Forgive me if this is a bit of a dumb question but I am just getting into doing maintenance (beyond changing strings) on my guitar and wanted to make sure I wasn't mistaken in my thinking.

I was getting some fret buzz on my 6th string so had a set-up done last week. After that, everything seemed fine until yesterday when I was playing a bunch of chord stuff and the buzz came back when I was strumming. If I strum lightly it is fine (it is also fine when picking single notes) but when I really get into what I am playing I have a habit of strumming harder and that is when the buzz starts.

I tried playing with the saddles to see if that resolved it and I also adjusted the truss rod. Neither of these solved the problem so I was wondering if going to higher gauge strings (from .09s to .10s) might help? I know I would have to adjust the action after going to a higher gauge but before went ahead and moved up a gauge I just wanted to check with those who know more about this that going doing so might solve the problem of fret buzz when strumming hard.

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2010 Fender Standard Stratocaster (Brown Burst)
Marshall Class 5

Sorry, been a long day and I just realized that I had posted this in the wrong sub-forum.

I'll post it in the correct place and, if a mod sees this, can you just go ahead and delete it please?

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2010 Fender Standard Stratocaster (Brown Burst)
Marshall Class 5

Nah, don't worry bout the sub-forum thing, this is the lounge part, there is no restriction on what you can post save for anything explicit or offensive in nature. Since your question is neither of those, I think you'll be fine

Going from .09s to .10s isn't that drastic a change, I believe most fenders come stock with .10s (at least I think so). When you increase gauge, you increase tension so when you pick hard the string won't flop around as much. From your description I'm guessing when you strum hard the string bounces around and makes contact with the frets. So .10s might be the ticket, it's worth a shot. You might have to adjust the truss rod and file the nut along with action, I believe that's what I needed done when I went from .09s to .10s.

(Also, saw you adjusted the truss rod. Never use the truss rod to adjust action, it should only be used to keep the neck in its proper shape. My tech almost slapped me when I adjusted the truss rod on my first guitar ^^)

edit: just saw it in the stratocaster part of the forums, moving post there <__<)

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

The thought of fret-leveling comes to mind. Maybe not even height with adjoining frets...?

If your 6th string is buzzing I wouldn't file down the nut slot after moving to a 10-46 set as what's causing the buzz could very well that the nut slot for the E 6th is cut too deep. Moving from a 42(which I guess is the 6th with your .009 set)to a 46-the usual 6th with 10s-may allow the string to sit higher in the slot and that may resolve your problem.Just try raising the saddle under your 6th string before you try anything else as that may be another possibility.Just loosen the string turn the adjustment screws one turn at a time and retune to pitch and you may find that the problem goes away after 2 or 3 turns.Good luck with it.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.