A black Fender Stratocaster with a tortoise pickguard came in buzzing all over. Behind it was a list: loose jack, scratchy electronics, bridge screws too tight for the tremolo to work, a missing saddle screw, a nut slot cut too low on the G, pickups too low. All of it fixed in an hour and fifty minutes, one saddle screw replaced.
- Instrument
- Fender Stratocaster, black, tortoise pickguard
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup, buzzing all over
- Diagnosis
- Output jack loose; electronics cutting out and scratching; bridge mounting screws too tight, tremolo not working; saddle height screw missing; G string buzzing open, nut slot too low; truss rod, saddle heights and intonation out; pickups too low
- Work performed
- Jack tightened; electronics cleaned; headstock sticker removed at the owner's request; bridge screws and tremolo springs adjusted; missing saddle screw replaced; truss rod set; G nut slot filled and filed to height; saddle height and intonation set; pickups raised
- Parts
- One saddle height screw
- Bench time
- 1 hour 50 minutes
- Outcome
- 'A lot of small things made this guitar a problem child. That is no longer the case.'
What Came In
A Fender Stratocaster, black with a tortoise pickguard, in for a setup because it was buzzing all over.
What We Found
The output jack was loose and the electronics were cutting out and scratching. The bridge mounting screws were too tight, so the tremolo could not work, and a saddle height screw was missing. The G string buzzed badly when played open because its nut slot was cut too low. The truss rod, saddle heights and intonation all needed adjusting, and the pickups were set too low.
What We Did
Tightened the jack and cleaned out the electronics. Removed a sticker from the headstock at the owner's request. Adjusted the bridge mounting screws and tremolo springs so the tremolo works. Replaced the missing saddle height screw. Set the truss rod. Filled the low nut slot and filed it to the right height. Set the saddle heights and intonation, and brought the pickups up to the proper height. About an hour and fifty minutes on the bench.
Parts Replaced
One saddle height screw, to replace the missing one.
Result
In the tech's words: a lot of small things made this guitar a problem child, and that is no longer the case.
Why does a guitar buzz all over?
Usually because several small things add up rather than one big one. On this Strat a low nut slot, a bridge that could not move and a missing saddle screw each did their part. The fix is to work through the list in order. A nut slot cut too low cannot be raised, so it is filled and recut.
Related
- The Repair Vault
- Guitar Setups at Paul's Guitar Hideout
- What Is Fret Buzz and How Do I Fix It
- Fender 50th Anniversary Stratocaster: Cleaning and Setup After Years Unplayed
- Ibanez PF200: Worn Nut Slots and a Move to 10s
Bring It In
Guitar that buzzes everywhere and has a few other things wrong with it? That is a setup with a list, and we work the list. Setups at the Hideout.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com