New NF 53 Buzzing issue

[shiner51]

I just purchased a new NF 53 in Doghair white. It got here last Wednesday and is beautiful to play and to look at. However it has a terrible grounding buzz whenever I take my hands off the strings.
I Began troubleshooting to the best of my ability- first trying multiple cables of different brands and quality with no difference. Then I tried a number of T style guitars with single coils and they had only the faintest amount of buzz that was hardly noticeable and not offensive. Then I tried playing the guitar through 3 different solid state amps and 2 high end tube amps and still got the same buzz. I even tried the guitar in at a friends house and at my church and still had the buzz. The crazy thing is that when I use my wireless system with it , the guitar is dead quiet.The selling dealer had me return the guitar which I did, but they were unable to replicate the buzz. I am totally confused because everything I have read about the pickups on the NF 53 indicate that they are super quiet with no hum or buzz. It sounds like a cable issue but I can't figure out why It does it with all the cables and at different locations with different amps. And when I say buzz, I mean it is an extremely loud and annoying buzz and not 60hz hum. I don't have any flourescent lights in my home , only regular bulbs and LEDs but I do have a computer with wifi. Thanks for any suggestions. I really want to keep the guitar if at all possible

 

[Fro]

My money is on the output jack being wired backwards.

 

[Bogner]

My First Inclination Is A Wiring Issue Of Some Sorts Or Possibly A Grounding Issue But I Am Less Inclined On The Grounding Issue. Likely A Very Simple Fix Once Located. Have You Called PRS To See What They Say? Sending Them A Detailed Description Along With Pictures Of The Wiring Would Likely Be Helpful In Resolving Your Unfortunate Issue.

 

[shiner51]

Yes , I did contact them first, and they offered to send me a shipping label to return the guitar or they said I could send it to the selling dealer who is a PRS dealer and has an excellent service department. I elected to send it to the selling dealer because they assured me they could turn it around quicker because they are a lot closer to me and would give it their immediate attention which they did. But they are unable to replicate the problem that I am having. They even offered to send me another NF 53 that they have in stock try and see if it’s my location and equipment and not the guitar. I just got done watching a PRS video where they describe the narrow field pick ups as being noiseless humbuckers Which in my case is totally the opposite. I do have Guitars with humbuckers including a SE hollow body and they are all totally quiet.

 

[shiner51]

My money is on the output jack being wired backwards.

I will mention that to my dealer, thanks!

 

[Bogner]

Yes , I did contact them first, and they offered to send me a shipping label to return the guitar or they said I could send it to the selling dealer who is a PRS dealer and has an excellent service department. I elected to send it to the selling dealer because they assured me they could turn it around quicker because they are a lot closer to me and would give it their immediate attention which they did. But they are unable to replicate the problem that I am having. They even offered to send me another NF 53 that they have in stock try and see if it’s my location and equipment and not the guitar. I just got done watching a PRS video where they describe the narrow field pick ups as being noiseless humbuckers Which in my case is totally the opposite. I do have Guitars with humbuckers including a SE hollow body and they are all totally quiet.

I Genuinely Feel It Is A Simple Wiring Issue And If The Person Looking At The Wiring Is Not Aware They May Only Be Looking For Bad Connection, Etc.

Just Off The Fly, I Am Thinking It Is One Of These Possibilities.
Wiring
Gorunding
Bad Connection/Soldering
Reverse Wiring Or Wired Wrong

I Can't See It Being Anything Else When It Comes To Wiring. Hopefully That Helps And I Am Sorry To Hear You Are Having An Issue. I Hope It Gets Resolved Quickly For You So You Can Get To Enjoying Your New Guitar.

 

[shiner51]

I will know more tomorrow when they actually have their tech look at it. Today, the store manager had it and played it through some of the amps in the store and could not get it to buzz. I forgot to add that I plugged one of my amps into a Furman power conditioner to see if that would help and it made no difference and I also ran it in and through a DI with a ground lift, and it may no difference in either position. The guitar itself is incredible, probably the best neck of any guitar I’ve ever ever owned and unplugged It rings like a bell and sustains more than some of my similarly priced high end T style guitars. And when I played the guitar through my wireless system no buzz the pick ups sounded incredible.

 

[Glide-bpm]

White Doghair is the ticket, for sure!!!

 

[shiner51]

White Doghair is the ticket, for sure!!!

I agree 100%

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I don't have the answer for you, but it sounds like you're otherwise really happy with it, so you're doing the right thing by getting the dealer to figure it out (which I'm sure they'll be able to!). Congrats on your new (soon to be perfect) axe!

 

[aamefford]

I’ll just throw out there that I had a good warranty experience with PRS, even shipping from California. I think 2.5 weeks or so inclusive of shipping.

Best with yours - that is one cool guitar.

 

[shiner51]

UPDATE

So, the selling dealer offered to send me a Doghair Black NF53 to try to see if it buzzed and if it was all good, I could condsider it an exchange transaction or I could get a refund. This was Monday, so this morning( Wednesday) the guitar got here and it has no buzz! It is actually set up .25mm lower than the white one and is 1/2 pound lighter. Even though I have more black guitars than anything else, the grain on this one is stunning and don't think I will miss the buzzing white one. I still don't know what caused the awful buzz in the white one but this one is super quiet and a joy to play. Don't know if I am allowed to mention the selling dealer, so I will just say that its a PRS dealer in Wisconsin and the manager went above and beyond to make things right!

 

[Headset]

Glad to hear the story has a happy ending!

 

[Monahan]

UPDATE

So, the selling dealer offered to send me a Doghair Black NF53 to try to see if it buzzed and if it was all good, I could condsider it an exchange transaction or I could get a refund. This was Monday, so this morning( Wednesday) the guitar got here and it has no buzz! It is actually set up .25mm lower than the white one and is 1/2 pound lighter. Even though I have more black guitars than anything else, the grain on this one is stunning and don't think I will miss the buzzing white one. I still don't know what caused the awful buzz in the white one but this one is super quiet and a joy to play. Don't know if I am allowed to mention the selling dealer, so I will just say that its a PRS dealer in Wisconsin and the manager went above and beyond to make things right!

Congrats on the new guitar!

Sometimes frustrations, mysteries, etc. end up working for the best

One significant point of concern: where's the photos?

 

[Bogner]

Nice!

 

[bodia]

UPDATE

So, the selling dealer offered to send me a Doghair Black NF53 to try to see if it buzzed and if it was all good, I could condsider it an exchange transaction or I could get a refund. This was Monday, so this morning( Wednesday) the guitar got here and it has no buzz! It is actually set up .25mm lower than the white one and is 1/2 pound lighter. Even though I have more black guitars than anything else, the grain on this one is stunning and don't think I will miss the buzzing white one. I still don't know what caused the awful buzz in the white one but this one is super quiet and a joy to play. Don't know if I am allowed to mention the selling dealer, so I will just say that its a PRS dealer in Wisconsin and the manager went above and beyond to make things right!

Nice! Really happy to hear that you got things worked out to your liking. Great shop....Dave's?

 

[aamefford]

Pics of the new one!

And glad you found a solution.

 

[Mahz]

Same issue. With exception that I bought used on Reverb and seller did not indicate the buzzing. I got burned. I take responsibility. In my home, all positions buzzing. Got to a gig in hopes of using it, all positions buzzing. At guitar tech shop where we tried EVERYTHING to get it to stop (an hour plus of work), all positions buzzing. Multimeter tests were 100% clean - input Jack was fine, grounded to the bridge, absolutely nothing indicating an issue. Took the guitar to a new home just for kicks to see if maybe it was wiring in my home - buzzing. Last resort, the guitar has been in PRS service for weeks now. They’re saying

“We could not replicate the buzzing but the specs have changed so we will shield the entire cavity.”



Straight facts. No fluff.

 

[shiner51]

Same issue. With exception that I bought used on Reverb and seller did not indicate the buzzing. I got burned. I take responsibility. In my home, all positions buzzing. Got to a gig in hopes of using it, all positions buzzing. At guitar tech shop where we tried EVERYTHING to get it to stop (an hour plus of work), all positions buzzing. Multimeter tests were 100% clean - input Jack was fine, grounded to the bridge, absolutely nothing indicating an issue. Took the guitar to a new home just for kicks to see if maybe it was wiring in my home - buzzing. Last resort, the guitar has been in PRS service for weeks now. They’re saying

“We could not replicate the buzzing but the specs have changed so we will shield the entire cavity.”



Straight facts. No fluff.

I'm sorry you're having the same issue as me, I thought I was the only one to have that kind of luck lol. Im lucky that my dealer stood good for it and sent me another NF53 in 2 days. I don't know if they ever found out what was wrong with the original one but both guitars were built about a month apart. the buzzing guitar made the noise in three different locations using 5 different amps and yet the dealer couldn't replicate the issue either. My replacement is totally quiet now and my first gig is tomorrow night and I can't wait. I don't anticipate any buzzing issues but I also plan on using a wireless system which was silent anyway with both guitars. Please let me know how your situation ends up, hopefully for the best!
I have been playing the guitar nonstop since Tuesday and really like everything about it except when it comes to restringing, I had a hell of a time keeping the ball ends hooked in the bridge when I was winding the slack out of the strings at the tuner end. I ended up rolling some tape around the end of a golf tee and sticking it in the larger opening to act as a retainer until all the slack was taken up. If anybody has any other restringing tips, Im open to suggestions.

 

[shiner51]

Nice! Really happy to hear that you got things worked out to your liking. Great shop....Dave's?

Yes