professional.

1. Start by sitting with the guitar in the playing position.
2. Tune it to pitch if it is not already.
3. Capo the first fret. If you do not own a capo, you can use your fretting hand.
4. Next, fret the bass string with your picking hand up near where the neck joins the body. This is typically around the 14th fret, but it may be higher up with some electric guitars. In our example, we'll be using the 20th fret.
5. Use the string as a straightedge held against the neck which will either bow away, or against the string. This is how you determine the amount of relief in the neck. You can also use a steel ruler placed along the length of the neck, in the same manor.
6. In our example, the approximate half way point between the 20th fret and the 1st, will be the 7th fret where we will observe the distance between the top of that fret and the bottom of the string (or ruler), as pictured. Notice the gap. Hint: Half way down the neck is often between the 7th-9th frets.
7. If you have a gap between the top of the fret and the bottom of the string, you likely have a bowed neck. If there is no gap, it is likely either dead straight or back-bowed.

HOW MUCH TO ADJUSTThe bigger the gap, the more relief is in the neck. Normally, we want just a small amount of relief in the neck for optimal playing, about the same as the thickness of a business card or less.

If there is a gap, tighten the truss rod clockwise until you have something closer to what we're after. Slide a business card in between the top of fret and bottom of the string (or ruler). Make sure you are placing the card parallel with the string or ruler. If there is no gap, you may be either dead straight or back bowed, so you will need to loosen the truss rod counter-clockwise to get the results we are after. Hint: If the strings are buzzing in the first few frets and open strings, it is often a clear indication of a back bow.

Remember, do not force anything to get the results you are after. If it is hard to adjust or spins freely you may need professional assistance.

The final step in setting your relief is to test it out! If it feels better, you're done! But take note, straightening the neck may actually make your guitar play worse! Consequently, when the truss rod is tightened, the height of the strings are lowered, which can create string buzz if your guitar isn't setup properly to start. Likewise, it can make a poor fret condition more noticeable. So, if your guitar plays worse after adjusting the neck, it is either too straight for your playing style, or it is a sign that more work is needed. Thankfully, you can easily reverse the changes you've just made if required.



For pictures and further info, visit www.learnguitarsetups.com

The first thing to remember is that the strings will stretch so i always over tune it about a turn for small strings and 3 for the big strings. To prevent it from slipping when you are tightening the string pull it tight while turning it and make sure the string has overlapped its self a couple times before releasing it.

The problem MIGHT be with the guitar and this amp may be capable of presenting the sound from the guitar. Put a "fake fret" on the guitar... a piece of coathanger wire laid by the offending fret that will slightly raise the string for a test. Does it still buzz with the strings slightly higher, but at same tone... Note you might have to tune the strings SLIGHTLY with this fake fret to get on exactly the same pitch as using the normal fret... If the amp still buzzes with teh strings in no way creating the buzz, the problem is likely something in the cabinetry or chassis that is resonating at that pitch.

If the ringing only occurs with a specific range of notes it may be something rattling in the amp loose or speaker enclosure.
It could also be feedback occurring at certain frequencies - does the ringing stop if you turn the volume down a bit or stand in a different position in relation to the amp?
Could be a problem with your guitar? Maybe the pick up height needs adjusting in relation to the E string or is it the string buzzing against a fret - indicating a need for adjusting the bridge height or trussrod settings?

Considerations:

1. Intonation problems can be due to worn strings even if the guitar is set up properly. New Strings can fix this. This is the most common problem.

2. Also, changing string size may effect your set up too. Typically, new guitars come with lighter strings such as (9's) which the guitar is set up for. The positive is that 9's fret easily. The negative is that they bend too easily for some players who either slightly bend them when chording (accidentally), or press too hard on guitars with jumbo sized frets, which in turn bends the string toward the fret board causing detuning. To fix these items folks may suggest you get a heavier string like a (10), but the problem can often be solved by playing with a lighter hand, pressing only enough to make contact with the fret and not pressing the string all the way to the fretboard. Check your intonation using this light touch method and see if it's okay verses pressing the string all the way to the fretboard. If the intonation is okay with the light touch, the guitar intonation is set up properly. You may want to consider playing with a lighter hand or getting a guitar without jumbo frets such as Fender strats etc...

Putting a heavier string on a guitar set up for (9's) would likely cause the buzzing that wasn't there before. In this case you'd need the guitar and neck set up again to accomodate the 10's. So decide what size string you want and set the guitar up for that size.

These considerations are true for any electric guitars.

After consideration of all of the above, you still feel it's the guitar, I suggest you push for a replacement or perhaps credit toward another guitar.

Who knows what kind of instrument you are talking about??? Could be a organ, synth or even a guitar...

For organs, etc, there may be something loose and resonating... go searching by putting pressure on things that might be vibrating...

If it is a guitar it is probably fret buzz... read up by searching google for fret buzz... it is caused by inadequatte clearance of the strings to the frets or playing the strings wrong (plucking vertically)..

Sounds like a warped neck, if the bridge isn't low what else would cause the strings to buzz.? With the gain problem perhaps the neck is twisted as
well as bowed. Epiphone are proving to be quite popular but they are built to a price and for beginners they are usually a good choice. Unfortunately some fakes of different guitars are sold on ebay and they often make better tennis rackets than a musical instrument. Unless you changed them the guitar usually has a cheaper Humbucker pickup. Check it's fitting anf make sure there are no loose parts or wiring sitting against the soundboard on the inside.

Try looking down the neck of the guitar and seeif you notice any warp or bend. Overtightening the strings can cause the opposite warp and the strings end up further from the frets. Also try some measuring. The distance between the any string and the fretboard starting at the nut and working down to the bottom of the fretboard. These measurements should be consistant
Also, check the nut to see if the grooves aren't too deep. This could cause buzzing by allowing less distance between the string and the first fret.

Make sure all the frets are seated correctly and not slightly out of kilter at one end.

That should give you enough to keep you busy for a while. There are plenty of reasoins why a string will buzz. I've covered a few mecanical ones but without sounding rude there are also player caused buzz. Depressing the string too far behind the fret can cause it whereas too close to the fret can kill the note. But that's not my field in this situation. Check all the above and then try your fingering. One way or the other that buzz will stop. The best way to check if it's you is to get someone else to try your guitar out and see if the buzz buzzes off :-)

good luck

Buzz usually translates to either inadequate fret clearance or poor quality strings or inadequate pressure holding strings against the fret.

The guitar DESERVES using high quality strings and I would look at the manufacturers recommended string weight or your music store should know what to use. The LIGHT strings MAY be your problem.

Hello
Have a look at the neck part where the strings move through that aligning unit which has the 6 slits cut into it where the strings goes through at the top of the guitar neck.

What usually happens, the slits get worked out, thus the strings move fractions closer to the fret board which will result in a muffled sound if you press down on the string you get a fret buzz. This happens when the string touches the fret board on more than one spot.

When you play a solo you can get a muffled sound out of certain strings. This happened to me, i just replaced this unit, very cheap, and all was fixed. Hope this can work.

Best regards