• Registered: 2008-01-14
  • Posts: 9

Topic: Buzz on Low E and A

I got a Dean Vendetta XM about two weeks ago, and I find the A string buzzing something terrible.  So I turn the screws for that string on the saddle, and the buzzing stopped immediately.  Then when I played again, I heard that it was now outdoing all the other strings in quality...so I proceed to adjust all the others as well.  Now it sounds great...except, for some weird reason, the buzzing low E string (The thick one), and the A string, though only a bit on the A string.  The low E buzzes pretty badly, and my tweaking doesn't seem to make it much better. Any thoughts on how to take the buzz out of the game?  That don't involve messing with truss rods?

  • Registered: 2008-01-14
  • Posts: 9

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

I feel like an idiot...I tried to adjust the action by changing the intonation!  I turned the darn wrong set of screws.  So, is it a bad thing that I changed the intonation on my strings, or is it easily fixable (Though I can't detect a great deal of difference in the sound)?

  • tonydr
  • tonydr
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • From: New Jersey
  • Registered: 2008-03-06
  • Posts: 144

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

You might have caused tuning problems.
Just one of many sites that will show you how to set intonation.
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/intonation.htm

A google or yahoo search for guitar intonation will net more.

That's alright, I got my guitar
-Jimi Hendrix
  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

Intonation is about making sure your guitar is in tune on every fret. When most guitarists tune by picking open strings with an electronic tuner they are ensuring a guitar is in tune near the headstock. Fine for open chords but not for soloing etc.

The first step to getting intonation is to gently hold down the strings at twelth fret. Is it sharp or flat when the open string is in tune. Adjust the intonation screws/saddles to compensate.

There is alot more to intonation and if you read up on the Buzz Feiten Tuning System you'll find out that getting the thole neck tuned is very tricky...

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

Wynterbite wrote:

I got a Dean Vendetta XM about two weeks ago, and I find the A string buzzing something terrible.  So I turn the screws for that string on the saddle, and the buzzing stopped immediately.  Then when I played again, I heard that it was now outdoing all the other strings in quality...so I proceed to adjust all the others as well.  Now it sounds great...except, for some weird reason, the buzzing low E string (The thick one), and the A string, though only a bit on the A string.  The low E buzzes pretty badly, and my tweaking doesn't seem to make it much better. Any thoughts on how to take the buzz out of the game?  That don't involve messing with truss rods?

Good tips from previous posts here as always.

I would suggest taking your guitar back to where you purchased the guitar and politely demand they fix the problem. I have owned one Dean guitar in my past and I'm sorry to tell you that it was an awful experience. I had the Dean Exotica and the electronic system was inconsistent and unfixable. I ended up returning the guitar and getting a refund. I'm not saying all Dean guitars are bad, they're not, some I'm sure are pure gems of guitars. My experiences though are not positive ones. Good luck.

Give everything but up.
  • Registered: 2008-01-14
  • Posts: 9

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

I think it's a little late for that.  I bought it online, and I've already done some work on it that I think voids the return policy.  I changed a broken string, I reconnected a loose wire, and there's pick scratches that show up in bright light.  I paid a total of $100 for the guitar, so I'm not expecting it to be the world's best, and now that I really did raise the action this time, all the buzz is gone except for the low E, which only comes when I play it to hard with a downward stroke.  A little annoying with power chords, but luckily, I mostly play A-G string power chords anyway.  Maybe I'll get some guitar junkie friend to take a look at it. 

I fixed the intonation by doing this:

I downloaded a free guitar tuner that shows the frequency of the note being played.

I tuned my guitar as close as I could get it on open.

I measured the frequency of the open strings, then multiplied it by two (To give it one more octave)

From there, I 12th fretted the string, and adjusted the intonation (tuning up periodically), until I got within .50-.25 of the open pitch x 2 on each string. 

I played the guitar.

I found out it sounds pretty good (At least in my own ear)

So, crisis averted, save for that E string, which I am now willing to live with smile

  • Registered: 2008-01-14
  • Posts: 9

Re: Buzz on Low E and A

Changed all the strings out today.....it's heaven.  No more buzzes, a nice medium gauge feel, and much less twangy.

Dean Vendettas come with .009's set of strings, change them to .010 set you'll have less twang because of the thicker string guage. I bought one at a guitar center for $80.00 american becuase I wanted the neck for a sg type guitar I am currently building. I stuck a samick neck I picked up at a guitar show ($20.00 with machine heads) and it plays like butter.

Bootlegger.