Problems after adjusting the truss rod, probably the action

[Leftybass12]

Okay, the truss rod has been adjusted and only the G and D strings have NO fret buzz on every fret, however the A string has fret buzz at the 4 fret to the 1st fret and the E string has fret buzz from the 5th fret to the 1st fret. I also checked the 12 fret for every string. The G, D, and A strings are okay at the 12th fret. The E string has a small amount of fret buzz. This has to be a problem with the action or something at the bridge. However, what is it??

[Bobster]

if you have buzz from the 1st to 5th fret, that's typically backbow (truss has been overtightened).

You need a little bow in the neck and if it's too flat, or bending the toward the back of the guitar, the truss is too tight.

[scottbass]

Put a capo (or any kind of clamp) on the E string just to the headstock side of the 1st fret. Hold down the E string just to the bridge side of the last (20th - 24th, whatever) fret. Look at the gaps around the 7th to 10th frets. There should be some gap there. The amount is debatable - some say the thickness of a business card. I set mine to the Fender recommendation of 0.012" at the 8th fret. If there's not enough gap, you need to loosen the truss rod by turning the adjuster counterclockwise. If there's too much gap, you need to tighten the truss rod by turning it clockwise. Never turn the truss rod more than 1/4 turn per day. Now repeat these measurements for the G string. It should be within a couple of thousandths of an inch of what you measured on the E string.

After the neck relief is set correctly, then you can set the action (bridge saddle heights) to what feels the most comfortable to you. If you get fret buzzing on a particular string, you will have to raise the appropriate saddle a little bit.

Then, tune everything up using a good tuner, compare the open string pitch to the octave (12th fret) pitch. Set the intonation (bridge saddle horizontal position) to change the overall length from nut to bridge as necessary.

There! You've done an entire setup - almost. All that's left is to set the pickup height(s) to approximately 5/64" on the G and 7/64" on the E, then tweak them slightly to balance out the string-to-string volumes when played through your favorite amp.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Leftybass12

Okay, the truss rod has been adjusted and only the G and D strings have NO fret buzz on every fret, however the A string has fret buzz at the 4 fret to the 1st fret and the E string has fret buzz from the 5th fret to the 1st fret. I also checked the 12 fret for every string. The G, D, and A strings are okay at the 12th fret. The E string has a small amount of fret buzz. This has to be a problem with the action or something at the bridge. However, what is it??

Sounds like the trussrod has been over-adjusted, and you need a little relief. If you're going for ultra-low action, a fret level/recrown
will help with that. For that matter, if you have it Plekked, you will become an international sensation, and everyone will want to play like you!

[RustyAxe]

There's a method to setting up a guitar, assuming that the frets are OK:

• Set desired neck relief
• Check and adjust neck angle (bolt ons)
• Check string height at 1st fret and adjust nut slots
• Check string height at 12th fret and adjust saddles
• Intonate

Doing things out of order will have one chasing his tail for hours ...

[bassalo]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

There's a method to setting up a guitar, assuming that the frets are OK:

• Set desired neck relief
• Check and adjust neck angle (bolt ons)
• Check string height at 1st fret and adjust nut slots
• Check string height at 12th fret and adjust saddles
• Intonate

Doing things out of order will have one chasing his tail for hours ...

rustyaxe-
do you know any trustworthy luthiers in CT? I'm I'm the Hartford area.