Bad action after changing strings, 1st and 2nd frets of A, D and G strings fretting out

[Steven Mal]

I recently changed the strings on my SE Custom 24 and the action is so low that the 1st and 2nd frets of the A, D and G strings are fretting out. The first five frets on the low E and frets 3, 4 and 5 on the A string are buzzing as well. I did not have this issue before I changed strings. Because this is the cheapest guitar I own and I can't afford to pay to have all my guitars set-up when I want, I would like to try to fix the problem myself before paying a guitar tech to fix it.

What happened to the action when I changed strings? What should I adjust first, the saddles or truss rod? Which way do I turn the truss rod to get rid of the buzzing and resolve the issue of "fretting out?" Thanks.

 

[NazgulUK]

Did you replace with the same specification strings?

Did you adjust anything while re-stringing?

 

[alantig]

Here's a fairly in-depth page about adjusting truss rods - https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/guitar-setup-part-1-adjusting-the-truss-rod-2/. And one from PRS - https://prsguitars.com/blog/post/how_to_make_a_simple_truss_rod_adjustment.

Does the guitar have a trem (can't remember if there were and SE CU24s w/a stoptail)? If it does, did you take all six strings off at once w/o sliding something under the trem? I know that's not recommended, but that's a different issue if that's what happened. But I'm guessing you didn't take all six off, so the truss rod is the most likely issue.

 

[Going Modal]

[I think this is what Alan is suggesting above, too.] If you took all the strings off at once (very common)--essentially removing all the tension in one direction from the tremolo bridge--it's possible that the bridge slipped out of its position in the slotted screws that it usually pivots on. This has happened to me--very recently, actually. I would advise de-tuning the strings until they have very little (but some) tension on them, and then gently wiggle the tremolo around to see if it will re-seat itself into the screw slots. You'll hear it snap into place when it does. And then, just go ahead and re-tune and carry on.

 

[Steven Mal]

Did you replace with the same specification strings?

Did you adjust anything while re-stringing?

Yes, I used the same strings. I always use 10 gauge strings with this guitar. I didn't adjust anything while restringing the guitar.

 

[Steven Mal]

Here's a fairly in-depth page about adjusting truss rods - https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/guitar-setup-part-1-adjusting-the-truss-rod-2/. And one from PRS - https://prsguitars.com/blog/post/how_to_make_a_simple_truss_rod_adjustment.

Does the guitar have a trem (can't remember if there were and SE CU24s w/a stoptail)? If it does, did you take all six strings off at once w/o sliding something under the trem? I know that's not recommended, but that's a different issue if that's what happened. But I'm guessing you didn't take all six off, so the truss rod is the most likely issue.

The guitar does have a tremolo. I did not remove all six strings at once.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Could the trem have slipped off the notches on the trem screws?

 

[Going Modal]

Could the trem have slipped off the notches on the trem screws?

That's what I am suspecting...

 

[bodia]

Could the trem have slipped off the notches on the trem screws?

That's what I am suspecting...

Doubtful. He said he didn’t remove all of the strings at the same time. I’d say a truss rod adjustment with a little more relief.

 

[Going Modal]

Doubtful. He said he didn’t remove all of the strings at the same time. I’d say a truss rod adjustment with a little more relief.

Ah! Right, yes... unlikely to have slipped off if some tension was left on it.

Guitars can be weird sometimes. Granted some more than others, but still. Hope Steven gets it figured out.

 

[RC Mike]

Tuned an octave too low?