low E string BUZZ on compound radius fingerboard

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rumina
Gidgee
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Location: Italy

low E string BUZZ on compound radius fingerboard

Post by rumina » Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:33 am

HI,
I recently made a roasted maple Strat neck with:
- compound radius (10-16)
- 2 way truss rod.
- Stainless Steel frets
- I did a fret level using a precision ground FRETGURU leveling beam on it.
- I have all of the pickups practically flat to the pickguard to be eliminated at pickup type issue causing it.

After the typical adjustments at the trussrod, saddle and nut I just could not get acceptable action on low E string.
the action is low for the EBGDA strings, while the Low E buzz from fret 5th to 12th but .. only when I play in alternating picking on the low E string!
When I hit the string down it sounds good, while when I hit it with the return movement there is a very strong buzz, and this happens by playing on all the frets, from the 5th to the 12th.
The other strings sound ok, and even in the bends there is no buzz so it means that the frets are leveled and crowned.

What could be the problem?

I have read that it seems a common problem in neck with compound fingerboard.

Please, help me!!!!

THANKS

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demonx
Blackwood
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Re: low E string BUZZ on compound radius fingerboard

Post by demonx » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:19 am

I’d have to see it in person to test how level it really is, as often when people “try” to level, the neck isn’t tensioned and supported properly and the fretwork can be turned into a banana.

That aside, could simply be a bad setup. Too much relief and bridge too low?

Do you own a fret rocker to test for raised frets?

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kiwigeo
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Re: low E string BUZZ on compound radius fingerboard

Post by kiwigeo » Thu Feb 22, 2018 11:14 am

+1 for checking if the fretboard is actually level.
Martin

simso
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Re: low E string BUZZ on compound radius fingerboard

Post by simso » Thu Feb 22, 2018 11:24 am

We build / assemble / level to the best of our abilitys, but we are working with wood, buzz simply means something is not right in the final product.

It usually takes a fresh set of eyes to identify the issue on something one has built, it could be as little as a setup, but could be loose frets, warped neck, insufficent glue bonds, incorrect compound radius, the list is endless.

Its like saying to a doctor, I hurt, the hurt is the end result which identifies a problem exists, we need to find the cause, using Dr Google is never the best option, always hands on assessment.

Steve
Steve
Master of nothing,

Do your own repairs - http://www.mirwa.com.au/How_to_Series.html

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