Hi All!
Last Christmas I was given a wonderful Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop Pro (quite a long name!). From the very beginning I notice some string noise (specially unplugged) so I took it to the luthier to perform an initial/basic setup (just in case because it was bought in Amazon). Few changes, action was lowered, intonation was setup and new strings “D'Addario EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Regular Light (.010-.046)”.
To be honest, I am not happy with the sound playing the guitar unplugged yet. However, the action and intonation are perfect.
I have just recorded myself playing some notes on the unplugged guitar, strings 5th and 6th and about fret 7th .
I know that you cannot do much without seeing or playing the guitar but hopefully with your experience you can work out any idea about what is going on here.
Not sure if that can be fret buzzing, no idea.
What do you think about trying a different type/brand for strings? I am using D’Addario because Epiphone is using these ones from factory (therefore are supposed to be good ones for this guitar model).
I am thinking about the neck relief.. I will try to measure it using a feeler gauge.
Despite this string noise, I am really happy with the guitar, its aesthetic, the sound from the pickups, sustain.. it keeps tuned forever with Grover tuners.
Any help will be really appreciated.
Thanks!
Comments
I think first you have to work out where the buzz is from, the frets, the bridge, the tuners or from hitting the pickups.
It might be because the action is too low, how low you set the action sometimes depends on how much Buzz you can deal with.
It seems to be coming from the frets, not sure if it's coming from the previous or the following fret from where I am playing the note. It is for sure that it is not hitting the pickups.
Even before it didn't really buzz unless I hit the strings hard. Must be the same problem the OP is having.
I think it might need some truss rod adjustment because I have just checked that feels pretty similar in all the strings - it sounds a little bit worse in the area between fret 3 and fret 9 (roughly), it is still more evident on the 6th string but it doesn't sound perfect on the other ones. I have already the feeler gauge so I will let you know as soon as I have the chance to measure it.
I don't know if it needs some fretwork, I don't think so because it doesn't buzz on particular or random frets, it looks pretty consistent.
Thanks!
I have just measured the neck relief and it seems to be OK. The gap seems to be 0.010, I cannot slide easily the 0.011 gauge. I have followed this guide: http://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/how-to-check-your-guitars-neck-relief/
In my case, I put the capo on the first fret and then fretted the fret 16 (where the neck joins the body) and I have measured the fret 7 using the feeler gauge. Not sure if that is an accurate way of measuring the neck relief on my les paul, if you have any tip please let me know!
I have to admit that I was hitting quite hard the strings in the audio, which might be the main cause of the buzz. I am also planning to change the strings because they have been there for one year now (although I haven´t played too much along last year) and they might not be oscillating as they should.
I think I have been quite demanding, trying to get a perfect sound with the guitar unplugged and playing hard.
Try raising the action a little and see if it makes a noticeable difference, most of the time you only need to raise the bass side because that's where the buzz is.
If it doesn't make a difference or you don't like it you can always put it back down.
1. Your strumming
2. The bridge/saddles are too low..
3. The neck relief is too flat..
4. Your nuts slots are cut too deep
5. Inconsistent fret heights...and any combination of these 5 factors.
If you're not sure about how to set up a guitar take it to someone who is. I'd take it back to whoever set it up for you and tell him your problems; if he's a decent guy he should do it for you for free
If , for some reason, you can't take it back, then slightly de-tune the guitar,raise the bridge (adjustment posts); re-tune and fret at the 12 fret (Initially)..repeat on each string until buzz goes. Then check for buzzing at 13,14,15....22 fret. It's important to do this using your normal picking technique..IGNORE any feeler gauge specifications ..if it buzzes, it's too low!! Once that's sorted, play the guitar in the lower frets(1-12) "looking" for buzzes along the neck;again, especially around frets 3,4 and 9. If there's any buzzing, slacken off the truss a very small amount and re-check until no more buzz. Once that's done, strum/pluck the open stings..if it's buzzing at the 1st fret then your nut slots are either too deep and you'll need a new nut or shim, or you're a heavy strummer.
This is a very very basic set up guide;a light strummer can get away with a lower action than a heavier strummer;
if you don't know what you're doing, take it someone who does Practice set-ups on cheap guitars before trying on your main guitar..Hope you get it sorted
PS Forget to mention, the other possibility is a warped/"S" shaped neck...lets hope its not that
Firstly I am going to restring the guitar with new ones to see how it sounds.
Do you think it can make a difference a neck relief of 0.012 vs 0.010?
Regarding the action, it is lower than the factory setup but I don't think it is too low, the buzzing while strumming seems to be the same when I left the guitar for setting it up. I prefer to reeducate my strumming rather than raising the action, I think these humbuckers sound loud enough to produce a great sound with light strumming.
I believe the luthier did a good job with that and I think he would have spotted an inconsistent fret heights.
I will keep investigating and try to determine whether the nut slots are cut too deep. If I don't find an answer I will take it to someone to have a look.
Thanks!
Go try some out at a shop. You might be suprised by how much you can make all of them buzz. Or you might find you really have a problem.
PS Are you're humbucker covers buzzing?? or a loose machine head? etc etc etc..Buzzing isn't always the strings/frets!
As you all suggested I'll try to play different guitars to have a proper overview. I don't think I will be changing my guitar setup except safe and easy stuff like intonation after restring. I am actually obsessed with string buzzing more than low action (I think the current action setup is not very low anyway).
It might be the case that I cannot get less buzzing from this guitar with any other setup!
I have just bought a fret rocker to have a roughly idea of the fretwork done by factory and also a string action gauge to be able to tell about my current action height. It's just because I am curious and I love to learn, I am not planning to become a luthier anyway.
Regarding other sources of buzzing, I have checked carefully taking my ear to 2 cm from the neck and it is actually coming from the string/frets.
It is true that I have heard some buzzing coming from the humbucker covers which is a different buzzing sound, quieter and high-pitched. I always solve this sound by touching the humbucker covers. Do you know anyway to resolve this permanently?
Unfortunately the only guitar player (also friend) that lives nearby cannot come in to my house because has cat allergy (I have two cats!).
Thanks again for your advices!
Just wanted to update you with the latest findings.
I've recently re-stringed my guitar (D'Addario .010 - .046) and it sounds much better than before. I've also checked the frets using the fret rocker and it looks like it has a nice fretwork (I wasn't able to find any uneven fret) but I don't have enough experience to say it's 100% fine.
I have also measured the string action using a string action gauge:
Low E o 6th string: 2mm or slightly lower (about 5/64").
High E o 1st string: 1.50mm or slightly lower (a bit lower than 4/64").
After reading about different setups for the same/similar guitars from different people, I don't think my action is very low.
The softer I strum the lesser is the presence of buzzing when playing unplugged. I guess I can always play with the action to reach the named sweet spot where the buzzing doesn't bother me.
Do you consider my action setup as low action?
Thanks,
Jose
I got an Epi LP Custom Pro before Xmas, and had weird sound when by the upper frets, I cleaned it (without removing the strings) and obviously having spent a bit of time in a warehouse it was filthy, once I'd done this it was absolutely fine.