Question Silhouette Special HT

[peterf]

I bought a new silhouette HT special online about a month ago. From new there was a slight buzz on the bottom E string. I thought that it needed time to settle down and would improve. After a month it was no better so I checked the set up and renewed the strings using EB super slinky 9's. The neck relief measure 0.010mm at the 8th fret under a very good straight edge and the string height was about 1.5mm. I increased the neck relief to 0.020mm and raised the low E string to 2mm measured at the 12th fret. Now, the bottom three string all buzz in fretted and open positions.

I have many guitars and have always carried out the setups without any of these problems. can anyone help?

 

[beej]

It's hard to say without being in front of the guitar. In general, if you have buzzing on the lower frets you need more relief via the truss rod. If the buzzing is on the higher frets, more height via saddle adjustments.

If it's new, you shouldn't have nut or fret issues, but who knows ... best advice is to take it to somebody knowledgeable for a setup and watch what they're doing.

 

[peterf]

It is buzzing on the open strings and all fretted notes (bottom three strings only). As suggested I will ask a tech to have a look.

Thanks.

 

[DrKev]

Welcome to the forum, Peter!

First I assume you mean 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm, not 0.010 mm and 0.020 mm (which are meaninglessly small numbers). Or do you mean, 0.010" and 0.020" (i.e. inches)?

It's very strange that you could increase neck relief and/or string height and get more buzz than before. I have to wonder if you could be mis-measuring something. Can you check your straight edge to be sure it's still straight? Also remember to always measure with all strings tuned to pitch and the guitar held in playing position, i.e. *not* lying on it's back with the neck or head on a supported/stand. (Gravity is not a myth).

Personally, I prefer to capo at the 1st fret, hold the low E string at the 17th fret and measure under the 7th or 8th fret. The string at tension forms an excellent straight edge . Using that technique, neck relief should be between 0.2 mm and 0.35 mm (0.008" - 0.014"). Yes, some people like less (or more) relief than that but for most people anything less than 0.2 mm will buzz more than they like. You could certainly add a little more if it helps.

Also remember that when doing setups it's very easy to hyper-focus on buzzes that seem huge at the time but are of no consequence when playing actual music. Put on some music and jam for a while. If it's really a problem you'll be certain of it straight away.

If all of my above points check out for you, then I would definitely be taking the instrument to a pro for a check up.

 

[peterf]

Yes, I put the decimal point in the wrong place.it should be 0.1mm and 0.2mm (good job I don't work in a bank). The neck relief was measured under a new straight edge in the playing position.

The buzzing may be coming from the bridge? I have checked the screws and all are ok. It has settled a bit and now only a slight buzz on the bottom E string.