Fret buzz on a Tele Deluxe RI...What am I doing wrong?

[RumorsOFsurF]

I'm really stumped. 

I've tried everything with this guitar...The wound strings buzz like crazy when I pick or strum, and it's even coming through the amp.

Here's what I've tried:

1. The saddles were raised to the end of their travel, and the micro-tilt is essentially all the way loose.  (I don't want to tilt the neck down, because that would require the bridge saddles to be higher)

2. I measured the relief in the neck, and it's right within spec.  The action doesn't seem too high, either.

3. I checked the frets with a straight-edge, and they seem to be uniform.  No high ones, as far as I can tell.

4. Finally, out of sheer frustration, I replaced the saddles with some ugly  machined Strat ones that I had in my parts drawer.  I'm able to raise them a little higher than the stock ones, but still the buzzing persists.

I can't find anything wrong with this thing, and it's driving me bonkers. 

[mezcalhead]

Maybe the nut? Sometimes if they're cut badly then the string can actually buzz in the slot.

Or it might be a loose bit of hardware somewhere just resonating along with the wound strings .. but you've probably already excluded that.

[Pacafeliz]

Maybe the nut? Sometimes if they're cut badly then the string can actually buzz in the slot.

Or it might be a loose bit of hardware somewhere just resonating along with the wound strings .. but you've probably already excluded that.

+1 on that!

[RumorsOFsurF]

I checked all the hardware, and it's definitely fret buzz.  Like I said, I even changed the saddles.

I don't think it would be noticeable through an amp at stage volume, but it really bugs me at apartment levels. 

[JazzBlaster]

Maybee a high fret? perhaps a level and polish on the higher frets.

[RumorsOFsurF]

I straight-edged the frets, and none seem to be high...

[Regan]

Ok, your adjustments have eliminated many potential problems, and it seems about all that is left that could be causing it is either the nut, neck, or frets. If the frets are level, and there are no worn grooves in any of them, I would check the nut and the neck. You said the neck curvature is ok......Could there be a bad place in the neck?

[StevenO]

Nolan, have you tried talking to it? Maybe it's just acting out? You know, rebelling? I mean, you just got married, you have several other guitars in the house which you favor much more than this one, and what's worse is that there is ANOTHER guitar on the way. It's worth a shot, right?

[JazzBlaster]

Nolan, have you tried talking to it? Maybe it's just acting out? You know, rebelling? I mean, you just got married, you have several other guitars in the house which you favor much more than this one, and what's worse is that there is ANOTHER guitar on the way. It's worth a shot, right?

[RumorsOFsurF]

Definitely not the nut, because it does it when fretting almost exclusively.  Also, the guitar is like 2 months old, so the frets show no wear.  Frustrating, eh? 

[Jets]

What radius did you set it up for?

[RumorsOFsurF]

What radius did you set it up for?

I just eyeballed it, but that's not the problem.  The 3 wound strings(4-6) are set up waaay higher than the plain ones(1-3). now, just because I've been messing with it.  It has a 12" radius, so the strings are going to be damn near level, when set up properly...

[StevenO]

I think it's time you take it to a tech. If it's a problem with the guitar and not something you're doing, you'll just drive yourself bonkers until you figure out what's wrong.

[RumorsOFsurF]

You may be right...


Part of me is afraid I'm just being OCD about it. 

[StevenO]

Well at least this way you'll know and then maybe you'll be able to get over it.

And besides, you're still the boss.