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String buzz question (Jon help!)

Terry

Terry

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
45
Location
Dublin, IE
I just restrung my JP with some fresh 9-42s (previous set were also 9-42s, had it setup for these a while back) but I'm noticing some buzz on the 5th string around the 4-5th fret when fretted. I have no problems with the other strings though. I checked the neck relief on the low E string and it seems fine (enough to slide about two to three sheets of paper in) but not on the 5th A string - when fretted on the 2nd fret it touches the 3rd.

I took off all strings to clean up the fretboard with some lemon oil, do you think this could have changed the neck relief resulting in the buzz? Would appreciate any input, thanks very much!
 
Give it a little neck relief and retune. Check the results - you always can go back - so no prob
 
Terry said:
I just restrung my JP with some fresh 9-42s (previous set were also 9-42s, had it setup for these a while back) but I'm noticing some buzz on the 5th string around the 4-5th fret when fretted. I have no problems with the other strings though. I checked the neck relief on the low E string and it seems fine (enough to slide about two to three sheets of paper in) but not on the 5th A string - when fretted on the 2nd fret it touches the 3rd.

I took off all strings to clean up the fretboard with some lemon oil, do you think this could have changed the neck relief resulting in the buzz? Would appreciate any input, thanks very much!
Click to expand...
Sounds like you might have some string dimples in your fretwire. You might need a grind, polish and crowning. Is the action very low? You might want to increase it at the bridge a little. But, like suggested before, add a little bow to your neck. That's what I'm doing at the moment for the same problem.
 
Hi Mick,

Thanks! I think I will, I would be giving the truss a little turn to the left? And it's okay to do it with all the strings in tune?
 
Sin said:
Sounds like you might have some string dimples in your fretwire. You might need a grind, polish and crowning. Is the action very low? You might want to increase it at the bridge a little. But, like suggested before, add a little bow to your neck. That's what I'm doing at the moment for the same problem.
Click to expand...

The frets seem okay as I just got the guitar about three weeks ago :) I'll give the truss rod adjustment a shot. Thanks guys!
 
Terry said:
Hi Mick,

Thanks! I think I will, I would be giving the truss a little turn to the left? And it's okay to do it with all the strings in tune?
Click to expand...
No, losen the strings first, then make your adjustment. Repeat as necessary.
 
It sounds like you need a truss rod adjustment. Turn it counter clockwise. And you really don't need to loosen the strings when you do this.
 
jongitarz said:
It sounds like you need a truss rod adjustment. Turn it counter clockwise. And you really don't need to loosen the strings when you do this.
Click to expand...
I dip the bar to losen the strings, then make the adjustment. I then bring the strings back to normal position slowly. It works better than not dropping the bar down. Meh, whatever.
 
Sin said:
I dip the bar to losen the strings, then make the adjustment. I then bring the strings back to normal position slowly. It works better than not dropping the bar down. Meh, whatever.
Click to expand...


Hey Sin, ask jongitarz aka Jon what his profession is ;) :D
 
Yo Sen...JonGitarz is the resident tech @ EBMM...he IS the tech shop over there...choose wisely before typing! ;)

Terry, you don't need to drop the bar to adjust your truss...just let it sit for a few minutes before tuning back to pitch...
 
Sin said:
No, losen the strings first, then make your adjustment. Repeat as necessary.
Click to expand...
Actually, if you are adjusting the truss rod, and you loosen the strings first, you're making your job more difficult; the string tension is what pulls the neck into relief - reduce the string tension when you're loosening the truss rod and the neck won't move as much while your making your adjustment, so you can't accurately judge how much movement the neck has made until you retune. Conversely, if you're tightening your truss rod and loosen the strings first, your neck will appear to move too much... Generally, it sounds like a pain in the butt... fwiw, I'm no Jon, but I've been doing my own setups for 12 years, and I have never loosened the string tension before adjusting a truss rod... and if I'm not mistaken, Dan Erlewine recommends adjusting the truss rod under string tension...
 
Jimi D said:
Actually, if you are adjusting the truss rod, and you loosen the strings first, you're making your job more difficult; the string tension is what pulls the neck into relief - reduce the string tension when you're loosening the truss rod and the neck won't move as much while your making your adjustment, so you can't accurately judge how much movement the neck has made until you retune. Conversely, if you're tightening your truss rod and loosen the strings first, your neck will appear to move too much... Generally, it sounds like a pain in the butt... fwiw, I'm no Jon, but I've been doing my own setups for 12 years, and I have never loosened the string tension before adjusting a truss rod... and if I'm not mistaken, Dan Erlewine recommends adjusting the truss rod under string tension...
Click to expand...

+1
the strings need to be tuned to pitch so you can guage your adjustment.
 
OK, this is where it gets weird.

I've always been told to reduce string tension. Why? I never asked, to be honest. So, I did a Google search and this is what I found.

Most don't say to reduce or maintain string tension when making a trus rod adjustment. They're no help, but a few said to relieve string tension. But they don't say why. Why?

But if string tension is mentioned, they usually say to leave the string under normal string tension when making a truss rod adjustment. So, it appears you guys are repeating the same with the majority when string tension is mentioned during a rod adjustment.

OK, now this is what one site said about reducing or adding string tension before making an adjustment;

Caution!

Never adjust the neck under full string tension - always de-tune the strings first.

But notice, they don't say why. So, why, then? Meh.

I do know that no matter if there is string tension, or not, you should never adjust more than a quarter of a turn in one 24 hour period. This gives the neck ample time to settle in its new relief position.

OK, so string tension can be maintained when making a rod adjustment since nobody has experienced any problems so far since so many suggest to leave the string in full tension. If there were any problems, they would've shown up by now. But, since there are no problems showing up otherwise, I've never had a problem reducing string tension before making a rod adjustment, does it really matter if you loosen the strings first or not? I say, "No."

I've had success, and an easy time, with adjusting the neck relief with little to no string tension, so why should I change now? I notice the strings don't get in your way as much when making a rod adjustment when you loosen the string tension, so it is easier to do it that way. For me, at least. And, the neck relief moves the same amount with or without string tension because you are turning the dial only one quarter of a turn, anyway. So, I guess it's business as usually for me, like it's business as usual for you guys.

I guess this a case of "different strokes, for different folks."
 
Sin,

Hey, whatever works for you is good. But since Music Man went to the trouble of designing a truss rod that is so accessible, it seems counter-productive to bother loosening the strings. But that's just my two cents. Keep 'em loose or keep 'em tight, just keep that guitar in peak playing condition. :)
 
I've always adjusted the truss rod under tension. Otherwise it's difficult to know when you're dialed in correctly. And I was under the impression this is why most modern truss rods are accessible without having to take off the neck.

Dan Erlewine who writes about this stuff a lot has a neck jig specifically for adjusting truss rods that aren't accessible. He'll take the neck off, put it in the jig, tune up the strings, and adjust the rod to suit. Then when he puts the neck back on the guitar it will be correctly adjusted.
 
SteveB said:
Sin,

Hey, whatever works for you is good. But since Music Man went to the trouble of designing a truss rod that is so accessible, it seems counter-productive to bother loosening the strings. But that's just my two cents. Keep 'em loose or keep 'em tight, just keep that guitar in peak playing condition. :)
Click to expand...
Amen.

It's not in peak playing condition. I need a grind, polish and crown. I'm needing too much bow in order to play it these days. Severe string dimples in frets two to six are the cause. I need to bring it in and get it taken care of. The action at the higher frets is getting a little too high for my tastes.
 
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