Fret buzz

[jollygreen]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard in desert burst that I bought new at Guitar Center about two years ago.

It developed a problem most noticeable on the 'A' string at about the fifth to seventh frets where there was a "buzz." The buzz was never loud enough to come through the amp but it shouldn't have been there for that quality guitar.

After fooling with it myself (adjusting string height, neck bow, different strings), I finally took it to a tech for him to set up and fix. He set it up but told me the neck was warped, hence the buzz.
It was under lifetime warranty so I sent it back to Gibson. They never told me what they did but sent it back after it was in their shop for a few weeks (a month?).

It was better but now the buzzing is back. If I press down real hard the buzzing is gone. And, when I fret normally, such that usually produces the buzzing, on the fifth fret, I can tap the string down at the sixth fret and there is clearance. I honestly can't see where there would be any buzzing, but there is.

I'm not sure what to do. I like the guitar but I'm about ready to trade it. I understand I can have the neck reworked but then the binding on the frets will be gone. Ditto on having the frets dressed.

What would you do?


BTW, I'm using Ernie Ball 10s if that makes any difference. I use the same strings on my Gibson ES 335 and Fender Strat too.

[jollygreen]

I just looked at the neck. It's straight along the treble side but bowed along the bass side.

[Chops]

I notice this quite a bit, just as you describe: the A string between the 5th and the 7th frets. A guitar is a pretty crude electro-mechanical-magneto system made largely of wood and its hard to get the string travel part of it perfect. On some instruments this can get bad but, for the most part, I try to ignore it. Was the guitar pleked?

[jollygreen]

I don't know what plekked means. Other than the work done at the factory, it's only had a basic setup performed. That tech told me he couldn't fix the buzz as the neck was twisted. That's when I sent it back to Gibson. I'm really tired of messing with them.

I'm going to take it back to the Guitar Center and see about trading it on a Paul Reed Smith. Maybe. My GC guy doesn't come in till this afternoon.

[XKnight]

If the neck is warped I would think you could get a new guitar from Gibson under the warranty. Perhaps ask your tech to include a letter/note stating that in his professional opinion the neck is warped and cannot be corrected.

[eryque]

Originally Posted by XKnight

If the neck is warped I would think you could get a new guitar from Gibson under the warranty. Perhaps ask your tech to include a letter/note stating that in his professional opinion the neck is warped and cannot be corrected.

What he said. You paid good money for a guitar with a good warranty, why not make the manufacturer honor it? GC will give you a trade-in value that's less than the guitar is worth on the street, so you'll be losing money on the deal.

Make Gibson lose money, not you.