First fret doesnt work?


DaKrazyHomie
Registered User
Joined: 02/28/05
Posts: 1
DaKrazyHomie
Registered User
Joined: 02/28/05
Posts: 1
02/28/2005 4:23 pm
i have an old style charvel and i just recently replaced the locking piece at the head stock for the floyd rose. the action is ok on the other frets but the first fret on all the string just buzzes and wont work. i dont know why the other fret dont buzz like this, but i have no clue how to fix it.

thanks if you can help
# 1
slayer544
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Joined: 05/03/04
Posts: 1
slayer544
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Joined: 05/03/04
Posts: 1
02/28/2005 9:37 pm
hey, my guess is the action is too low near the first fret and it is hitting a fret directly.. Just raise the bridge up a little bit.
# 2
dough_ballz
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Joined: 04/30/04
Posts: 1
dough_ballz
Registered User
Joined: 04/30/04
Posts: 1
03/02/2005 4:46 pm
I have the same problem with my accoustic, and it's getting worse. Any easy way to raise the bridge without using an Allen Key, cos I havent got one?
# 3
fastelvis
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Joined: 01/10/05
Posts: 68
fastelvis
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Joined: 01/10/05
Posts: 68
03/13/2005 8:30 am
The lock nut you put on is not the same height as the old one. The solution is changing the nut height, not the bridge height.

Kahler tremelos always used small, thin sheets of metal to shim up the nut height. I'm sure you could find some of these on line ar at your local guitar shop/luthier if you look hard enough.

If you're pretty handy, here's a totally custom trick I use:

For $2-$5, get a set of mechanic's "feeler guages". The set you want has around 30 different flat metal "fingers" that range in thickness (.035" down to .0015"). These should be around 2.5"-3" long, but more importantly, about 1/2" wide (.5"). K-D Tools makes a set that's perfect, plus it has a thumbscrew that makes it easy to loosen and remove just one from the set. Any auto or hardware stores should have them.

Without taking the strings off your guitar (just tune them way down), remove the lock nut clamping blocks, then remove the screws (or allen bolts) that mount the lock nut to the neck. Slide in one of the gauge's fingers under the nut (start with .010"), bring your guitar back up to tune and check your action (be sure to bring the guitar up to FULL TUNE so the tremelo will be at the correct angle-VERY IMPORTANT). Still getting a buzz? Tune it back down and slide in a slightly thicker guage. Keep increasing the thickness (by .002" or .003" each time) until the buzz is gone. When satisfied,remove that guage from the set. If the guage has rounded ends (most do), cut one off square first, then cut it to length (cut a little shorter than the nut width so none of the guage sticks out from under the nut-probably near 1 3/8" long). Most you can cut with tin snips. Could use sizzors on very thin ones. Thick ones, you may need to use a Dremel with a metal cutting wheel. Grind, file or sand the edges and corners to remove any burrs. It also helps to lightly tap the cut ends with a hammer to be sure they are flat. Slide it back under the nut and mark for the mounting screw holes. Take it back out, mark again with a center punch and drill holes large enough for the mounting screws to pass through (3/16" diameter is plenty). Sand off any burrs. Slide it back under the nut, install mounting screws, tune up and clamp. Bam! Custom fit.
I once thought a "Sweeping Arpeggio" was an Italian janitor.
# 4

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