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help with setup problems

DRAGON523

New member
Joined
Aug 6, 2001
Messages
29
I have a '96 LP Studio Gem with 2 P-90's. I'm having trouble setting up the guitar (btw, this is the first time I've set up a guitar). I'm having trouble getting the proper relief, and having trouble with buzzing. To get relief as I understand it, you fret the first and last fret on the low E string, and measure from the top of the 11th fret, and you're suppose to have just enough space to slide a credit card through. So I get the proper height, and then I adjust the action. Here's how I setup the action:

low E: 5/64 or 6/64
A: 5/64
D: 4/64
G: 4/64
B: 4/64
high E: 4/64

By the time I adjust the action, the relief has changed. The strings don't buzz when I strum open strings or the usual chords (G, A, C, D, etc..). But once I start playing up the fretboard, it starts to buzz a bit, and really gets on my nerves. I've tried adjusting the truss rod so that the neck is perfectly straight, readjust the relief and action, and I can't get to stop buzzing. I try to adjust the truss rod so that it is slightly bowed out from the strings, readjust the relief and action, and it still doesn't work. I've been trying to get this right the last couple days, but to no avail. So I'm wondering if you guys could help me out? Am I doing it wrong? Am I suppose to do it in a certain order? Is there some sort of trick to get it right? Please help:sos
 

Tonefiend

Fiendish One
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
7,656
Thats alot of relief! I do it by eye. Just a sliver more than dead flat. Put some tension back on the rod. Try 1/32 on the low E and see what happens.
 
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