Buzzy notes with high action

[bjjp2]

Somehow, I have an S-type guitar with the worst of both worlds. Buzzy notes around the 5th and 14th frets on the 3rd string, and too-high action. If I lower the action I assume the buzzing will get worse. If I loosen the truss rod, the action will get worse. Where do I start?

[Moat]

Well, I'm no pro luthier - but I just bought a Squier CV Tele that had the same problem (except buzzed pretty much all over the neck, and "fretted out" here and there when bending). I lightly leveled, crowned and polished the frets... fixed! I'm thinkin' it was a fret shape thang, more than anything - the geometry/angle where the string contacts/leaves the fret(s). Maybe yours is due for a leveling/dressing? :dunno

[walterw]

frets could certainly be a factor, but try straightening the neck out as much as possible, filing the nut slots as low as possible, and then raising the saddles a bit.

this should result in the vibrating part of the string being farther from the frets while not making the guitar too hard to play.

a fret level may still be the ulitmate solution.

[Boris Bubbanov]

You haven't told us what make and model guitar you have. First thing you might do is go over the whole guitar including things like saddle screws, screws holding diecast tuners or their buttons on, anything not adequately secured. When the action's real high and there's buzzing, I eliminate causes other than frets first.

Then do as above described.

[softclipper]

Last weekend I was putting new strings in my Strat and I got a strange buzz in the 4th string. Also, it was impossible to intonate it along the fretboard. The problem was a bad wound around the core of the string, the sound was died. Anyway, if your problem is in a plain string maybe you must try to level and recrown frets a little.

[Eagle1]

If you have level frets "IF", it sound like your neck flexes in an undesirable way under string tension.

[Keyser Soze]

Not all buzzing is fret related. Even if it only happens in certain places on the neck, sometimes it's an issue of specific frequencies making the buzzing more noticeable. Poorly cut nuts can do this, so can loose or poorly set up bridge parts, even a tuner that's loose or improperly installed will buzz at times.

Ideally you really should run through a full set-up. Straightening the neck, checking the frets for level, checking the nut (a major source of buzzing on economy guitars), makinn sure the bridge is properly adjusted, full intonation, etc... A systematic approach should solve the problem, leaving you with the best possible results, and prevent you from chasing your tail. There are many books available that will walk you through a full strat set-up, try Stewart MacDonald for specifics.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/How_To_Make_Your_Electric_Guitar_Play_Great.html

Also, is the buzzing audible when amplifed? If not you just might want to ignore it...