Post subject: Action Lowering causes buzzing. ....? Posted: Jun 23, 2004 - 02:33 PM
Joined: Mar 25, 2004
Posts: 18
Location: VA
Status: Offline
(A little history first)
A while back, I met a preacher that played the guitar. We got together and jammed a little. We traded guitars, and WOW. The junk guitar that he had played ASTOUNDING! I wouldn't put it down! He just smiled and kept on playing. Later, he showed me how the guitars were different. The strings on my guitar were higher than his off the fretboard(neck) and thus, taking me longer to fret a note w/ my guitar than his guitar. He said, "If you lower the action on that guitar, you won't like this one so much."
(end story)
Earlier in the forum , I told everyone that my guitar was at the shop for an action lowering.
Well, today they (authorized dealer (mistake in the first place)) called and informed me that "If we lower the action, your guitar will buzz".
I told them not to mess with it, and I will pick it up.
My question is, What do I do now? Lower it myself?
I know it can be lowered, but I don't know if the guitar can handle it (not a bad guitar. Ibanez) Should I try a guitar mechanic or try and do it myself. Please help, guys. I don't know what to do. All I know is I need to get those strings lower to the fretboard! I pulled off such GREAT Legato w/ the lower action (on his guitar).
Please help.
Thanks in advance,
-jaredc
bhuether
Post subject:Posted: Jun 24, 2004 - 03:23 AM
Joined: Mar 09, 2003
Posts: 228
Status: Offline
Lowering the action requires great attention to detail. And like you said, it has several benefits - especially with legato. Satriani, who is known for legato technique, uses insanely low action. Of course he has techs that will set his guitar up, as well as having the benefit of custom designed guitars.
In any case, your action can indeed be lowered. Perhaps the shop is lazy. First thing to do is get it restring and tuned with your desired string gauge and be sure the bridge is parallel to the body. You may need to screw those two large screws that are underneath in the cavity with the tremelo (i.e. the screws you see after removing that rectangular plate).
Now start lowering the action til the point where it buzzes. To correct the buzzing you will need to make a truss rod adjustment. When making such adjustments, most people use special measuring tools that let them measure the distance between the fret and string at the 7th and 12th fret (something like that anyway), ensuring that it is within some value (1/16" perhaps). At this point, I suggest you search google for guitar truss rod adjustment, since that is required to get rid of the buzzing).
good luck!
-brian
jaredc
Post subject:Posted: Jun 24, 2004 - 10:43 AM
Joined: Mar 25, 2004
Posts: 18
Location: VA
Status: Offline
Wow, Thanks. I've learned a lot about my guitar today after you metioned the truss rod adjustment (I remember thinking earlier this morning, "What the heck is that?")
I can't wait to start the operation! Thanks again for all the good advice.
-jaredc
RIPMF
Post subject:Posted: Jun 27, 2004 - 03:44 PM
Joined: Jun 27, 2004
Posts: 5
Status: Offline
Having Low action is one of the best things to look for when first paying for a guitar, next time you buy a guitar, check out the action. If it's high tell the guy selling it to lower it for you. He will if you say your are very interested. But Doing this yourself isn't a very difficult task.(Depending on the bridge) Low action is an essential part of nailing those arpeggios and like you said legatos. That's why I love my Jackson!
stjohn1299
Post subject:Posted: Oct 15, 2004 - 05:16 PM
Joined: Oct 01, 2004
Posts: 21
Location: Choudrant, LA
Status: Offline
the first thing I do is adjust the truss rod until the neck is as straight as possible with string tension, then I lower the bridge until there is an insanely bad buzz, but I make sure that it is parellel to the body. Then I try to adjust just a slight bit of relief in the neck(causes the peghead to slightly point up, if body laid flat). This will allow the strings to vibrate in their natural elipse. Then I raise the bridge ever so slightly until I get it where I like the feel and the buzz is minimal....I don't think you can ever totally get rid of buzz without have way high action, so it is usually a trade off.
One Note, be careful adjusting a neck, especially a thin neck like Ibanez or Jackson-you shouldn't have to turn the truss wrench more than a 1/2 turn either way.
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