▶ Get all the tools you need to adjust the action on your guitar HERE: bit.ly/3xs4AAB ▶ Get the T-shirt Jim is wearing: bit.ly/4cLwpE6 ▶ Shop Your Gibson Guitars HERE: bit.ly/3U6fMM7
The master luthier does an excellent job of explaining how to deal with various guitar problems. He speaks clearly and concisely. Even if you don’t want to work on your guitar, the information can help you communicate with a guitar repair person.
since i only adjust my own guitars... I can never seem to recall which way to turn to get up-v-/ down bow !! There are diagram you can fin on google but every time i do use them after say months of playing. I always end up doubting i red them properly for some reasons... As you said this guy sums it up so good. for me it gets faster than looking at a diagram hehe !! I will save this video in a play list for future use i believe hehe
I love you, man. I just fixed a really annoying buzz I had in my new guitar. It was just one fret in one string that was causing the problem and now its fixed
I actually had a buzz on my low E on my Les Paul recently - first problem since I bought it in 2011. I got some superglue - a toothpick and dabbed a pin pricks worth of glue in the nut slot and it solved the problem.
i have a buzzy A string, testing your theory i put a slip of paper in nut and buzz has gone...may try the superglue idea or think of something else i can use
I have a SG that had a high nut. Instead of fixing the nut I raised the saddle and bridge slightly and it instantly became the best guitar for playing slide on I have ever seen.
Jim I love your videos and tours through Gibson. The one thing you left out is a string height Guage and checking that on each string. Thanks jim for the video
Thank you, I was able to fix a buzzing I've had for years. I don't play my guitar enough to bother taking it to some shop to check it out, and I was a bit too afraid of breaking it by unscrewing things I've no idea about, so I feel a bit silly in hindsight seeing how easy fixing my guitar's backbow actually was.
Dear Gibson, this is hands down the best explanation video about fret buzz on YT, and I watched MANY fret buzz video’s 👍 You have summed everything up that there is to say with a clear short explanation and demonstration 👌🏻
One of the best guides on buzz I’ve found on TH-cam, and I’ve looked for a lot when i was trying to fix my Strat. Another cause not covered here (or any videos I’ve found) are “ski jumps” where the neck connects to the body. Ultimately the thing that rid of my buzzing was getting a LP instead 😂
On a new guitar my low E buzzes open and up to third fret. And with the B on the first, the C is almost a C#. When do you adjust bridge height ? Very thorough lesson/advise. The best I would say. And that is what you expect and get from Gibson. I can't wait till I get my SG.
I've just rewatced this excellent video. Can I ask - what to do with my Firebird? No amount of "setup" and even a Plek machine has been able to dramatically reduce the buzz.
Did I miss the part where he mentions only the lower strings buzzing when fretted? My low E and A string buzz so badly. The rest , absolutely fine. Relief check came out solid. Action is medium/high .
@@tompaul2591 I'll do just that. I've heard people put a small piece of paper to make it got more snug. Is this true or am I looking at getting a whole new nut
@@BlackstoneJ I'm no expert but I'm just repeating what I've seen. If the nut is too low then yes a paper or cardboard shim will help. If the grooves on the nut are too deep then strings are vibrating in the nut and it would need to be replaced.
Great video, I have that guitar, smokhouse burst, but I have binding on the fretboard on mine, its made in 2018 and I think its only that year that has binding on it.. ?
Nice! Just wish the Gibson Repair shop responded to messages or answered calls. 2 weeks and I’ve heard nothing back. If I can’t even get an Epiphone headstock fixed there’s no way I’m buying a Gibson.
Hey Jim, thanks for the tutorials! I'm pretty sure the neck cradle you use is a Protektor Model rifle rest. Can you tell me what model or size it is so I can buy one?
I just pulled out my 1991 J160-E, put on a fresh set of Gibson Masterbuilt Lights, and checked out the setup, which was never altered since new. There is a neck bow of under .010, and the 12 fret string heights are at 4/64 and 6/64. Pressing the strings at the 3rd fret, the strings just clear the first fret! The only thing I ever had to do was replace the original tuners which must have been defective because gear covers wouldn't stay in place.
Just bought a 2023 Ebony Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Fresh out of the box and tuned, it’s got a good bit of fret buzz at a few different strings/frets. I have done nothing but tune it. No professional set up. But my other guitars don’t have this problem and I haven’t really done set ups on them. Is that normal to have fret buzz on a new guitar out of the box (a few high/low frets when testing with a straight edge)? Trying to decide on keeping or returning the guitar. Thanks!
So far so good this video seems to be full of helpful information I just bought a guitar on Amazon for $110 I know big mistake but when I got it mind you this was during the springtime the open fret sort of buzzes and the first three fret positions
@@LordFood7 I can't remember the exact kind I got but I am having to rebuild it as when I received it the neck with warped so bad that I had fret buzz through the entire thing
Can you tell me the fret height specification for this very model?. I shipped back one today, same color, same finish for the low fret height. It was uncomfortable to do bends as the tip of my fingers rubbed the fretbord. Frets seemed to be low and flat. I have a couple of other guitars with medium jumbo frets - none has this issue.
I have a Gibson Explorer and I get fret buzz on the low E string, but only when I play it open or at the 1st fret. The rest frets are fine and so are the rest of the strings. What should I fix? Maybe adjust the tuneomatic bridge a bit higher from the low strings side?
I have a Gibson Firebird Non-Reverse and the 5th and 4th strings are hitting the frets when I play the strings open. Which direction should I turn the truss rod?
so what do i do when the 11th fret is buzzing do i still turn my trust rod and if i do which way, because i think ive got back bow so near the end of my guitar so 11th fret is going down compared to the top
my EVH Wolfgang special does buzzing only ar the low E and the first 4 fret's, I am do alll things like neck both sides I try and bridge 1 side higher and 2 sides and I not getting improvement? what can I do? open it is ok but when press 1,2,3, or 4 fret it make hard busing sound
What do I do if its none of these fixes? My Low E's Notes from the 12th fret on are all buzzing unless I raise the saddle too high and lose my action. Now, its a new IYV 350(a deal) that Im hoping I dont have to send back. Any clues guys?
2019 Les Paul 50s standard had a slightly too high nut, made the guitar feel awful to play until my local shop pointed it out. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I think a plek machine will also measure if your nut slots are too low/high …
In other words if you have a crappy Epiphone LP you can have an incurable fret buzz due to Q.A. being stoned or inept. Most of my USA Gibsons and some Epi's are OK, but a recent Epi someone gave me (almost new) needs the fret board planed. I'm going to the local pawn shop when I have time and trade it for an effect or towards other gear.
What if its just one string thats buzzing on the lower frets like 3rd string for example the when u move it 3 frets higher its fine what would be the probelm for that
I have an sg I bought used and I give up and others have tried and it just will not ajust and play if you ajust one thing it gets out of ajustment so were else
My low e buzzes when I'm pressing string in third fret, I think it's touching the fourth fret creating buzz, started happening after it was knocked over.
The brand new $2500 Les Paul i bought on-line five years ago had all of the above problems. Bad neck ,bad bridge and nut, uneven frets. So bad the setup was, that my guitar tech started to believe it was a fake. I gave him about $250 (Fret Dress included) to make it work properly. Never stayed in tune. The good thing about Gibson is that they hold their price quite good these days, so i sold it for my piece of mind. I have heard that you do a better job knowdays with your latest line of guitars. Well done
Making your gibson not rattle is part of the process of owning one. My last gibson - '61 SG stopbar needed the bridge replaced cause the B string saddle kept popping out and buzzing. I need to do a fret level on it as soon as I got it due to the first 3 frets being low (not back bow) and causing endless buzzing in open chords. Works like a champ now. No thanks to gibson techs. I wont even mention the laundry list of screw ups they did on my SG special or LP special. Still the best guitars. I wish they still had the best workers.
The other thing I’ve noticed when the nut action is too high, the guitar will play sharp at the first and maybe the second fret. Adjust slowly and carefully with a proper file. And keep the file at the same angle as the headstock. Or said another way, keep the file parallel with the headstock. 😛
Hi Jim, You definitely know your craft. Excellent class with a very good explanation of each step. Stay safe and well and keep Rocking. Signed John Gregory Zepbass from Munster Indiana.
My high e string is buzzing. After watching the video, I realized that I adjusted the neck pickup height to what Gibson suggests but when I adjusted it, I didn’t press that 22nd fret. That’s why it buzzes. Well, once in a long while, I’m being dumb. 😢😅
just for curious, you buy a gibson guitar ,then you guitar got some small problem, how many people really use the warranty...?i guess 9 of 10 go for local music store shop right..?
My gibson custom truss rod cover screws are so tight that I have to strip the screws just to take it off and put it on. Even when the screws are only half way in.
thank you !! I could not help noticing ...you have a Stew mac tool and NOT a Gibson tool....Wow.....I'm disappointed in you!!! LOL ....Love the videos....!!
▶ Get all the tools you need to adjust the action on your guitar HERE: bit.ly/3xs4AAB
▶ Get the T-shirt Jim is wearing: bit.ly/4cLwpE6
▶ Shop Your Gibson Guitars HERE: bit.ly/3U6fMM7
The master luthier does an excellent job of explaining how to deal with various guitar problems. He speaks clearly and concisely. Even if you don’t want to work on your guitar, the information can help you communicate with a guitar repair person.
Jim seems like a great guy, full of knowledge and willing to share that knowledge.
Well he used to build Eddie Van Halen’s guitars when he worked for Peavey.
Love this guy’s videos. Sums it up simply, offers an easy solution, while not skipping over the details that a novice needs to succeed. Subscribed
Thanks for helping me not waste my time
since i only adjust my own guitars... I can never seem to recall which way to turn to get up-v-/ down bow !! There are diagram you can fin on google but every time i do use them after say months of playing. I always end up doubting i red them properly for some reasons... As you said this guy sums it up so good. for me it gets faster than looking at a diagram hehe !! I will save this video in a play list for future use i believe hehe
Jim is top notch. I have this exact guitar and love it! No fret buzz and really low action.
These videos are great. So helpful. I've just adjusted my 1993 SG's neck and it plays so much better. I was worried this dry winter ruined it!
I love you, man. I just fixed a really annoying buzz I had in my new guitar. It was just one fret in one string that was causing the problem and now its fixed
I actually had a buzz on my low E on my Les Paul recently - first problem since I bought it in 2011. I got some superglue - a toothpick and dabbed a pin pricks worth of glue in the nut slot and it solved the problem.
i have a buzzy A string, testing your theory i put a slip of paper in nut and buzz has gone...may try the superglue idea or think of something else i can use
I LOVE my Gibson Les Paul custom and am LOVING all these videos Gibson has been putting out.
Thanks so much for watching!
Jim is a Guru, if you dont know his history of working for top guitar companies.. lets say, he earned his dues... and BTW a bad ass Skateboarder too!!
I have a SG that had a high nut. Instead of fixing the nut I raised the saddle and bridge slightly and it instantly became the best guitar for playing slide on I have ever seen.
Jim I love your videos and tours through Gibson. The one thing you left out is a string height Guage and checking that on each string. Thanks jim for the video
Best neck adjustment video I’ve seen on TH-cam tons of information.
Thank you so much for this portion of your show this guy gives great tips!
This is great education for guitar players,. Thanx to mr. DeCola and Gibson!
How about fixing the QC issues in your own production line?
Thank you, I was able to fix a buzzing I've had for years. I don't play my guitar enough to bother taking it to some shop to check it out, and I was a bit too afraid of breaking it by unscrewing things I've no idea about, so I feel a bit silly in hindsight seeing how easy fixing my guitar's backbow actually was.
Very helpful. Would have been nice to have some close-up shots to highlight the points being made. Regardless, very much appreciate these videos.
Cleanest shop I’ve ever seen! Where’s all the sawdust and discarded necks, bodies, and parts?
Dear Gibson, this is hands down the best explanation video about fret buzz on YT, and I watched MANY fret buzz video’s 👍 You have summed everything up that there is to say with a clear short explanation and demonstration 👌🏻
You gota be kidding.
@@jcsk8 you can share with is your video suggestions so we can benefit from it
@J Slikbeer There´s no need. There already PLENTY of those here. In the future (when your learn more) you´´ see.
Thanks for this video! Been struggling for a while with neck on my guitar. Managed to fix it quickly after watching this.
Thanks Jim - what about bridge height on tune o matic bridges? Is that a common cause for buzz?
One of the best guides on buzz I’ve found on TH-cam, and I’ve looked for a lot when i was trying to fix my Strat. Another cause not covered here (or any videos I’ve found) are “ski jumps” where the neck connects to the body.
Ultimately the thing that rid of my buzzing was getting a LP instead 😂
I have had great success adjusting by eye on hundreds of guitars ..
Dicola is the man when it comes to these things, I love the videos.
Love that finish.
On a new guitar my low E buzzes open and up to third fret. And with the B on the first, the C is almost a C#. When do you adjust bridge height ? Very thorough lesson/advise. The best I would say. And that is what you expect and get from Gibson. I can't wait till I get my SG.
I've just rewatced this excellent video. Can I ask - what to do with my Firebird? No amount of "setup" and even a Plek machine has been able to dramatically reduce the buzz.
This is the best video I've seen on this. Thank you!
Nice explanation you are a great teacher.
Did I miss the part where he mentions only the lower strings buzzing when fretted? My low E and A string buzz so badly. The rest , absolutely fine. Relief check came out solid. Action is medium/high .
Check the nut. Too wide or deep of a slot. Break angle off.
@@tompaul2591 I'll do just that. I've heard people put a small piece of paper to make it got more snug. Is this true or am I looking at getting a whole new nut
@@BlackstoneJ I'm no expert but I'm just repeating what I've seen. If the nut is too low then yes a paper or cardboard shim will help. If the grooves on the nut are too deep then strings are vibrating in the nut and it would need to be replaced.
Good video; and cheers for not having locked comments.
I feel like I just went through a 6 month class I never learned so much. Cant thank you enough for this info!
I feel the same way but robbed
Awesome video and awesome finish on that Gibson!
This channel gives great and clear advice even I understand it and i'm a moron
Cool Gibson Guitar and also Awesome luthier Sir Jim
Great video, I have that guitar, smokhouse burst, but I have binding on the fretboard on mine, its made in 2018 and I think its only that year that has binding on it.. ?
The fretboard binding is real nice
I do work on my friends guitars as well as my own, love your videos and all the great tips you mention, thank you.
Nice! Just wish the Gibson Repair shop responded to messages or answered calls. 2 weeks and I’ve heard nothing back. If I can’t even get an Epiphone headstock fixed there’s no way I’m buying a Gibson.
Hey Jim, thanks for the tutorials! I'm pretty sure the neck cradle you use is a Protektor Model rifle rest. Can you tell me what model or size it is so I can buy one?
Another top notch video Jim! Thank you and Gibson!
Glad you enjoyed it
Jim,I refer to all your setup videos to get my guitars playing great
I just pulled out my 1991 J160-E, put on a fresh set of Gibson Masterbuilt Lights, and checked out the setup, which was never altered since new. There is a neck bow of under .010, and the 12 fret string heights are at 4/64 and 6/64. Pressing the strings at the 3rd fret, the strings just clear the first fret! The only thing I ever had to do was replace the original tuners which must have been defective because gear covers wouldn't stay in place.
Just bought a 2023 Ebony Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Fresh out of the box and tuned, it’s got a good bit of fret buzz at a few different strings/frets. I have done nothing but tune it. No professional set up. But my other guitars don’t have this problem and I haven’t really done set ups on them. Is that normal to have fret buzz on a new guitar out of the box (a few high/low frets when testing with a straight edge)? Trying to decide on keeping or returning the guitar. Thanks!
Thank you for the informative advice. What a beautiful guitar.
Glad you like it!
So far so good this video seems to be full of helpful information I just bought a guitar on Amazon for $110 I know big mistake but when I got it mind you this was during the springtime the open fret sort of buzzes and the first three fret positions
can i ask which one you got, I am in a similar situation
@@LordFood7 I can't remember the exact kind I got but I am having to rebuild it as when I received it the neck with warped so bad that I had fret buzz through the entire thing
Can you tell me the fret height specification for this very model?.
I shipped back one today, same color, same finish for the low fret height. It was uncomfortable to do bends as the tip of my fingers rubbed the fretbord.
Frets seemed to be low and flat.
I have a couple of other guitars with medium jumbo frets - none has this issue.
I have a Gibson Explorer and I get fret buzz on the low E string, but only when I play it open or at the 1st fret. The rest frets are fine and so are the rest of the strings. What should I fix? Maybe adjust the tuneomatic bridge a bit higher from the low strings side?
this was very useful to me,thank you
Interesting as always! Rock on!!
Jim decola us the man!!!
what if the guitar just buzzes on the low E string when you fret the third fret G note? what causes that?
Thanks. I just bought a les paul standard 60s and getting tons of fret buzz.
classic gibson
I have a Gibson Firebird Non-Reverse and the 5th and 4th strings are hitting the frets when I play the strings open. Which direction should I turn the truss rod?
What model is that beautiful instrument?
Amazing info from an expert. Thank you
Thank you. You helped me, appreciate it.
I was taught to give the trussrod just a quarter turn each time and wait for a few minutes for the wood to settle.
I always do that too, sometimes even waiting overnight
If you lightly flex the neck it will make the process faster
What would I need to do if I have some fret buzz on the E and A strings in the middle of the fret board?
so what do i do when the 11th fret is buzzing do i still turn my trust rod and if i do which way, because i think ive got back bow so near the end of my guitar so 11th fret is going down compared to the top
my EVH Wolfgang special does buzzing only ar the low E and the first 4 fret's, I am do alll things like neck both sides I try and bridge 1 side higher and 2 sides and I not getting improvement? what can I do? open it is ok but when press 1,2,3, or 4 fret it make hard busing sound
Great video! Very informative, cheers for this!
What frets does the relief happen at?
What do I do if its none of these fixes? My Low E's Notes from the 12th fret on are all buzzing unless I raise the saddle too high and lose my action. Now, its a new IYV 350(a deal) that Im hoping I dont have to send back. Any clues guys?
2019 Les Paul 50s standard had a slightly too high nut, made the guitar feel awful to play until my local shop pointed it out.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I think a plek machine will also measure if your nut slots are too low/high …
Great info here. Thank you very much. 🙂👍
This was so helpful. Thank you
Beautiful guitar really love Gibson
is tightening the truss rod without loosening the strings ok?
My guitar is buzzing on 15 fret for strings 3, 4 and 5. And that is the only place. What should I do? File 16 fret a little?
In other words if you have a crappy Epiphone LP you can have an incurable fret buzz due to Q.A. being stoned or inept.
Most of my USA Gibsons and some Epi's are OK, but a recent Epi someone gave me (almost new) needs the fret board planed. I'm going to the local pawn shop when I have time and trade it for an effect or towards other gear.
That's a gorgeous guitar!!
Great video! Very helpful.
What if its just one string thats buzzing on the lower frets like 3rd string for example the when u move it 3 frets higher its fine what would be the probelm for that
I have an sg I bought used and I give up and others have tried and it just will not ajust and play if you ajust one thing it gets out of ajustment so were else
Thankyou for sharing. 😊
I have a 1999 Epiphone LP Custom (my first guitar) which I’ll be using some of these techniques on. Pretty sure it’s worn frets.
My low e buzzes when I'm pressing string in third fret, I think it's touching the fourth fret creating buzz, started happening after it was knocked over.
Great job JimBo, 🤙😎 Steve-O
The brand new $2500 Les Paul i bought on-line five years ago had all of the above problems. Bad neck ,bad bridge and nut, uneven frets. So bad the setup was, that my guitar tech started to believe it was a fake. I gave him about $250 (Fret Dress included) to make it work properly. Never stayed in tune. The good thing about Gibson is that they hold their price quite good these days, so i sold it for my piece of mind. I have heard that you do a better job knowdays with your latest line of guitars. Well done
What do I do if I had a single action truss rod ?
Making your gibson not rattle is part of the process of owning one. My last gibson - '61 SG stopbar needed the bridge replaced cause the B string saddle kept popping out and buzzing. I need to do a fret level on it as soon as I got it due to the first 3 frets being low (not back bow) and causing endless buzzing in open chords. Works like a champ now. No thanks to gibson techs.
I wont even mention the laundry list of screw ups they did on my SG special or LP special.
Still the best guitars. I wish they still had the best workers.
So if it buzzes on the 11th fret and higher its the nut?
great video!
Thank you!!!
The other thing I’ve noticed when the nut action is too high, the guitar will play sharp at the first and maybe the second fret. Adjust slowly and carefully with a proper file. And keep the file at the same angle as the headstock. Or said another way, keep the file parallel with the headstock. 😛
if you’re referring to the 17 degree angle on Gibsons you’re gonna have a very bad time with that philosophy
@@1337wafflezz why?
@@david25876 tuning stability probably. Your break angle is way too high.
@@1337wafflezz that makes sense. Just a gradual rounding angle back I guess.
Hi Jim, You definitely know your craft. Excellent class with a very good explanation of each step. Stay safe and well and keep Rocking. Signed John Gregory Zepbass from Munster Indiana.
Hey great tutorials ,
Great people at Gibson.
I cant find the previous video??
Here you go! th-cam.com/video/zxyhIPVu0zo/w-d-xo.html
My high e string is buzzing.
After watching the video, I realized that I adjusted the neck pickup height to what Gibson suggests but when I adjusted it, I didn’t press that 22nd fret.
That’s why it buzzes. Well, once in a long while, I’m being dumb. 😢😅
David Spade is my favorite Gibson tech.
just for curious, you buy a gibson guitar ,then you guitar got some small problem, how many people really use the warranty...?i guess 9 of 10 go for local music store shop right..?
What's that truss rod key on this video?? It's not the Gibson Truss Rod Key. This one is much longer.
my Les Paul Studio sing svery well, thank you.
Im affraid of the day it buzzes...
what about a roller bridge?
How about making a Jerry Cantrell les Paul custom that’s not limited edition thank you or cost 12000 bucks thanks
very subtle
My gibson custom truss rod cover screws are so tight that I have to strip the screws just to take it off and put it on. Even when the screws are only half way in.
thank you !! I could not help noticing ...you have a Stew mac tool and NOT a Gibson tool....Wow.....I'm disappointed in you!!! LOL ....Love the videos....!!