So I built a Partsocaster, do i need to.....

[blood5150]

OK.. so I built a partsocaster out of the following...

Fender MIM Midnight Blue Satin Body
Fender MIA neck with large 70's style headstock
Fender vintage bridge and saddles
Dimarzio Area 58's in the neck and middle
Seymour Duncan Lil' Screamin Demon in the bridge
Dimarzio pots and 5 way switch
Schaller Locking Tuners


I put it all together and had a setup done on it by my local music store.

I am getting some buzzing on the 15th fret(and some others) when I bend the strings and the action is not quite "sweet".

Do I need to have this thing "plekd" or have a fret dressing done?

 

[syxxstring]

I would start with just some fine tuning and general tweaking.
Check the relief and over all action? Is if fine by the nut but bad above the 12th, then I would try some shimming. There are plenty of sites with tutorlias and some good books like Mr Earlwines.
I would maybe see if the shop that did the setup would help you out, it seems if they did a set up they should have it playing right. Also they should have addressed with you any issues that wouldn't have been covered by the set up.

 

[Pete Galati]

You had the setup done by a local music store, and they hosed the job?

I'm not sure what to tell you. But I hope you didn't pay them much for what they did.

 

[MartinPiana]

First step might be to make sure your setup guy is experienced and reputable (or find one who is). If he (I've yet to encounter a she, altho I'd let Linda Manzer on my guitars in a heartbeat...) is, then he should be able to tell you exactly what the issues are. ...

 

[blood5150]

Well, Ive never had a problem with them before... I have heard from other people on TGP that whenever you build a new guitar you may need to have a fret dressing, etc.. I purchased the neck through "the Stratosphere" on ebay...

 

[Mudder]

On a brand new replacement neck you might need a little polish work.

More often now I'm seeing "pro set ups" that don't include adjusting the truss rod. How you can do a set up without that is beyond me.

 

[blood5150]

i know that he tried adjusting the truss rod, etc... but we still couldnt get it right... thats when he recommended a fret dressing...

 

[Mikey Likes It]

Anyone who charges for set-up work should tell you if the frets need work when they have your guitar on the bench; or just do the work as part of the set-up. Either you need fretwork and more truss rod & saddle adjustment, or at least a truss rod adjustment. Sounds like somebody dropped the ball. I have a friend who does incredible set-up work. I turn over a guitar with a new Warmoth or USACG neck and he cuts a bone nut, does the fret work and sets up the guitar perfectly - first time he did this he charged me $75, and he wouldn't ask for more, but I give him $100 when the frets are stainless steel.

So what did the local shop charge for the set-up, if I may ask?

 

[Dana Olsen]

More specific info please (GRIN). How low is the action? If it's real low, maybe you can raise it a little and lose the 15th fret buzz. The frets might be level enough for medium action, but not level enough for real low action.

It's common for aftermarket necks to need a little fret levelling, like it or not. Whoever did the setup on it should have checked the relief and levelness of the frets first thing, and made a suggestion as to how to proceed with this guitar. After adjusting the truss rod and action roughly, if it buzzes on the 15th fret, the tech should have determined right away whether there is a high fret or some other barrier to getting a good setup on that guitar, and they should have told you about it.

Really, IMHO, if you take a guitar in to be setup, the first thing your tech should give you is a proper evaluation of the status of your guitar, and an estimate of what it will take to get it to play right with the string gauge and action that you prefer, including a fret level if that's what they think it will take.

EDIT: On re-read, it sounds like tha may be what your tech did - gave you an evaluation and recommended a fret level. In my experience, many after market necks need fret levelling when first installed. It wouldn't surprise me at all if your neck needed a little attention to make it perfect. It was probably pretty good when they first made it, but they are made of wood, and it only takes one fret to move a couple thousandth's of an inch to cause a buzz ...

Dana O.

 

[ChickenLover]

Maybe the neck angle is a bit off? I'm referring to the neck angle that the micro-tilt adjustment is for.

Measure the action at the 12th fret and then compare to the action at the 21st or 22nd fret. The action should be a tiny bit higher at the 21st or 22nd fret.

 

[customstrat]

How does the actual "bend" of the neck work. I have seen aftermarket necks that just don't have the right bend so to speak and will buzz in the higher frets. A shim could help this also.

Also....the "sweet" sound you are looking for????? Do you think that raising the action might help it achieve that sound?

On mine the action is very low.....not really a guitar for huge bends and blistering solos.

 

[blood5150]

its not really an "aftermarket" neck... at least I dont think so anyway.. I think this store on ebay called " the stratosphere parts them out....

let me post a few pics......

 

[Gasp100]

Anyone who charges for set-up work should tell you if the frets need work when they have your guitar on the bench; or just do the work as part of the set-up. Either you need fretwork and more truss rod & saddle adjustment, or at least a truss rod adjustment. Sounds like somebody dropped the ball. I have a friend who does incredible set-up work. I turn over a guitar with a new Warmoth or USACG neck and he cuts a bone nut, does the fret work and sets up the guitar perfectly - first time he did this he charged me $75, and he wouldn't ask for more, but I give him $100 when the frets are stainless steel.

So what did the local shop charge for the set-up, if I may ask?

-- Wow, I need to start sending my stuff out to real techs. I posted my horror story a few days ago about my bad setup experiences (the Dude ruined the pups that were installed - that I wanted to reuse - AND then ones he installed, ridiculous amount of fretting out, etc...). The OP's experience sounds like a walk in the part compared to the unjustice that I endured.
Anyway, a fret "dressing" might be in order (and a little more expensive) on a new neck anyway.

 

[straightblues]

There is no reason with those parts and a good setup why that guitar shouldn't play well. When you picked it up from the tech, did they say your guitar had a problem and needed more work, or did they just give it to you? If you have a fret leveling problem, which you might, the tech should have told you about it and offered to fix it for you. Take it back to the guy.

 

[blood5150]

There is no reason with those parts and a good setup why that guitar shouldn't play well. When you picked it up from the tech, did they say your guitar had a problem and needed more work, or did they just give it to you? If you have a fret leveling problem, which you might, the tech should have told you about it and offered to fix it for you. Take it back to the guy.

I tried it at the store as soon as I picked it up... we tried adjusting the truss, etc.. to no avail.. I told him I would try to "play it in" to see what happens..... but he said if that didnt work I may need a fret leveling and dressing.....

 

[buddastrat]

How low is the action? If you're getting notes choking out around the 15th fret, the truss rod isn't going to really remedy that. A tech should know that.

 

[RvChevron]

I tried it at the store as soon as I picked it up... we tried adjusting the truss, etc.. to no avail.. I told him I would try to "play it in" to see what happens..... but he said if that didnt work I may need a fret leveling and dressing.....

Take it to another tech who are known to be competent, if I were you.

 

[JimH]

To be honest if it needs a fret dress and you've only had a basic set up it's not the repairs guy's fault other than maybe he should have made that clear to you.
A setup can't level frets.