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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | Hi everyone. I have a Al Di Meola signature model from 2003. I love it!
Recently I've been getting some buzzing in the high E string when bending between frets 8 to 12. If I just fret and play normal anywhere it doesn't buzz; only when I bend does it buzz.
If I fret the fret the 1st and 13th fret on the low E string and measure the distance between the string and the 5th fret....there is some clearance. If I do this same test on the high E string there is no clearance and it is touching the 5th fret.
You think maybe the 12th fret is just worn down near the high E string?
Thanks. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Put a straight edge on your frets and see if you get a gap or if it rocks. If it's just a bow, a truss rod adjustment might take care of it. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Don't know about it only happening when you bend the 'e'...
But I once had a perfectly good T that only buzzed high up on the low 'E' and it turned-out to be the 14th fret was raised-up a bit.
After much advice about fret-presses and cauls, I pushed it down real hard with my thumb.
Cured the problem.
So like Mark sez, if you run a straight edge along your frets and find one that is high, that might be your problem and your cure.
And Welcome! :cool: |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | What those guys said. The guitar guy I talked to runs a long straight edge to check or a gap, or if it rocks, in addition he has a shorter one that covers 3 frets at a time he runs it across 2 to see if it hits the third. This will, as arthur said show you if you have one or more high frets. My Legend has a little bump on the low E side of the neck noticible when you look down the body towards the neck. This is common from what I have seen in older ovations. I took the shims out and made a shim that has a slight angle to it making it higher on the low E string. It took care of my fret buzz. |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Welcome, and ditto on the advice. The tapered shims can help enormously. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
After much advice about fret-presses and cauls, I pushed it down real hard with my thumb.
Cured the problem. K.I.S.S. :D |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | Thank you kindly for the replies. I think I have a way major problem. I don't have a ruler long enough to cover all the frets but it definitely rocks. Frets 17 thru 20 is the problem. They are dipping down because I believe the top of the guitar is slightly caving in bringing the neck down as well.
If I look down the guitar from the headstock the neck looks pretty straight but then I can see it start to dip down from around fret 17 to 20. Ouch.
I have been pretty good with humidifying it regularly (planet waves sound hole humidifier) but looks like I didn't do it often enough.
Any suggestions at this point? |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| It may just be a matter of neck relief. Try tweaking the truss rod according to this diagram:
Only turn it 1/4 to 1/8 turn at a time, then let the neck settle into its new position for at least 18-24 hr before trying to figure out if it needs more adjustment. I have an old 1619 where the top is bulging up slightly at the bridge, the factory examined it within the last couple of months and determined that it was fine. Many others have also experienced this slight "belly bulge" (on their guitars as well as themselves :D ) without serious consequences (to their guitars; don't know about themselves). |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | Thanks G8R. Anyway I can send you some pictures for further diagnosis? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | By the way, I have already adjusted the trust rodd (tightened) it about 3 1/4 turns......that is a 1/4 per day.
It looks straight when I look down the neck......that is up until the 17 fret......then it starts to dip to the right (if I'm looking down the guitar on its side from the headstock) |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Interesting screen name...
I might go about it this way.
Loosen the strings.
Back-off the Truss Rod Completely.
Let it sit for an hour.
Bring it up to concert pitch.
Tweak the rod again a little at a time (rest it between tweaks) until your action is about where you want it or until it buzzes.
Loosen the strings again.
At that point, add, shave, taper a shim as needed.
This way your coming at it from "all angles" instead of overly compensating with just one fix. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Welcome, Danger!
My band-mate and I both have the 1769 AD II. Mine is OK action-wise, but Jeff had some setup problems.
Question: are the frets dressed well and problem-free? (On my '74 Legend, long ago I had some raised frets up in the 14th area). |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | I should have asked this earlier but can someone explain to me what "tapering a shim" is. Thanks! |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | In your case it would mean shaving a shim (located under your saddle) so that it has asymmetrical thickness-- such that the end of the shim under the high e string is slightly thicker than the end at the low E. (thus raising the string higher than the others) |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | If you need to do this (and its not difficult) the shim needs to uniformly tapered (both top and bottom are straight planes.) |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Rochester, NY | Thanks Jeff W. Shouldn't I add a shim before shaving the one end down?
Dobro: I don't have any problem with the frets but I do have those problems mentioned above in my 1st post. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | absolutely. |
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Ovation 1769 Al Di Meola Signature Model
