Electric Guitars

[smudge_lad]

Hey guys,

So my USA Tele came from the shop with 9's on, around June last year, but I've decided I need 10's, same as my other Tele and LP.

I've put the low E string on, and it's clear that something is wrong. Fret 2 and 3 are buzzing heavily when fingered, and fret 1 doesn't even give me a note - it just rattles!

Is this a truss rod issue, or can this be fixed by adjusting the saddles? Also, I wondered if my nut might need filed slightly to allow for the slightly thicker strings?

Pretty sure I might have to take it along to my tech buddy to sort for me, but thought I should maybe give it a go myself, or else I'll never learn, eh?

[falseknight]

How low was the action with nines?

[smudge_lad]

yeah, was pretty low action with them on, and i wouldnt have said it was perfectly set up with them either, a few rattles with them too

[GilmourD]

Sounds like you never had it properly set up even for 9s.

If you're comfortable with tools, setups are easy. They just take a while for a first timer to get right. The more you do them, though, the quicker they become and more spot on they become. 

If not, find a reputable shop to do a setup for you. 

[Danhedonia]

Fender's website has good step by step instructions, btw.

Follow them / don't take shortcuts.

[Bob Dey]

This sounds backwards. 10s would add tension to the neck which should have the opposite affect, lifting the strings higher off the fretboard.

If it's tuned low that would explain it, but it sounds like something knocked your neck out of whack. Are the screws holding the neck on loose?

[GilmourD]

---

Danhedonia wrote:
Fender's website has good step by step instructions, btw.

Follow them / don't take shortcuts.

---

Other than that, there's plenty of other good setup guides out there and even in old posts right here on the forum. 

One recommendation, though. Sometimes hard measurements don't always feel like the optimum setup for YOU. Go by feel. I do. If it feels right it is right. 

[Amos Moses]

To PLEK or not to PLEK......that is the question.

(Currently playing a PLEK'ed custom built Brent Mason Tele strung with 10-52 strings. The action is "playing card" low and there is NO BUZZING on any string or fret)

[Wyatt]

Typically, issues at the first few frets are nut related.

It's not a hard rule, but if you wrap your hand around the neck at the nut, the frets you cover usually have issues dealing with the nut, if you grab the neck at the neck joint, the issues are usually saddle related, and everything inbetween is truss rod.

[jrockbridge]

---

smudge_lad wrote:

Hey guys,

So my USA Tele came from the shop with 9's on, around June last year, but I've decided I need 10's, same as my other Tele and LP.

I've put the low E string on, and it's clear that something is wrong. Fret 2 and 3 are buzzing heavily when fingered, and fret 1 doesn't even give me a note - it just rattles!

Is this a truss rod issue, or can this be fixed by adjusting the saddles? Also, I wondered if my nut might need filed slightly to allow for the slightly thicker strings?

Pretty sure I might have to take it along to my tech buddy to sort for me, but thought I should maybe give it a go myself, or else I'll never learn, eh?

---

Put all the the strings on.  Stretch them  out.  Bring them up to standard pitch.  If you still have the problem, the guitar likely has a setup issue.

This could be solved by properly adjusting the truss rod.  Or, it could turn out that you've got a warped neck.

[Mad Tele]

put all the strings on before doing anything.

[DaleH]

ya, you can't tell with just two strings on.

[billybilly]

Your neck needs the tension from all the strings.  Of course it will buzz until you put the others on.  Not to be a **bleep** but I guarantee it will be fine if you do so.  You may even find the action high and have to adjust the truss rod.  If you do, an 1/8 of a turn is plenty.