The Electra Forums

i haven't played my 2245 in a while. i picked it up the other day and there was a humming or buzz(strictly guitar, no amp) coming from my low E when i played at the fifth fret. the action is pretty low, but i've never noticed any noises before. i tried to adjust the saddle a bit, but that didn't seem to solve it. any ideas? the groove in the nut is pretty deep, so i thought maybe that was causing it, but wanted to ask here before messing with it.

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In the words of AC/DC: We roll tonight...and for those about to rock...we salute you.

Very seldom would it have anything to do with the frets if it's played evenly and hasn't been dropped or damaged. If that's the only buzz, I wouldn't mess with the truss rod. Sounds like the Nut is the culpret but if it's not muting the sustain or tone it may be worth leaving as is.

Do you tend to play mostly plugged in? Maybe you just haven't noticed it before.

Hope this helps

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Remember, just because you're not Paranoid doesn't mean They're not watching!

Try a new set of strings before you do anything else;

I have dealt with this in the past and have found that changing to a new set seems to clear it up; or is it just my ears?????

If it is an adjustment issue it is better to do that with new strings on anyway.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

I would have to disagree with Guitarguy. Although a nut can wear out it usualy will do so gradualy. Necks however being made of wood flex and change with time. It is not unusual for a guitar that has been sitting for a while to require a truss rod adjustment. New strings are not a bad idea either, and they are cheep.

I agree that a truss rod adjust may be needed but I would let a tech do it if you're not familiar.

I think RCSBlues has the right idea, start with strings and the things you know how to do, then look at truss rod and/or nut.

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Remember, just because you're not Paranoid doesn't mean They're not watching!

If I understood the original post correctly, he said it was buzzing at the 5th fret - so no way it was the nut. The rule of thumb is if it is a problem with the strings buzzing when open (not fretted) it might be the nut or the bridge - or in extreme cases a bad neck bow or fret issue (rare). If it happens when fretted, it isn't the nut (you eliminate the nut from the equation when you fret the string).

The advice given is right on though - change the strings first and if that does not fix the problem check the neck. I don't know how many times wacky problems happen with buzzing and intonation and it turns out to be a string has gone funky. I have been guilty many times overlooking the obvious. Sometimes you can look at how your string vibrates and if it has a "wobbly" look to it its bad. Change your strings.

The neck should have a slight bow in it (with the strings on it and tuned to pitch). Check it with a straight edge or by clamping down your strings at the first and 17th frets. If you do this *generally* you should see about enough room to place a credit card edge in the gap from the middle fret and the strings. I say generally, because some people like it flatter - but this is a good general rule and will result in a good adjustment most of the time. If there isn't enough room there, loosen the truss rod about a 1/4 turn at a time and recheck. Give it a about 1 min. between turns too - sometimes it take a bit to settle. If it has too much gap, tighten it about 1/4 turn and recheck. How do you know if you are tightening or loosening? Facing the end of the truss rod - turning the wrench to the right tightens (clockwise), turning to the left loosens. The old rule "righty-tighty, Lefty-loosey" applies. Yeah, I really said that But I can still remember that and that works for all threads except "reverse" threads (don't think I have seen those on guitars).

If that does not do it, and the neck is adjusted right, then maybe you have a very worn fret or a fret has become loose. That really isn't that hard of a fix either, but probably you should have someone look at it to be certain. Loose frets can be super glued back in. If it is happening at a 5th fret, it might be that the 6th fret has popped up. It does not happen very often, but it happens. It can certainly happen to any guitar. If you have one loose one, you probably have more than one. Probably time to get a full setup: neck adjusted, loose frets glued, frets leveled (possibly even replaced and leveled), recrowned, polished, string height set, intonated, and whatever else needs done.

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Thorny

I once completely took apart my Phoenix because no sound was coming out of it.

Turns out I had the volume on 0...
I felt soooo stupid.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.