Let's talk fret buzz...

[Steve B]

On your electric guitars is any fret buzz acceptable?

I have a slight bit of fret buzz in the low E string up through the 5-6th fret on my MC58. If I pick gently it's not there, but if I pick with moderate intent I hear it slightly. It definitely does not register through an amp so theoretically one might say it doesn't exist...but unplugged it does.

My local luthier made some adjustments so that the buzz only occasionally reared it's ugly head. His feeling was to keep the action as low as possible initially and adjust higher down the road if I felt it was necessary. He indicated that he can make it go away completely but the action would obviously rise. He is a well regarded local luthier who has been working on guitars since 1975 so I completely trust his judgment, but thought I'd solicit 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,,,,opinions from you fine folks!

So the question is posed: Is any fret buzz acceptable in the interest of lower action on an electric guitar?

 

[xjbebop]

Yup...your good...

 

[NomadMike]

Is any fret buzz acceptable in the interest of lower action on an electric guitar?

Not for me. On my LP I set it up so it's lowish but doesn't buzz or fret out. With my PRS I prefer to keep the action a little higher which means I need to use better technique but I can also hit the low strings a little harder.

 

[Jazzedout]

I am by no means an expert, but from personal experience, when there is a buzz from the first to the 7th fret it can usually go away with a little more neck bow (trussrod adjustment that also raises the action). If the buzz is on the higher frets, then raise the action at the bridge.

 

[HANGAR18]

So the question is posed: Is any fret buzz acceptable in the interest of lower action on an electric guitar?

I do not accept ANY fret buzz on my guitars. Period.
There is a guy right down the street from me who operates a PLEK PRO machine and he can get the action perfect.

My brand new PRS (core line) guitars did NOT need a PLEK job.
My McRosie BLE that I bought well used did need a PLEK job.
My brand new Heritage guitars did need a PLEK job.
My used Heritage guitars did need a PLEK job.
My brand new Gibson Les Paul benefited a little bit from the PLEK PRO job after it came from the factory with a regular PLEK job.
My Carvin 5-string bass has been played to death by its previous owner and still doesn't need a PLEK job.

 

[Steve B]

Yep...we adjusted the truss to the balancing point where the buzz on the first few frets of the low E string only occasionally shows up. We can add another turn of the truss to get rid of it but felt we should leave it where it is in the interest of lower action.

That said I just noticed that with the fatter fret wire on my MC 58, the string on the fatter wound strings (Low E, A, and D) doesn't even hit the fretboard when I press down on them. Is this just because my previous main guitar had thinner fret wire that didn't require much pressure to get to the fretboard? In otherwords I'm used to pressing just hard enough on my old guitar and maybe that same amount of pressure doesn't cut it with the thicker frets...that possible? When I force the low strings all the way to the fret board there is no buzz at all as the strings ride a smidge higher across the frets due to the increased tension. Do I just need to take my left hand to the gym?

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Aaaaah Fret Buzz...aside from "good" tone, I think this is the most subjective topic out there. My first approach is to find out if the owner/player is set in their ways (beginner, or more experienced) , and how hard they attack the strings with their picking hand.
So many things to consider:
Experienced players' preferences (high vs. low action), String gauge (lights vs. heavies, or super heavies) , strength of attack, acoustic buzz vs. through the amp, etc...
The last is very important for me...I personally don't mind unamplified buzz at all, as long as it doesn't come through the amp.