String Buzz.

**F'nRockstar** · 05.06.07, 03:19 PM

I have been having problems with the neck on my Ernie Ball MM. The strings are touching the 2nd and third frets and making it sound like crap. This has happened three other times. I take it into my shop and he makes a simple adjustment and hands it back to me and it works fine again for another couple months.

What is he doing? Why does my neck keep changing?

I keep my guitar on a stand and it is always at about 65-70 degrees in the room.

**muffdiver** · 05.06.07, 04:22 PM

Yeah, your babying that thing man...Throw it around the yard a while , let the dog play with it,kick it a few times,and let it sleep in the yard a few days..Toughen that thing up a bit man...

**againstthewind** · 05.06.07, 05:06 PM

Yep, teach that bitch who's boss.

**Ted Van Halen** · 05.06.07, 05:16 PM

You didn't leave a capo on it did you? J/K, does the humidity vary in that room? As for the adjustment, I would think it's just a tweak on the truss rod. Perhaps the action is right on the line where a humidity variation throws it into the buzzing condition. Maybe your action needs to be a little higher. I don't know.

Andrew or Rols can likely shed a brighter light.

Ted

**A&Z Guitar Repair** · 05.07.07, 08:21 AM

Since it's reverting back to the buzz every two-three months it sounds like it needs a truss rod adjustment. My EBMM's were prone to moving with the weather. Especially since it's spring time the neck is probably moving forward. Take a allen wrench/screwdriver and rotate the truss rod counterclockwise.(That's to the LEFT) 1/4 turn, retune and check it out. If you need to move it more, only go 1/4 turn at the max each time. You should find the relief you need with in 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn.

If you need any help, don't hesitate to email/call.

**Dino5150** · 05.07.07, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by A&Z Guitar Repair

Since it's reverting back to the buzz every two-three months it sounds like it needs a truss rod adjustment. My EBMM's were prone to moving with the weather. Especially since it's spring time the neck is probably moving forward. Take a allen wrench/screwdriver and rotate the truss rod counterclockwise.(That's to the LEFT) 1/4 turn, retune and check it out. If you need to move it more, only go 1/4 turn at the max each time. You should find the relief you need with in 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn.

+1

AT · 05.07.07, 10:35 AM

Indeed the truss rod adjustment sounds like the thing--and a 1/4 to 1/3 is usually all you need. (DON'T go crazy on it!) I recommend setups to my students after every major seasonal change. Humidity is the biggest factor in guitar adjustment (or UNadjustment, in this case), more so than temperature. The wood expands and contracts depending on humidity conditions.

**homeunit** · 05.07.07, 11:50 PM

I'd bet it's the humidity bro. My main axe is going nuts right now which is typical for the weather here in Vancouver Canada at this time of year.

I don't use a floyd so I just adjust each string at the bridge. Right now it's a weekly afair. The worst is coming back after the first set, once the place is warmed up. I've talked with other guys who tour and apparently Vancouver is especially bad for that so don't feel too bad.
John

AT · 05.08.07, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by homeunit

The worst is coming back after the first set, once the place is warmed up.

Nothing drives me more crazy than having axes tuned and ready before the set, then grabbing a new guitar halfway through only to have it be a quarter step off in all directions. Stage lights... people filling a joint... lots of things contributing to a quickly changing indoor environment.

**F'nRockstar** · 05.13.07, 08:26 PM

Thanks for the help... I'll try it out!

(Trust me...I don't baby it. It has been through the ringer)

**YerBlues** · 05.28.07, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by A&Z Guitar Repair

Since it's reverting back to the buzz every two-three months it sounds like it needs a truss rod adjustment. My EBMM's were prone to moving with the weather. Especially since it's spring time the neck is probably moving forward. Take a allen wrench/screwdriver and rotate the truss rod counterclockwise.(That's to the LEFT) 1/4 turn, retune and check it out. If you need to move it more, only go 1/4 turn at the max each time. You should find the relief you need with in 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn.

If you need any help, don't hesitate to email/call.

I got the same problem with my fender strat, the string buzz... is it the same procedure (turn 1/4 to the left) ?
thanks

AT · 05.28.07, 02:22 PM

Perhaps someone here has a decent way of explaining how to check to see if a neck is bowing one way or the other. I don't think I'm the guy for this; I've noticed all the guys at the music store look at it from the headstock down, I hold the guitar up and look at it from the side of the body (which seems like it may be kind of backwards).

**Ted Van Halen** · 05.28.07, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

Perhaps someone here has a decent way of explaining how to check to see if a neck is bowing one way or the other. I don't think I'm the guy for this; I've noticed all the guys at the music store look at it from the headstock down, I hold the guitar up and look at it from the side of the body (which seems like it may be kind of backwards).

I think I know what you're asking. If so, it's just geometry. Fret at 1 & 22 & look between the string & neck. The string will be in a straight line. The neck will either be dead straight (not likely) or concave/convex when you look at the fretted string which will either clear the frets or hit them at the high spot. That help any?

Ted

AT · 05.28.07, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Van Halen

I think I know what you're asking. If so, it's just geometry. Fret at 1 & 22 & look between the string & neck. The string will be in a straight line. The neck will either be dead straight (not likely) or concave/convex when you look at the fretted string which will either clear the frets or hit them at the high spot. That help any?

Ted

I also do the same thing sometimes, Ted. But I don't think an inexperienced person is going to be able to easily see the very slight space (or not) from that method, and so maybe actually looking for the bow is the better way to diagnose it.

**Ted Van Halen** · 05.28.07, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

I also do the same thing sometimes, Ted. But I don't think an inexperienced person is going to be able to easily see the very slight space (or not) from that method, and so maybe actually looking for the bow is the better way to diagnose it.

True. The string can still be used as the reference though as it will be dead straight fretted or not.