New guitar, but with fret buzz?

[Pageisgod]

Just opened my new Epiphone les paul plain top. Looks great, there is just annoying buzzing coming from the lower strings (the sixth, fifth, and fourth). It is coming from the 7th fret to the 1st fret on all of those strings, the loudest buzzing on the sixth. It is especially loud buzzing when i hammer on, and use power cords. I am using a light pick, and do not strum that loud. It is not the amp, I get it unplugged and plugged. I really don't want to mess around with a truss rod or the bridge or the nut, i don't trust myself to know what to do. My question is should i return it? Is it normal to have fret buzz? Should i change my strings? Should i bring it to a store and have them do a setup? If they do a set up (costing about 40$) will they fix it or will i have to keep going back to the store? Any suggestions?


What about a heavier set of strings like a .10 maybe .11?

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by Pageisgod

....Any suggestions?

Reread your original post. You answered all your questions yourself.
Yes, take it back and have a setup done.

P.S. Frets don't buzz. Strings buzz against the frets.

[yllsacky]

get a set up at a luthier store thread done

if any one else post on this thread i get angry

[leftylover]

all epiphones that ive ever played new have fret buzz. they come from the factory that way im pretty sure... The thing to do here is adjust the truss rod. adjust it 1/4 turn to the right(looking downd the neck, straight on at the bolt). it will give some relief to the neck. Most people freak themselves out because of all the things they hear about luthiers telling them not to touch the truss rod. They just want your money so they tell you not to do it. theres really nothing to it

[Pageisgod]

Originally Posted by leftylover

all epiphones that ive ever played new have fret buzz. they come from the factory that way im pretty sure... The thing to do here is adjust the truss rod. adjust it 1/4 turn to the right(looking downd the neck, straight on at the bolt). it will give some relief to the neck. Most people freak themselves out because of all the things they hear about luthiers telling them not to touch the truss rod. They just want your money so they tell you not to do it. theres really nothing to it

And if i do this, will it never happen again or will i constantly have to adjust the truss rod?

[leftylover]

Originally Posted by Pageisgod

And if i do this, will it never happen again or will i constantly have to adjust the truss rod?

it depends on where you live. If it is very humid or very dry where you are, you may have to adjust it every few months. It's definitely not a weekly thing. every 4 months TOPS.

[steadyriot]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

P.S. Frets don't buzz. Strings buzz against the frets.

Maybe when you have a REALLY lose fret, it could buzz!

[Sinster]

WOW!!! There's a lot of fret buzz on a lot of newer guitars!! I thought they get inspected once arrive here in the states? Epiphone Musical Instruments - News
I understand that it goes from here to there via air, ground, and water.

[Looper_1234]

Originally Posted by leftylover

Most people freak themselves out because of all the things they hear about luthiers telling them not to touch the truss rod. They just want your money so they tell you not to do it. theres really nothing to it

Amen to that, i had no place that could do the setup for me, in the end i have to relief the neck myself.

just make sure you read up on it first. loosening the rod should be silky smooth. don't force anything and nothing would go wrong.

[Azathoth]

I got a new Epi LP Plus with a lot of fret buzz and really bad intonation. I raised the bridge a little, which got rid of most of it. The low E string still buzzes and sounds and feels a little "deadened," for lack of a better word. I really don't want to raise it any higher.

The intonation sucks though. An open A chord is ****ed. Couldn't use it for recording in its present shape. I tried adjusting the saddles, but I couldn't notice any discernible difference in pitch with the the saddle all the way to the front or back. And at no point does it fix the intonation. It might need a neck relief, which I'm not comfortable doing myself. I don't have anyone I can take it to, and there's no music stores in my area.

What really sucks is, I finally got a decent sounding guitar and I get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left hand after playing it too much, for which there's no cure. Your hand goes numb and your joints get stiff. I can't do a pull-down vibrato any more, among other things. I don't know, if I lost the use of my left hand, I'd consider stepping in front of a bus. It would be akin to losing your johnson.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by steadyriot

Maybe when you have a REALLY lose fret, it could buzz!

Originally Posted by Sinster

....There's a lot of fret buzz on a lot of newer guitars!!....

Frets don't buzz....the strings buzz against the frets.

[diceman]

And, a life lesson:

You will spend more money getting your Epiphone from Musicians Friend once you've had to pay someone to do a setup on it than you would have had you just bought one from your local Gibson/Epiphone dealer where they will do an in house setup free of charge. They'll probably throw in some strings and picks when you buy it as well... Not to mention the fact that you'll get to play several and pick out the one that plays and sounds (and looks) the best to you...

[BUDOKAI]

just make the strings higher and if that doesnt work then have a pro set it up