88 Les Paul Fret Buzz/Rattle

[mbbreen]

Ok I know I have seen this particular issue listed several times and have tried all of the fixes that I have found listed, of course maybe I missed something. 
I picked up an 88 LP Standard a couple of months ago.  The setup and strings were horrible so I cleaned her up took her to my friend who actually is the local guitar tech and asked him to go through he, check her out and do a full setup.  He gave her a clean bill of health except for a fret buzz on the “D” starting around the 3rd fret.  The frets did look pretty good but due to the age of the guitar and the fact a few frets could use some work I went ahead and had the frets leveled and crowned.  That helped but unfortunately did not stop the buzzing.

I did some checking on the forums and came up with several things’ others had done in the past that fixed the same type of issue so I have checked or tried the following.
1.    Verified the neck has no issue
2.    String are new have tried several sets, brands and 2 sizes (10 and 11) all the results the same.  
3.    Frets have been crowned and leveled
4.    Bridge, Tail piece and Tuners have been checked.  All were in useable condition (I did have 2 worn tuners) but as a last resort all have been replaced.
5.    Full Setup has been done (twice).
At this point I am at a loss as to what else to try.
Any ideas/suggested fixes would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mike
 

[Leonard McCoy]

Get the guitar to a competent luthier or guitar technician.

[mbbreen]

Thanks for the advice Leonard.

The guitar has already been to a very competent luthier/tech and he has even had several other Luther/Techs he knows check out the guitar.  All came up with the same "normal" fixes.

So now I am looking for the non-standard or maybe just the simplest that may have been overlooked.

 

Thank You

Mike

[mbbreen]

BTW Here is a PIC of the LP I have been working on

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by mbbreen

[Pinch]

How's the relief? If you straighten out the neck a little (assuming it's not dead straight already) and raise the bridge a little... That could work. 

And are you sure it's the frets and not a bridge saddle that buzzes? 

Hope that helps. 

Edited April 6, 2020 by Pinch

[mbbreen]

Thanks Pinch,

I tested earlier today by tuning up one step on the guitar.  That did  clear up a lot of the rattles.Since the buzz/rattle happens when I am fretting the "D"  starting at the 3rd fret through about 6th or 7th I am thinking of adding a touch more relief in the neck to see if that does the fix.  If not then I will raise the bridge.

Thanks

Mike

[Pinch]

8 hours ago, mbbreen said:

Thanks Pinch,

I tested earlier today by tuning up one step on the guitar.  That did  clear up a lot of the rattles.Since the buzz/rattle happens when I am fretting the "D"  starting at the 3rd fret through about 6th or 7th I am thinking of adding a touch more relief in the neck to see if that does the fix.  If not then I will raise the bridge.

Thanks

Mike

NP. Hope it works. 

Edited April 7, 2020 by Pinch

[mbbreen]

Thank you all for the advice and feedback.

I had to adjust the truss 2 times and redo the setup but the buzzing is pretty much gone.

The hardest part was the waiting between the truss adjustments.

 

Thanks Again

 

Mike

[jdgm]

If you have the bridge with the wire across the top of the bridge saddle screws, that alway buzzes. Easy fix - it's the screws rattling - can drive you mad.