Hollow Body 2 SE help with setup

[Michael Go]

I need help from you guys who know what you’re talking about. I bought a Hollow body II SE with piezo bridge pickup. In January 2025 when I bought it, it played perfectly for me. I loved this guitar and wondered why I hadn’t bought a PRS before. Other than some cold weather, all I had done was change the strings. I don’t know what gauge the previous owner had on it. I restrung with 11-48. I understand that string tension can and will cause changes to the set up. Since then I cannot get the guitar to play the same. The frets are in great shape. No wear.

Now the main issue is that the high E (1st) string buzzes almost everywhere, the B string some, and the G string too. I have made truss rod adjustments with gaps at 8th fret of 0.004 up to 0.010 and all in between (I prefer lower vs higher). I have raised/lowered the bridge with the main posts, with varying string heights. I have moved the bridge forward/backward with the hex wrench. Nothing I have done will make it play right again. I will follow up with pics to show what I’m dealing with and hopefully one or two of you can help me.

VIEW OF BACK SIDE OF BRIDGE (below)

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TREBLE SIDE VIEW OF BRIDGE (below)

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BASS SIDE VIEW OF BRIDGE (below)

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TOP VIEW OF BRIDGE (below)

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VIEW OF NUT (Below)

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FINGERBOARD HEIGHT BASS SIDE VIEW (below). Notice the height from body to top of fingerboard. This side is lower than the treble side by a significant amount. (mm, not cm)

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FINGERBOARD HEIGHT TREBLE SIDE VIEW (below) This side is noticeably higher than the bass side. Can any of you tell me if this is true of your instrument? (mm, not cm)

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STRING HEIGHT 12TH FRET TREBLE SIDE (below). Notice that the measurement is higher than any of the recommended ones. So why would it still be buzzing???

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STRING HEIGHT 12TH FREW BASS SIDE (below). Higher than all recommended to rule out action as a problem.

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[Michael Go]

Also, wouldn’t higher gauge strings with higher tension cause there to be more space, not less between the strings and frets?

 

[veinbuster]

Also, wouldn’t higher gauge strings with higher tension cause there to be more space, not less between the frets?

The frets don’t change position, so I assume you are suggesting thicker strings would pull the neck more resulting in higher action near the body. Yes to that.

The guitar probably started out with 10 gauge strings.

It is common for the action to change between January and May. So that plus heavier strings probably worked together.

You’ve done quite a bit, so I would recommend a full set up from first principles. Others will chime in, but I would do it in this order:
- adjust the truss rod to get the action where you want it
- if need be, reset the bridge height - probably tiny, and if you hadn’t moved it, I wouldn’t mention it
- set the intonation by adjusting the horizontal position of the bridge

You might have to go through the cycle again to fine tune it, but it should feel better after one pass.

 

[dogrocketp]

Truss rod and 10’s. That should do it.

 

[Michael Go]

The frets don’t change position, so I assume you are suggesting thicker strings would pull the neck more resulting in higher action near the body. Yes to that.

The guitar probably started out with 10 gauge strings.

It is common for the action to change between January and May. So that plus heavier strings probably worked together.

You’ve done quite a bit, so I would recommend a full set up from first principles. Others will chime in, but I would do it in this order:
- adjust the truss rod to get the action where you want it
- if need be, reset the bridge height - probably tiny, and if you hadn’t moved it, I wouldn’t mention it
- set the intonation by adjusting the horizontal position of the bridge

You might have to go through the cycle again to fine tune it, but it should feel better after one pass.

Haha! You got me. I didn’t finish my thought. I added “between the strings and frets.” Yeah, if the frets were moving apart, we gotta whole different problem!

I don’t understand how heavier gauge strings would cause the strings and frets to be closer together (ie fret buzz). I figured it would make them further apart. The bass 4-6 strings don’t buzz, but the treble 1-3 all do. I have raised the bridge so high to compensate that the treble side of the bridge is much higher than the bass side. Guitars should be able to handle a string gauge increase to 11s with a truss rod adjustment at the least, plus an action adjustment at the most. Right? Btw, are you able to view the iCloud links to see the pictures I took that show what I’m talking about?

 

[Michael Go]

Truss rod and 10’s. That should do it.

Since I’m at a loss for what else to do I’m certainly going to take your advice. I just don’t understand why the 11s won’t work if I’m doing the setup to specs. 0.008 in at 8th fret for truss rod adjustment. Action at 12th fret that’s really too high. Those combined should have the guitar at a minimum not buzzing so much that it’s no fun to play. Especially if the instrument was playing great just a few months ago. Are you able to see the pics from the iCloud links I shared? I just don’t get it.

 

[Glide-bpm]

I'd get the neck as close to flat relief with those same strings. rough adjust the bridge height.
You may start with string buzz, but if you start with a straight neck and a bridge height to make the strings
parallel to that straight neck, then you can put a twinge of bow to the neck and slowly adjust your bridge.
Then of course you get to set the intonation as stated by others.

 

[Michael Go]

I'd get the neck as close to flat relief with those same strings. rough adjust the bridge height.
You may start with string buzz, but if you start with a straight neck and a bridge height to make the strings
parallel to that straight neck, then you can put a twinge of bow to the neck and slowly adjust your bridge.
Then of course you get to set the intonation as stated by others.

Oh trust me I have. I tried the neck being flat (0.004 is the lowest I’ve measured). And have started with the bridge flat against the body, then gradually lifted. Doesn’t matter. What I end up with is a bridge that is raised much higher on the treble side than bass side, with the action too high, and the treble strings buzzing. I’ve tried everything in between no relief/high relief, to very low action to very high action. Strings buzzing still. I don’t understand how it is physically possible to have buzzing with high relief and high action. Nothing has been modified on the guitar. Frets look new. No indents or obvious wear. Played like a dream just a few months ago.

 

[deathworlder]

Pic #1...
Your saddle heights look like they're FU.

Is this a used guitar?
Did you disassemble the bridge?

 

[show_a_little_faith]

Just wondering, does it buzz if you strum all open strings, no fretting? If yes, it might not be anything to do with the action/relief. You might be hearing something in the body resonating - i.e. the pickup springs, the ground wire, etc.

 

[Michael Go]

There is a note somewhere that makes something buzz a little, but not when I strum the open strings. The E on 7f.5s makes something resonate. But that is not the problem. There is clear fret buzz, mostly on S1-3.
S1 begins buzz at F5 and goes all the way. It’s not horrible but obviously affecting sustain and causing notes to sound flat. S2 starts in F4. S3 makes somewhat of a harmonic noise resonating with the guitar, not in a good way, and it starts bussing pretty much in the 2nd fret. S4 is not bad, but sustain starts to fall off at F9, getting worse as go up. S5 is ok. S6 ok. The part that makes no sense, is that the treble side of the bridge has to be set noticeably higher than the bass side to achieve all that. Makes no sense to me.
Relief currently at 0.008in. Action high E: 1.75mm. (Doesn’t even have that as an option on the Music Nomad gauge). Low E: 2mm. Too high.

How can those numbers have a bad setup on a guitar that I thoroughly enjoy playing on just in January? I have gauge 11-48 on there now, and don’t know what string gauge it came with. It shouldn’t matter. Adjustments can be made to compensate. That’s why they put truss rods in them. I’m stumped.

 

[Michael Go]

Pic #1...
Your saddle heights look like they're FU.

Is this a used guitar?
Did you disassemble the bridge

Pic #1...
Your saddle heights look like they're FU.

Is this a used guitar?
Did you disassemble the bridge?

Really? Those can’t be adjusted as far as I know. I have noticed that the 5th and 6th strings won’t/dont fit into the slots on top of the saddles like 1-4 do. 1-4 sit down nice and low in the slots. Seems like that would make a difference. But I don’t know if they should, since this is the first one of these I’ve owned.

Guitar was used—one owner. Looked new to me. I have not disassembled the bridge. I have changed the strings, so as you may know, it separates a little when the strings are removed, but is easily slid back together. I have used the hex wrench to advance/retract the bridge a little. It is supposed to be at a slight angle with the treble side slightly in front of the bass side correct?

 

[Michael Go]

I'd get the neck as close to flat relief with those same strings. rough adjust the bridge height.
You may start with string buzz, but if you start with a straight neck and a bridge height to make the strings
parallel to that straight neck, then you can put a twinge of bow to the neck and slowly adjust your bridge.
Then of course you get to set the intonation as stated by others.

I’m going to give what you suggest here another shot and let you know how it works out. It’s not hard to do what you suggested, it’s just hard for me to do it and not hear dead notes and buzzing. A friend suggested a guy he knows to take a look at it and see if a different set of eyes may see something I’m overlooking. I talked to him last night and he sounds like he will be conservative with my guitar, and won’t try stuff just to be trying it. Come to think of it, my Strat has the same problem. I can’t get either one of them to stop buzzing. Maybe I should take up knitting or something.

 

[RC Mike]

It’s a hollowbody, meaning it has a *lot* more surface area exposed to the environment. Especially relative to the thickness of the wood involved. It’s going to be more susceptible to environmental changes.

Those environmental changes can be significant, depending on where you live, where in your home you keep your guitar, and your HVAC. You can minimize those factors by keeping the guitar in its case with humidipacks that work to keep a consistent humidity.

 

[deathworlder]

Really? Those can’t be adjusted as far as I know. I have noticed that the 5th and 6th strings won’t/dont fit into the slots on top of the saddles like 1-4 do. 1-4 sit down nice and low in the slots. Seems like that would make a difference. But I don’t know if they should, since this is the first one of these I’ve owned.

Guitar was used—one owner. Looked new to me. I have not disassembled the bridge. I have changed the strings, so as you may know, it separates a little when the strings are removed, but is easily slid back together. I have used the hex wrench to advance/retract the bride a little. It is supposed to be at a slight angle with the treble side slightly in front of the bass side correct?

Previous owner might have disassembled it...

Have any radius gauges to check?

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I have gauge 11-48 on there now, and don’t know what string gauge it came with. It shouldn’t matter. Adjustments can be made to compensate. That’s why they put truss rods in them. I’m stumped.

These ship with 10-46, but I agree 11's should be fine with adjustments

 

[Michael Go]

It’s a hollowbody, meaning it has a *lot* more surface area exposed to the environment. Especially relative to the thickness of the wood involved. It’s going to be more susceptible to environmental changes.

Those environmental changes can be significant, depending on where you live, where in your home you keep your guitar, and your HVAC. You can minimize those factors by keeping the guitar in its case with humidipacks that work to keep a consistent humidity.

Thank you for that. I do keep my guitar in a furnished and livable basement, which has central HVAC, and the thing that pulls the humidity out of an area (can't think of the name at the moment). I also keep my instruments in cases, unless I'm putting it on the stand with plans to return to it. I live in Georgia which can be very humid this coming time of the year. But I figure that should have minimal impact with HVAC and humidity control. The issue started after some cold weather and string change. I just can't see how simple truss rod and action adjustments can't remedy this.

 

[Michael Go]

These ship with 10-46, but I agree 11's should be fine with adjustments

I appreciate your responses. At least my thinking on the matter is supported by other players/owners. You know how it is when something doesn't add up and you start questioning whether you're completely missing something?

 

[Michael Go]

Previous owner might have disassembled it...

Have any radius gauges to check?

The ones to check fretboard radius? Yes, but I am suspect of their quality and accuracy. So, I was taking the strings off to get ready to put 10-46 ga on there just to try anything. I don't see how that would fix the problem, but hey, nothing I've done so far is working. Anyway, now I have a little "situation". I'll share a pic to show you. The bridge came loose from the wire that attached to the pickup on bottom of the bridge (is that how it works?) So I'm about to try to reattach that before I do anything else. (pic below)

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The bridge does not look to have any structural damage or to be off in any way.
From above: The 5th/6th strings do not rest inside the saddles, but lie over the top of the slot. But 1-4 easily sit down in their slots. Is it supposed to be that way?

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Front:

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Back

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If you, or anyone else, sees anything that looks off, let me know please. This is my first bridge like this, and first PRS

 

[Michael Go]

Pic #1...
Your saddle heights look like they're FU.

Is this a used guitar?
Did you disassemble the bridge?

If you can give me some pointers on what to do to adjust please do!