How to Get Rid of a Buzz on a Guitar

Look down the neck to see if adjustments are needed.

While some guitarists prefer a little fret buzz when they play, most like to set up their guitars to have very little. When you change string gauges or buy a new guitar, you will inevitably have to set up your guitar yourself or hire a reputable luthier. Luthiers are basically guitar mechanics who can make adjustments, repair problems and install new components on all types of guitars and bass guitars, so if you're not comfortable with any of the adjustments, consult a professional luthier in your area.

Things You'll Need

• Allen wrenches

Instructions

1. Check to see the amount of relief or bow the neck has because that may be the reason for the buzzing. Place the guitar on the ground with the neck pointed up at your face and the front of the guitar away from your body. Look down the neck to check the bow of the neck. The neck should be bowed toward your body slightly around the 12th fret. If you see back bow, which is when the neck is bowed out away from your body, you will need to make adjustments.

2. Remove the truss rod cover, which will be at the top of the neck or down toward the area where the body and the neck meet. Insert the proper tool in the truss rod nut. Most modern guitars will need an Allen wrench while older ones may need a specialized tool. Turn the wrench counterclockwise about one half of a turn if there is back bow that may be causing the buzz. Turn the truss rod clockwise if there is too large of a bow, which can also cause buzz on the frets.

3. Raise the action if the neck is properly adjusted but there is still some fret buzz. When the strings are too low, certain notes may buzz. Use a small Allen wrench to raise the individual saddles for each string or use the large wheel on each side of the bridge to raise the action on Les Paul style guitars. Find a good balance between the amount of buzz and the playability of the guitar.

4. Switch to a heavier string gauge. Heavier strings often reduce buzz because when hit with the same amount of force, they move less. They also apply more tension to the guitar's neck, resulting in less fret buzz. Remove your old strings and replace them with one size up and make sure to adjust your intonation, which is done by moving the saddle in either direction so that the open string registers the same note on a tuner as the 12th fret.

5. File your high frets to reduce buzz. Bring your guitar to a professional guitar luthier. He will be able to find the frets that are causing the issues if all else fails and will be able to file the frets so that they're all the same height. This is especially effective if the buzz only occurs in a small range of frets where one or two may be slightly higher than the rest.

References

• Guitar Maps: How To Get Rid Of Guitar Fret Buzz
• Athens Musicians Network: Adjusting Your Guitar's Truss Rod