Repair And Restoration
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Just one string buzz from 1-12 even with really hi action.
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Just one string buzz from 1-12 even with really hi action.
I work in guitar repair for over 20 years and this strange buzz happen only 3 times and i really going crazy.
Five years ago a all parts strat neck in G string, change string, leveling frets twice thinking i made a mistake, in some point i made a rudimentar neck jig to tried to repair that neck. Work in that guitar for 3 weeks and string heigth like 3.5mm and yeat, buzzing with not so hard picking just the G, even in other tuning like F or A. This guitar the owner sell for a friend who like high action strings
Years later a cliente send a message about a Godin shifter bass that pass in 5 luthiers with the same condition, just the E buzz from fret 1 to 12, (with 5-6mm in 12 fret) i told him about the guitar that i tried to repair and the client bring to me to study the problem. i make same process, change the strings, fret leveling twice (with fretbar this time), look at bridge, tuners, all the contact points and still buzzing. This bass had a refret some time ago and its not so good, i ask to client if its ok to do a refret with leveling the board (with no charge). I level the neck pocket, level the board, check everything twice, install frets, put new strings make a fret level with strings and the buzz still there (a lot less buzz). This client not want a really low action, and the bass its ok, but not perfect.
This week a LTD EC-256 new came to my bench for a setup and the same thing happen again, the low E buzz in every fret from 2 to 12 (3mm in 12fret). Change strings, level the frets (now i have a neck jig), not a single fret loose, nut heigth correct, bridge, tuners, trussrod, check the frets, everything ok, but the buzz still there (with a bit of resonance), other strings has no buzz at all with zero relief and 1mm in 12 fret! The owner can return the guitar, its not what we want, but its a possibility
I really dont know if this is a thing that can happen some times, if its something i not noticing, a bad truss rod, twisted neck or just some guitars don’t want to exist with all the strings at same time. I get the fretbar kit and a NeckJig thinking about solving this problem, i know i can’t save every guitar, but its really strange thing to happen. Sometimes i even have nigthmares working in that partcaster!
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5 Replies
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Did you tap the back of the neck and listen for a rattle ?
Also, might be good to list everything you’ve checked. Like, nut ramp, tightened all the hardware etc.
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Hey Ian, thank you for the reply! Yes, i tap the back of neck, back plates and nothing. I will list everything i work
-Strings: Change the ernie ball, install a new daddario set, and tried a other E string just in case.
-Nut: File and prepare every slot, make a relief for string, adjust height, remove the excess (this nut came so high from factory), check if is fitted and glued
-Frets: Fretwork in the neck jig, Check if every fret is glued, level and shaped right, check with 3 sizes of straight edge to tried to find something local
-Bridge: File all the contact points in saddle to correct the radius and make the intonation.
-Hardware: Check if any screw is loose, check from side move in saddles or loose screws in tune o matic, remove the back plates and truss rod cover, tuners tight in place, strap bottom ok, pickups ok (its not hi to pull strings), pickup springs not loose, pickups screw ok. pots, switch and jack ok, all inlays, binding and wires.
No overset for the neck.
Today i notice when i play the last fret i can hear something like a washer rattling very low in truss rod access on headstock, i taped the strings in headstock, put felter pads in bridge, tried everything i can to isolate the problem.
I didn’t make a fall away in frets this time (client decide to return the guitar), i remember to try this on the other 2 cases and make no diference at all
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i think i find the problem with this guitar, when nothing worked i tried to make the problem more obvious and over tight the truss rod, nothing strange happens (in get even curve in neck side to side). So i tried the other way, i loose the truss rod and its a 2 way truss rod, so front bow do the max and i see the problem, i dont know but i believe the fretboard is not glued properly to neck in Low E side, not a fixed hump in one side of the neck, adjusting the relief make the neck twist and “fold” like a compressed rubber. The heel is more stiff and a lot of the forces work in this area . Its like the high E side is a lot of more stiffer then the low E (maybe the rattling i hear is a reinforced carbon rod loose?)
To get this i use my continuity tester, put the guitar to neck jig, setup the guitar and use one probe on the straight edge and other to frets, even if i set a half step down on low E make the neck shift one side and buzz from start all over again.
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Good catch. Are you going to pull the board ?
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Thanks Ian! It’s a brand new guitar, client contact the dealership and it’s in process to return and get other one.
I really want to open and understand why this happened, not know why it’s a big bummer, all of 3 have a fingerboard. But first 2 don’t have a 2 way truss rod. Maybe the next owner let me do it or sell me the neck!
But one strange guitar for one decade of work is enough for me!
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