#1
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Can't Beat The Buzz!
I play a Breedlove (Atlas) AD25. Love the guitar. However, the amount of buzz in the lower strings has grown more and more unbearable for me. Even if I am careful to not strum/pluck too hard, the low E and A strings (especially fretted at 5 or higher), produce a sound that is far from clear. I have tried heavier strings, lighter strings, higher action, lower action... Could this indicate a twisting of the neck? Are there other solutions? I would appreciate any advice!
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Breedlove AD25/SM Yamaha FG730S Yamaha CG182C Gibson SG Faded Lanikai CK-T //playin for Him |
#2
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Have you taken it to a local luthier or a reputable guitar tech for an inspection? It could take as simple as a proper setup to alleviate the buzz.
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Furch Little Jane Limited 2020 LJ-LC (Czech Rep.) Alpine/Cocobolo Furch Little Jane LJ 10-SR (Czech Rep.) Sitka/EIR Hex Sting P300 (Indonesia) Sitka/Lam.Sapele |
#3
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Not sure where to turn next...
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Breedlove AD25/SM Yamaha FG730S Yamaha CG182C Gibson SG Faded Lanikai CK-T //playin for Him |
#4
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Mine did that too. Luthier said the frets weren't level. Didn't pay $200 to find out!
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Martin GCPA4R Eastman AC712 Slothead Eastman AC 708 Eastman AC412 Alvarez AP70 Yamaha LS16R A.R.E. Gone: Martin 000MMV Martin MMV x2 Yamaha FG700S Guild GAD30 Padauk Want a bunch more... |
#5
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Can't Beat The Buzz!
I had some buzz on my Walden and a 2 minute truss rod adjustment did the trick just with a quarter turn with an Allen Key. Not sure if that would work for you? Good luck.
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_______________________ SUPERGOOSE Martin 00-15 |
#6
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Looking down the length of the neck, does the fretboard curve up as it approaches the soundhole? Only cure for that, without raising the action, would be to have those frets ground down, or even shaving the fingerboard down, the frets replaced.
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#7
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Based on what you've written it appears that it buzzes at numerous frets at and above the 5th on the two lower strings. That suggests that it may not be fret-height related. One possibility is that the "non-vibrating" portion of the string is buzzing against the frets, the portion between the nut and your finger fretting the string. You can easily check that by playing it where it buzzes and then lightly touching the "non-vibrating portion of the string with your other hand. If that stops the buzzing, the neck curvature is wrong (i.e. truss rod adjustment) or the nut is a little low. Another possibility is that it is something on the guitar that is buzzing. A common thing is the washers under the nuts of the tuning machines. You can use a wrench to try tightening the nuts on the top of the machines. (Don't go crazy, just snug.) If there are electronics in the guitar, it could be a lose wire buzzing against the inside of the guitar. Check that, if appropriate. Another possibility is a lose brace on top or back. You can try gently pressing on various places on the top while it is buzzing to see if that stops the buzzing. |
#8
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Out of interest, what is the going rate in the US for a set up including fret dress?
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Experienced guitar tech and singer/guitarist based in the midlands, England. McIlroy AJ50 Yamaha CPX-1200 Yamaha CPX-700/12 Yamaha LS16 Yamaha FG-300 Yamaha FG-580 Vox V2000-DR + electric guitars.. |
#9
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I'd charge $110 (set $35, leveling $75).
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Tim B |
#10
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Straightening the truss rod will bring the strings closer to the fingerboard. Hence, your higher saddle (or shimmed saddle) will likely be the best to start with. As some other posters have stated, some frets out of level could be causing the issue, too. Just like wooden homes that move and settle after being built for up to 10 years or so, guitar frets tend to settle and move in the few years after installation, and this can be cause to schedule fretwork. No flaw on the builder in this case, since it is natural settling of metal into wooden slots.
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---- Ned Milburn NSDCC Master Artisan Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
#11
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Experienced guitar tech and singer/guitarist based in the midlands, England. McIlroy AJ50 Yamaha CPX-1200 Yamaha CPX-700/12 Yamaha LS16 Yamaha FG-300 Yamaha FG-580 Vox V2000-DR + electric guitars.. |
#12
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I appreciate the very helpful replies! I will try these solutions and get back with the results.
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Breedlove AD25/SM Yamaha FG730S Yamaha CG182C Gibson SG Faded Lanikai CK-T //playin for Him |
#13
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Cheers!
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---- Ned Milburn NSDCC Master Artisan Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
#14
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Trust me, I don't need to fly to Canada - or anywhere else on the planet - to see that a guitar with more relief and/or a higher action will be less prone than the same guitar with the opposite setup, to fret buzz. It's something I've witnessed and addressed since 1978 when I first worked on, and began to analyse, guitar setups, at that time, on an Antoria 335 copy. I have yet - after hundreds of guitars - to experience one where you set it up with more relief, a higher action, and as a result, it buzzes. Is this an April fool's joke? are you serious? But then again this isn't the first time we've disagreed on things. Like you reckon one should set nut height before saddle height, when I've given very clear, irrefutable reasons that when going for a low action, you are very likely to find that subsequent lowering of the saddle can lead to buzzing at the first fret. Any luthier worth his salt will tell you that. Yes, you can get away with doing nut first, but it's pure luck! Ned, you just don't get it! I can't help that, and here we have a similar situation; you're flying in the face of logic, common knowledge and the laws of physics. If money is not a problem, I suggest you come and see me, and I'll gladly take you through the rudiments of guitar setups.
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Experienced guitar tech and singer/guitarist based in the midlands, England. McIlroy AJ50 Yamaha CPX-1200 Yamaha CPX-700/12 Yamaha LS16 Yamaha FG-300 Yamaha FG-580 Vox V2000-DR + electric guitars.. |
#15
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With a guitar with LOW action and too great a truss rod based bow, notes can fret out near the middle of the neck and on upwards. With too much bow and low action, the action is in fact lower near the 14th frets and beyond, whereas the action on the middle of the neck is in fact higher. In such a situation, straightening the neck and raising the saddle will indeed improve the unwanted fretting out near 5th fret and beyond. In the situation of too much bow, the deepest part of the bow is in the middle of the neck. By fretting notes in the deepest part of this U-shape, the geometry is such that the strings are too close to higher frets causing string to fret buzzing. If a guitar with a truss that is too straight and saddle action too low arrives in my shop, that is a different story altogether, but this beast will buzz from open strings onward and will likely clear up farther onto the fretboard extension.
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---- Ned Milburn NSDCC Master Artisan Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
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Tags |
action, breedlove, buzz, sound |
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