Quick Question from a newbie. I just got (my wife) a 1995 MIM Deluxe Fat Strat and I think I need to adjust the string height on a few of the strings due to some fret buzz (no buzz when played open, but buzz on the first fret, none others).

I know I need to get a .050 allen wrench to adjust the height at the saddle, but my bridge also appears to have philips head screws right in front of each of the saddles. These screws are for mounting and not for adjustment correct? I don't see these on most strat photos (they seem to have a mounting screw on each side of the bridge, rather than in front of the saddles).

Hopefully this picture will work and you'll know what I'm talking about:


I am a complete newbie, but hopefully I got the terminology correct. Can someone confirm for me that those are mounting screws and not something I can use for adjustments?

Thanks.

Also... the fret buzz problem will probably be resolved by increasing the string height right? I know I should take it in for a professional setup.

Yup, the big phillips screws are mounting screws. They are peculiar to the "vintage" style bridge generally found on MIM guitars. You don't need to mess with 'em as you adjust your string height.

You'll use the allen wrench and adjust the saddles individually.

i good thing i discovered was: if you start messing with stuff do like 1 half turn or a full turn at a time and see how that goes and if you mess it up you can remember how many turns it was to put it back.

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Thanks for the info guys, I won't mess with the screws. Now I just have to be patient and wait until I can hit the hardware store to pick up an allen wrench small enough for the adjustments.

Loosen the string, go 1/4 turn on each end, tighten and tune check to see if it's better. If not repeat. I'm an advocate of just going enough to fix the issue.

Well, tried to adjust the string height at the saddle and it didnt really help (I actually managed to unscrew it all the way and freaked out for a bit getting it back on).

Needless to say I'll be taking it in for a pro setup. Anyone have any recommendations for the Boston Area (north)? Should I trust Guitar Center to do a setup or find someone more reputable?

Hi Kayati: when you talk about no buzz played open but some buzz at the first fret I take it you mean that when you fret strings at the first fret they are buzzing somewhere else on the neck. Is that right? Can you say which strings are buzzing, and by getting your ear down close to the neck can you tell exactly where - which fret they are buzzing on?

Likely, they are buzzing against the second fret. If so, then you will have to raise the saddles a lot to stop it, due to the very small angle of arc involved. Raising the saddles far enough to stop buzz towards the nut will probably make the action (height of the strings above the frets) intolerably high further up the neck.

Slightly loosening the trussrod may be a better solution, because it will allow a slight front-bow (a concave curve of the fingerboard, viewed from the front). This will raise the action all the way along the neck, but that can in turn be ameliorated towards the dusty end by actually lowering the saddles a tad.

However, without intending any offence it might be that your experience level is not ready for this kind of thing. Trussrods require a modicum of respect in their handling. Even very experienced players often prefer to let techs do this stuff for them: I'd suggest a pro setup may be your best route, and not very expensive.

Good luck - C

You are pretty much spot on with your entire description, I believe the B & G strings are buzzing against the 2nd fret when fretted in the first position.

Also I am a COMPLETE novice having never really picked up a guitar before XMas, so I take no offence in your comment on my lack of experience. I've read up enough to know the $$$ for a pro setup vs causing a problem with the truss rod by mucking around with it myself definately isn't worth it. So I'll be taking it to a pro to take care of it.

Thanks for the additional info!

You are very welcome.

Best of luck with your new Strat - and stick around the Forum, why not? Loads of nice people round here.

Cheers - C

Don't know if ressurrecting dead threads is frowned upon here, but thought I'd give yall an update to show how much of a newbie I really am.

I finally got around to cleaning the fretboard & changing the strings and I think the new strings resolved the fret buzz problem.

I still need to take it in for a professional setup I'm sure, but now that there's no real problems I can put that off for awhile.

Must have been some pretty old strings on there. Also, it is possible you picked up new strings of a heavier gauge, further increased pull on the neck, got more relief and slightly higher action. Enough to kill the buzz. Look like you successfully did your first setup, well coincidentally at least

Download the manufacturer manual from the support section here on the site, it will tell you the basics of setup.

You know I thought about throwing a higher gauge string on there to see if it would fix the problem instead of dealing with a neck adjustment, but my wife and I share the guitar right now and I didn't want to change too much on her, so I stuck with 9's (We are both complete newbies). I can't imagine there was a lighter gauge than 9's on there before and intonation seems to be good. Just got us the guitar for xmas, used, so I have no idea how old the strings were.

The rosewood fretboard seemed pretty dried out, but looks and feels great after the lemon oil treatment.

Just crossing my fingers and hoping the problem doesn't come back too soon.

I'm sure you know if you later change to a heavier gauge you might have to adjust the neck.

Every once in a while I put new strings on and they buzz, I used to think I needed to adjust the guitar but new strings got on eventually and the buzz goes away. Even new strings can be crappy, and I usually get the same Slinkys 11s.

Btw, has anyone tried the Rock n Roll Slinkys? I picked some up on sale at GC. Pure nickel, cant wait to try them on.