I've Had It...I'm Done!!

[Geezer]

Sorry for yet another gripe thread. I'm selling 4 out of my 7 guitars; they will not stop developing buzzing frets. One had a professional set up, twice; which developed buzzes after 2 days. They did the set up again, it buzzed again after a few days. I've had to tweak it untold times since.
I just got a new one, which played fine for few days, then it too started buzzing. I've had it maybe two weeks and have had to level the frets and shim the neck. It played good anywhere from two days to ten minutes, then started buzzing again. I think you get the picture. My three most stable guitars are the cheapos that cost me a total of $168.50 for all three, one with a pick guard upgrade!
I'm going to take a big dollar hit, but they aren't worth the aggravation. I owned an Am Std that played out with no problems for the three years I owned it. I know, buy another Am Std!

[Nightprowler]

sounds like to many guitars to worry about anyhow ... Are you playing your guitars or are you letting them play you ?

[peskypesky]

what are the 3 that are stable?

[AllroyPA]

Must be that salty air on the Cape is setting into the brain as well as the axes ... have you consulted a friend instead of a tech? They're much more therapeutic !

[ghostwolf]

sounds like you need to learn how to do some tech work yourself. it isn't difficult. how can we expect someone else to know what we like in the feel of our guitars? just like our underpants don't always fit the same, day to day, our guitars don't feel the same day to day, either.............
i've been building and repairing guitars for thirty years or so, and shudder to think what it would cost me to have someone else figure out what didn't feel right on a daily basis.

[peskypesky]

is it a problem with the humidity from the ocean swelling the wood?

[AllroyPA]

Originally Posted by peskypesky

is it a problem with the humidity from the ocean swelling the wood?

swollen wood ...eh ... hu ... eh ... Bevis

[Geezer]

I've been around guitars for many years, owned many, sold many, traded many. I know how to set them up and make most repairs (still can't play for **%&), including fret work. These beasts defy logic. Only one was done by a tech, which I bought at the local music store. They back up their sales.
Stable guitars: 95 Bullet, GFX Strat knock-off, Crafter Tele knock-off. They play real nice and hold a set up almost 100%
I won't name the problem children, they are: Strat knock-off; mahogany PRS type (great tone); a guitar that should be great, with EMGs, real nice FB inlays and top quality hdw; a semi-hollow body that also sounds great. Unfortunately they suffer from chronic buzzing.
I forgot to add my new one: Thinline copy with P90's-that's going too.

Allroy-nothing gets into my brain after what I did to it in the 60's and 70's!

[Soundbandit]

Originally Posted by Geezer

Sorry for yet another gripe thread. I'm selling 4 out of my 7 guitars; they will not stop developing buzzing frets. One had a professional set up, twice; which developed buzzes after 2 days. They did the set up again, it buzzed again after a few days. I've had to tweak it untold times since.
I just got a new one, which played fine for few days, then it too started buzzing. I've had it maybe two weeks and have had to level the frets and shim the neck. It played good anywhere from two days to ten minutes, then started buzzing again. I think you get the picture. My three most stable guitars are the cheapos that cost me a total of $168.50 for all three, one with a pick guard upgrade!
I'm going to take a big dollar hit, but they aren't worth the aggravation. I owned an Am Std that played out with no problems for the three years I owned it. I know, buy another Am Std!

Hmmm...That's funny, because I'm selling mine so my kids can eat. Maybe I'm in the wrong forum; I thought it was about the passion, not the money. I'll be happy with one, and be thankful I got that.

[AllroyPA]

Originally Posted by Geezer

Allroy-nothing gets into my brain after what I did to it in the 60's and 70's!

I hope you know that was'nt a dig. Good luck with your sales on them, maybe Ebay ?

[chuckdup]

I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here but I'd wager on it...

there's relief in the neck of all these guitars and the nut heights off..

Is it always the same place on the neck of each guitar??

Are they kept in cases?

Check the necks for loose frets... tap each with a penny, edge, center and edge. The good frets will have a sharper crisp sound while the loose ones will have kindofa hollow tock to them.. You cant really dress the frets if their loose and move with temperature changes..

use a straight edge, a small one and move it along each string up and down the fingerboard. Dont span but (3) frets at a time. Push down on the end's of the straight edge at each fret. This'll point out the high ones. The straight edge will rock. It might be easier to see it rock with a little longer straight edge but if there's relief in the neck a longer one will not work well. Mark them with a sharpe. Go back and do the tap test. crazy glue the loose frets. mask the fingerboard off and dress them down. You can use a small file, emryboad, or even a wet stone...

Hope this helps............laters....chuck

[Malikon]

sounds like your necks are moving on you. At least that's my first thought.

Sorry they're aggravating you though, it's always annoying when your guitars don't feel right.