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Post subject: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:31 am
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Hi everyone,

Today is the one-year anniversary of the day I took delivery of my Edge Signature Strat. I remember just loving every aspect of the guitar, and having only played MIM strats, I was surprised how little time it took for me to adjust to the wider nut (and thicker neck).

The local Fender dealer did a great job setting it up (I had them put on .010s and the tremolo floats), but recently it's developed a slight buzz on the lowest string around frets 3-6. I say "slight" because I don't always hear it. Sometimes, if I press harder, it seems to go away; but if I slide from fret 3 to 6, it's very pronounced.

I'm wondering if I should get the guitar set up again. On one hand, it's been a year. But on the other hand, it's a quartersawn maple neck; it's only one string that needs adjusting; and it costs $75 for a setup!

(BTW, my acoustic needs a setup too, so the $75 is not as small as it might seem.)

What I'm tempted to try is raising the (stainless steel block) saddle a bit to raise the string enough to clear the frets. I'm not worried about ruining the action on the double-digit frets, as I only play higher strings up there. I do know I will probably have to adjust the scale length a tiny bit as well.

So, I have two questions. First, does this seem reasonable to all of you? Or would you pay for the setup?

Second, before I adjust the bridge, do I need to put some slack in the string so it's easier to move the saddle? Or should I adjust the saddle only when changing the strings?

Thanks!!!


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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:20 am
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if you are only adjusting the saddle a very small amount, leave the string tuned to pitch, adjust the saddle then check for buzzing then if cured retune the string

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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 1:27 pm
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Hi, if you had no fret buzz with your original setup, I think you should check your truss rod relief firts, not the saddles. The saddles won't move , the neck could and that might alter the string height, producing fret buzz.


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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 4:30 pm
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I think you might need to tweak the truss rod just a tad.
If you don't know what you're doing with it take it to someone who does.

Do not adjust the saddle height with the string under tension - you're likely to gouge an indent in the bridge plate if you do.
Again, if you don't know you're doing with it take it to someone who does.

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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:27 pm
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As the guitar is strung you can test for relief by fretting at the first and last (some do 12th) fret and see if the string touches all the frets or there is a little clearance.

If adjusting the saddle height I tend to do it while in tune as it is otherwise a pain to keep retuning to check, particularly with a floating trem.. You may then need to adjust the intonation.

Also note that if you lift the bass E you will want to lift the adjacent strings by a diminishing amount to retain their relationship to each other.

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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:43 pm
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First things first: are the strings still the same that were put in the guitar a year ago? If yes, get a set of new strings.

But assuming the strings are new, my diagnosing/checking would go something like this; buzzing on one string only, and frets 3-6 only:
Are the frets OK? Wear marks, grooves on those frets, so they're lower?
Or are the frets 7-8 properly seated in their slots, so one/more doesn't sit higher?
Is the saddle as it should; screws still in their place, level with the guitar top, action as it's been adjusted?
Is the new low E-string faulty?

If all that checks out, time to check out the relief for weather related adjustment need. (If you got the setup specs from the tech, you have been blessed.)

I'm OCD enough to loosen the string(s) when adjusting just about anything (well, not vol/tone knobs or such...) on a guitar, so I'll support the tune down -> adjust -> retune option.

On the pro setup: consider it a yearly maintenance cost. Remember how happy you were with the guitar after the previous setup? And if money is tight, schedule the acoustic/electric maintenance so they don't burden the same month. Or DIY the setup with the acoustic; it's easier to learn than with a Strat.

BTW, a general nitpicky note (and apologies beforehand for the nitpickiness): adding more relief and/or raising action are sometimes done too hastily; that's when they hide a problem which should be fixed properly.


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Post subject: Re: NGD +1 year
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 5:27 am
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jmattis wrote:
I'm OCD enough to loosen the string(s) when adjusting just about anything (well, not vol/tone knobs or such...) on a guitar, so I'll support the tune down -> adjust -> retune option.

Ditto.
While some are comfortable lowering the action or loosening the intonation adjusters when tuned to pitch, there is still a lot of tension on those threads, and while turning to the left reduces that tension, it is still high.
On a Strat, at least "dive" the tremolo.
For raising the action or tightening the intonation, ALWAYS de-tune... many saddle height hexes and cross-point screws have been stripped from making these adjustments at tension, particularly on older guitars that might have some grime in the threads.

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