Fret Buzz

[dfrady]

My roasted black sugar al hh is fretting out on the high e on fret #1 and fretting out at #17 on string bends. Looking down the neck it seems to have some back bow to it and I'm thinking the neck needs more relief (counter clockwise turn) would this be correct?

 

[Lou]

The way I test for neck relief is use a capo or your fingerand fret the low E on the first fret. Then with your other hand fret the 13th fret on the low E. Now tap the string at the 6 or 7th fret and check for space between the string and fret there. If you have a 'large' gap you have forward bow. If you have no gap or very little, you have back bow. Tighten (clockwise) for foorward bow, loosen (counter clockwise) for back bow.

If you try the tap test and the neck is OK, you might just want to raise the saddle on that string a bit.

 

[beej]

I do more or less the same thing as Lou.

In general ... if you have buzzing on the low frets, you need more relief in the neck (sounds like your problem). Once you've got this sorted out, if you have buzzing on the upper frets then you need to raise the saddles. But if it played fine before the seasons changed ... it's all truss rod.

 

[ozzyrules]

Just re-adjusted all 7 of my guitars last night due to winter finally arriving. A little truss rod tweaking & they're all screaming again.

 

[TSHOW]

Good thing you don't have that Purple EVH......It may need tweaking too!!!!!

 

[musikarero]

I balance the guitar on my foot and simply look down the neck from the low E string side toward the body. I prefer a slight relief. I also prefer high action which helps against fret buzz. Another thing that helps for me anyway is the nut not being cut too deep. If it is I'll experience buzz at the first or second fret.