MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Hey guys. Just posted this on UMGF. The guy I bought the guitar from is a nice guy. I am sure he would take the guitar back. However I'd prefer to not deal with all that hassle.... if I can avoid. What do you think is going on with the action and this neck? https://umgf.com/action-diagnostic-help-high-buzz-t202080.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) How old is the guitar? It needs at least a proper setup (the neck should be straightened some more by tightening the truss rod), if not some fret leveling. I recommended going to a luthier or competent guitar tech. Edited November 10, 2019 by Leonard McCoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) It looks like a hump in the fretboard where the fretboard meets the body, coupled with a fair amount of neck relief, so that when you play further up the neck, some strings are fretting out on that hump. This calls for someone who really knows what they are doing to correct. I wouldn't second-guess what they might do, but it might start with filing down the frets a bit from 12 up. Edited November 10, 2019 by j45nick spelling correction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 The guitar is a 2010 J45-TV. It has mediums on it. If I tighten the rod, it buzzes more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 My gut tells me... tighten the truss... remove relief. and then shim the saddle... ? so two things sub optimal. Neck needs to be flatter. and saddle needs to be a hair taller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomPhx Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) Just speculation from your pics: Looks like there's too much neck relief, and maybe the nut slots too low, especially the low E. You said it buzzes worse when you tighten the truss rod; but If you can tighten the truss rod again to get a relief of around .008-.010" at the 7th, and then capo the first fret and see if the buzzing goes away. Or measure the string clearance at the 1st fret to see if the nut height is sufficient. The Kimsey video he posted on the other forum has great information in it. You may have to install a higher saddle also. All those things are inter-related so fixing one problem may lead to another. But that neck relief looks too deep as it is now. Just my 2 cents worth... I hope it's an easy fix. Edited November 10, 2019 by TomPhx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Kinsey offers great advice. Let me offer help from my own experience with my TV. If it is at all dry that top will start to droop, and I get buzzing like you are showing. I’d give it a bath. Throw it in a sealed trash bag with some sponges for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 My room is humidified... 46% right now. When I capo on two.... man its sounds thin. especially higher up. If i capo on 4 or 5, the high B and E are buzz thin city. Bummed. Having real bad luck lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Sal, this can be fixed, but you may want to get a good tech to do it. The problem starts with the hump, and is exacerbated by the excess relief. As TomPhx says, there look to be several things going on that may require simultaneous solutions, as fixing just one may exacerbate another. I believe you used to have a guy who was really good work on your guitars. If he's still around, I would get it to him. This is a bit more than just a simple set-up, but shouldn't be a cause for giving up on the guitar unless something else is found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) Sorry to hear you're having trouble getting it dialed in. What Dan says about the guitar's top (bridge/saddle) dropping in dry conditions should still be kept in mind, as we've had some cold weather lately. Humi gauge calibrated with the salt pack? You might not want to remove relief. . . give it some relief, and get those strings away from the fretboard in the higher frets. Tony P made a nice vid that is a good reminder of how the Gibson truss rod works, and he sums it up at t = 1:05 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFlIFN8oPDw The video demonstrates the buzz, but aren't you tuned down to D? Maybe a pic sighting down the neck from off of the lower bout would show if the dreaded 14th fret ski jump/hump is present. Hang in there, you'll get it. Edited November 10, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 11 minutes ago, 62burst said: Maybe a pic sighting down the neck from off of the lower bout would show if the dreaded 14th fret ski jump/hump is present. Hang in there, you'll get it. If you follow Sal's link in his original post, and look at his last picture in his UMGF posting, that's exactly what you'll see. It's not that pronounced, but it's there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 Rut Roh. What’s the dreaded 14 feet ski jump/hump. Is that like the Microsoft blue screen of death? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Salfromchatham said: Rut Roh. What’s the dreaded 14 feet ski jump/hump. Is that like the Microsoft blue screen of death? Lol. Not as costly as the MS blue screen of death, but can be tricky to get rid of. I had seen a luthier lessen the hump greatly by careful truss rod adjustment ('think it was ol' Strunkie), but on the other hand, there was the local luth who exacerbated the hump on an Eastman E-20ss by an infraction of the if-it-ain't-broke__ rule once when just trying to do a setup. Edited November 10, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul14 Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Not sure what the problem is with yours, however my RW J-45 had terrible intonation problems. A new saddle fixed it. If yours start to cost money, I would return it. You say say the guy is nice, but he must have known it was not right! How did he miss the fact that it was buzzing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 The seller had mediums on it. I’m sure less pronounced. besides... the seller is a solid fella. I’m sure I can return it. I’m not sure I want to. It’s a headache for him, and for me. All I want is a great J45 set up right. If a setup by someone competent fixes this I am good. The seller deserves the same benefit of doubt that I would hope be afforded me if I sold something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul14 Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 34 minutes ago, Salfromchatham said: The seller had mediums on it. I’m sure less pronounced. besides... the seller is a solid fella. I’m sure I can return it. I’m not sure I want to. It’s a headache for him, and for me. All I want is a great J45 set up right. If a setup by someone competent fixes this I am good. The seller deserves the same benefit of doubt that I would hope be afforded me if I sold something. I pretty much plan a set up whenever I buy a guitar., regardless if it’s new or used. One persons great set up, might not be so great to the next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Sal, It can be fixed. You just needs someone who knows what he/she is doing. Don't give up. Both of my J-45's have a slight hump where the fretboard bends over the body, just because of the neck angle is not parallel to the top. Any competent luthier, or a good tech, should be able to sort this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Before you take it for drastic ski hump surgery, I would put some nice mediums back on and leave for 3 or 4 weeks to let the guitar settle after its journey. If previous owner thought it was good, it could be the change of air or movement from travel. I wouldn't mind a dollar for every forumite that gets home with a new purchase, changes the saddle, strings, tuners, fretboard, bridge, case??? and then the guitar is buzzing! BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 3 hours ago, Salfromchatham said: The seller had mediums on it. I’m sure less pronounced. Wait- "had" mediums on it. So it was set up for meads & you went to a lighter gauge? There's your trouble. As BK implied, betcha if you put mediums back on, you'd lose much of that buzz. Or. . . don't despair- have a good setup guy dial it in for your preferred gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 I’ve actually toasted a few sets of strings... lights, medium lights, and mediums. The buzzing was even there up high on the mediums that came with it, and all the sets I have tried. i have a call into Brothers. I’ll get them the guitar, but the downside is I’ll be without it for weeks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 2 minutes ago, Salfromchatham said: I’ve actually toasted a few sets of strings... lights, medium lights, and mediums. The buzzing was even there up high on the mediums that came with it, and all the sets I have tried. i have a call into Brothers. I’ll get them the guitar, but the downside is I’ll be without it for weeks... The upside is that when you get it back, it will be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Salfromchatham said: I’ve actually toasted a few sets of strings... lights, medium lights, and mediums. The buzzing was even there up high on the mediums that came with it, and all the sets I have tried. i have a call into Brothers. I’ll get them the guitar, but the downside is I’ll be without it for weeks... See now?, if you met Dave & Rich up at the Fall Philly show last Saturday, they easily could've done it then and there... they were just sitting around at Fred O's (Vintage Instruments) table most of the day. Dave tells me that they're just about turning work away at this point. Careful how much a shop gets talked up- they've had my J-45 for 8 months now. Hmm... EDIT: it should be added, that my J-45 is in for some big repairs, including finish touch up work, and their jobs requiring finish work are where they are backed up the most. Edited November 11, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 11, 2019 Author Share Posted November 11, 2019 It’s in good hands now... back from Wind Gap. Hope it won’t take too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Well done. You don't mess around, do you? Did the Brothers give you an expected turnaround time? In either case, you did yourself and the guitar a good thing in getting it to them. Always interesting to see what they're up to in the laboratory, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 12, 2019 Author Share Posted November 12, 2019 No... no expedited time... they are booked on the big stuff... but take some smaller jobs to fill an afternoon when nitro is drying or something. I’m hoping a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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