Members joegrant413 Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Today I got my RGA121 back with new pickups (PAF Pro and SuperDistortion, BTW). The guy asked me if I'd like to try so really low action on the guitar. He also explained to me it was easy to use my guitar's fixed bridge to adjust the action up if I didn't like it, so I said go ahead. Well, very honestly, the guitar sounds very cool, and it's even more ridiculously easy to play. When I'm playing, I do get some fret buzz, but frankly, it doesn't sound all that bad occasionally. So it this crazy? Should I stop goofing around and move the action up right away? Or should I try to work with the ultra-low action... maybe lightening my right hand technique, trying to enjoy the speed and minimize the buzz. Any... any of you folks OK with a little buzzin'? -- Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walt0915 Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 If it doesn't bother you and it doesn't comes through the pickups, then don't worry about it. About the worst problem is you lose some sustain. What matters is how YOU feel about it. Personally, I don't set my action anywhere NEAR that low, but that's just me ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxhollow Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Mine all buzz a little. Nothing that would come through the amp but it is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stanfield Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 a little buzzing wont hurt anything, BUT you can raise the bridge ever so slightly and get rid of it completely. loosen the stringsmake adjustments in half turnsmake the same amount of adjustment on both polestunerepeat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 70 Cam Guy Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Originally posted by stanfield a little buzzing wont hurt anything, BUT you can raise the bridge ever so slightly and get rid of it completely.loosen the stringsmake adjustments in half turnsmake the same amount of adjustment on both polestunerepeat Don't forget to check intonation if you choose to raise the action a bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members marloni Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 buzzing is a big issue for me. fender strats I've owned all had buzzing in at least one part of the neck. really annoying and it kills sustain. I tolerated it but when I switched to ibanez RG's, no buzzing at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batotman Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 I like the action very low but if it doesn't come through while plugged in, i don't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members veil Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bucker Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 There is no way that an electric guitar with low action is not going to buzz a little bit if you play it hard enough. You have to decide (1) how low you want to go with the action for your style, and (2) how much buzzing you will accept to get it that low. In most cases, the decision to go with NO buzzing will require learning to play with a lighter touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DarknessFury Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Originally posted by 70 Cam Guy Don't forget to check intonation if you choose to raise the action a bit How do you check the intonation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Originally posted by DarknessFury How do you check the intonation? Intonation is part of a complete set-up.Simply put, intonation means that the frequencies of the fretted notes are as close as humanly possible to what the frequencies are supposed to be, according to music theory. The way this is often tested is to compare the 12th-fret first node harmonic (barely touched) to the fretted (fingered) note at the 12th-fret. The position of the harmonic node is moved by adjusting the bridge saddle's distance from the nut, until the fretted note exactly matches the harmonic. Read up:http://fender.com/support/setup/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kace Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Originally posted by DarknessFury How do you check the intonation? Play the fretted note & harmonic @ 12th fret. If they match = intonated. Otherwise saddles need to be moved forward or back slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PolyFmorf Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 All my guitars have ZERO buzz. But, I play 'em up fairly high in the action dept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldFenderGuy Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Fret 'buzz' has always bugged me, and I don't want it on any of my guitars. I don't have "super low" actions, but with a good plek job I can have the actions set medium low without having to worry about any buzzing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AndersonTech Posted August 20, 2006 Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 New strings can buzz a bit on a low action, but the buzzing should go away after a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joegrant413 Posted August 20, 2006 Author Members Share Posted August 20, 2006 Thanks, folks, for the good advice! So I'm going to stay with a lil' buzz for awhile... see if I like it... and change it back if it's not for me. Thanks!-- Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members markas214 Posted August 21, 2006 Members Share Posted August 21, 2006 Originally posted by OldFenderGuy Fret 'buzz' has always bugged me, and I don't want it on any of my guitars.I don't have "super low" actions, but with a good plek job I can have the actions set medium low without having to worry about any buzzing. +1. I set the action as low as I can without buzzing. If you are getting fret buzz you are losing tone and sustain. Also you'll fret out more doing bends unless your frets are very level. A little fret buzz is not a big deal if you're banging out power chords but definately annoying playing low volume, clean or soloing with a little overdrive. To really get your action right you need to adjust the saddles and the truss rod. Be careful with adjusting the truss rod as it will break and you will be {censored}ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted August 21, 2006 Members Share Posted August 21, 2006 Originally posted by DarknessFury How do you check the intonation? Like others have already said. I might add that if you're not gonna be intonating perfectly, it's better to be slightly SHARP than a little flat. It's just more pleasant to the ear. Some horn players even play just a tat sharp to add a little "brillance" to their sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stanfield Posted August 21, 2006 Members Share Posted August 21, 2006 http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/action.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SGB Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 Joegrant, How much did you pay to have the pickups swapped out? I need to due the same with my RGA121. Did you purchase the pu's 1st then take them somewhere for instalation or did you have it done all at the same place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikesr1963 Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 Originally posted by walt0915 If it doesn't bother you and it doesn't comes through the pickups, then don't worry about it.About the worst problem is you lose some sustain.What matters is how YOU feel about it.Personally, I don't set my action anywhere NEAR that low, but that's just me ... As long as it doesn't come through the amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Friggen Sal Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 My guitars buzz a little but as far as i know (which isnt really all that far) its not really a problem at all I guess if it doesnt annoy the hell out of you its fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fernabulax Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 Gibson sold an SG back in the early 70s they touted 'the fretless wonder' - the nut was real low had super easy action and shipped with some kind of light guage sonomatics - anyhoo, it buzzed like a banshee, but sounded sweet ampped up. I used to play it a lot, since a friend owned one (white 3 pup gold hdw) and really got to liking the sound around the top of the neck, especially open chords. I only play slide these days, but I drop the nut as low as it'll get to get that same buzz - it kills sustain, but sounds fantastic ampped, plus it plays easier and open chords sound better intonated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tin whistle Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 Buzz shmuzz. Don't get all worked up because your electric buzzes. Its the nature of the instrument. Unless you have high action or really heavy strings its gonna buzz. I never met an electric (or an acoustic for that matter) that doesn't buzz.I have a lot of guitar vids and you can hear the guitars of your heroes buzzing away over the voice mic. Steve Morse...buzz buzz. Robben Ford....buzz buzz. Jimmy Bruno (and he's playing a big jazz box)..the worst buzz of all.and so on...DON"T WORRY ABOUT IT!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted September 6, 2006 Members Share Posted September 6, 2006 I actually like just a little buzz on the low E. not so much as it comes through the amp, but when I pick up an electric and fiddle around on it unplugged, i don't like it to sound like an acoustic too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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