I just got my strat back from a setup job I had done to fix a fret buzz I've always had with the guitar. Upon dropping it off, the guy told me that it may not be fixable because Fenders tend to have an inherent buzz due to the longer scale length. Sure enough I got it back and it's still buzzing all over the place, though only slightly. Is this true and my strat will never be buzz-free or is he just a bad tech and can't figure out how to get rid of it?

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[08 MIM Standard Arctic White] > [Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ > Radial Texas Bones OD > Tonerider British Distortion > Electroharmonix Russian Big Muff Pi > Vox V847 Wah] > FM65R

Well, I've found that in order to have my strats play how I want, I have to deal with a little buzzing. BTW I use a very heavy string gauge and I'm tuned a half step down(ala S.R.V.).

There's somethings you have to tell us first. Can you hear the buzzing through the amp? Or is it just when played acoustically? AND how do you have your guitar set-up(string gauge, action, tuning, tremolo, pick up height)

Hi Brian_Strat_215,

The scale length has nothing to do with fret buzz. A poor setup can cause fret buzz/rattle though, as well as poorly finished frets with uneven heights. Sometimes, the cheaper models of guitars will have a lot of buzz unless your action is high enough to overcome the uneven frets.

I don't know if your "tech" is bad, or just not knowledgeable, but to say that "Fenders tend to have an inherent buzz" is ridiculous. Maybe you can read some of the setup suggestions from Fender and check to see if your guitar is close to their specs, especially under the heading "Truss Rod" and "Action" (link below). I would say that either your setup is poor, or your frets are not right. Either way, it is certainly fixable. Adjusting the truss rod and saddles should take care of any buzzing, assuming that the frets aren't the problem. Even with poor frets, the action can be raised enough to prevent buzzing.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

thats a crock of shiot.
the guy just doesnt know how to do the job correctly.
i agree with shimm just before this post. check the measuments with this site.
the suggestions given ARE NOT writen in stone ok, its just a guide line, some place
to start. it is possible your frets need a leveling. more often than not even brand new guitars need a leveling, a fret finishing job.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

When I dropped it off I told him adjust truss rod, action, frets, saddles, whatever it takes to eliminate the buzz. He checked everything including the frets and said it should be fine. It's not a horrible buzz and I can't hear it over the amp, but I can feel it a little while playing and hear it when my amp volume is low (I know what you're thinking, turn the amp up, but I live in a dorm building and can't do that - we're not even supposed to have amps). He adjusted pickup height to compensate for magnetic pull and basically checked everything.

ERA, mine is 1/2 step down as well, with .011s on it (Ernie Ball Power Slinky)

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[08 MIM Standard Arctic White] > [Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ > Radial Texas Bones OD > Tonerider British Distortion > Electroharmonix Russian Big Muff Pi > Vox V847 Wah] > FM65R

to me either he clearly didnt know what he was doing, or, you have something seriously wrong with you guitar, which STILL takes us back to number 1.
get a second opinion. then when the buzz is gone take it to him and show him.
then ask for your bucks back.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

check that you have enough relief on the neck as far as inherent buzz in fenders goes that is utter BS

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Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'

Well Brian, mine don't buzz.

There are a few things to factor in though. I play very lightly and have no real love for super low actions.
I don't have my action super high though, just normal.
The main cause of fretbuzz is your right hand. Hitting the strings too hard will cause buzz on anything. No matter how well it's set up.

Sounds like the hack was giving you a disney story. It's entirely possible to set a 25" scale length guitar up so it doesn't buzz. I've five Fenders and a Jackson all on that scale length that don't buzz.

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No no and no

That tech doesn't know from

Get a second opinion.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY