Ibanez RG550 fret buz! Help!

I've got a late 80's Ibanez RG 550 (japan) with an edge floyd rose temolo and the 2nd fret on the low E string buzz's like no other!!! I tried raising the action, shimming the nut, and changing the strings. Nothing worked. I thought to try adjusting the tention of the necks truss rod but it takes some sort of socket wrench (which I don't have) instead of the usual allen wrench. What should I do!
# 1

I am not an expert on the subject, but my opinion is that the frets are worn out.
Check out the neck of the guitar. If it is straight, then it is probably the frets. they need to be... uh, damn, what is the right term?? For example when you rub somethin with sand paper? Nyhowz, since your guitar is pretty old, that should be it. But try taking it up with someone experienced in these stuff (music store?)
cause i am not 100 % sure #bout it.
Check out the neck of the guitar. If it is straight, then it is probably the frets. they need to be... uh, damn, what is the right term?? For example when you rub somethin with sand paper? Nyhowz, since your guitar is pretty old, that should be it. But try taking it up with someone experienced in these stuff (music store?)
cause i am not 100 % sure #bout it.
# 2
I'm having a similar problem with an old guitar of mine. A Squier Strat. Only thing is, since I had replaced it with a Fender about the time it started buzzing I had pretty much stopped using it and put it into retirement. The thing is old as dirt, I remember my dad playing it when I was a kid. Well, this is good advice I'm sure. I'll leave it at that.
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They Said To Play It Louder Than Hell, We Promised That We Would
Hulk Smash!!
Whatever you do, don't eat limes. A friend of mine ate a lime once and BAM!! Two years later. Herpes.
# 3

The problem you are having could be caused by a couple of things.
This is a "basic" rundown of how I set up my guitars.
1. Tune your strings up to your usual tuning.
2. Lay the guitar on a flat surface, so that there is no pressure on the neck.
3. Use a straight-edge that is reliable (I use a carpenters square) and place it on the fretboard of the guitar, so that it rests on the first fret and the last fret.
Use a feelers guage (the tool used to check points, etc. on automobiles) and find the .010 guage. At the 8th fret of your guitar you should be able to just slide the guage between the fret-wire and the straight-edge.
If there is to much of a gap, then your truss-rod needs adjusted.
If there is not enough room for the guage to slip through, then your truss-rod needs adjusted.
4. Make sure that when you do this check; the straight-edge is not resting on the nut or a pick-up. (this would throw off your measurement)
***If you are not comfortable with the idea of adjusting the truss-rod yourself, then take it to someone qualified to do it. You could damage the neck if you turn the truss-rod to much at once!!!
If you decide to do it yourself, DON'T TURN IT MORE THAN A QUARTER TURN FOR EVERY HOUR!!! Turn it a quarter turn, and then let it set for a while. Then tune the guitar once again....., and check the measurement.
Sometimes it takes a while for the neck to adjust to the new setting. That's why you let it set for a while.***
5. Once the neck is set correctly, you can then adjust the action of your guitar to your personal tastes.
If once this is done....., and you still have uncontrollable fret-buzz......
then you may need to have the frets either shaved or replaced.
By the way. There is a tool for your particular truss-rod. Maybe one of your local music stores has one.
Anyway..........I hope that something here helps with the problem.
If not, I'd take the guitar in to a qualified repairman.
Hope ya get it fixed, and best of luck. :cool:
This is a "basic" rundown of how I set up my guitars.
1. Tune your strings up to your usual tuning.
2. Lay the guitar on a flat surface, so that there is no pressure on the neck.
3. Use a straight-edge that is reliable (I use a carpenters square) and place it on the fretboard of the guitar, so that it rests on the first fret and the last fret.
Use a feelers guage (the tool used to check points, etc. on automobiles) and find the .010 guage. At the 8th fret of your guitar you should be able to just slide the guage between the fret-wire and the straight-edge.
If there is to much of a gap, then your truss-rod needs adjusted.
If there is not enough room for the guage to slip through, then your truss-rod needs adjusted.
4. Make sure that when you do this check; the straight-edge is not resting on the nut or a pick-up. (this would throw off your measurement)
***If you are not comfortable with the idea of adjusting the truss-rod yourself, then take it to someone qualified to do it. You could damage the neck if you turn the truss-rod to much at once!!!
If you decide to do it yourself, DON'T TURN IT MORE THAN A QUARTER TURN FOR EVERY HOUR!!! Turn it a quarter turn, and then let it set for a while. Then tune the guitar once again....., and check the measurement.
Sometimes it takes a while for the neck to adjust to the new setting. That's why you let it set for a while.***
5. Once the neck is set correctly, you can then adjust the action of your guitar to your personal tastes.
If once this is done....., and you still have uncontrollable fret-buzz......
then you may need to have the frets either shaved or replaced.
By the way. There is a tool for your particular truss-rod. Maybe one of your local music stores has one.
Anyway..........I hope that something here helps with the problem.
If not, I'd take the guitar in to a qualified repairman.
Hope ya get it fixed, and best of luck. :cool:
If eyes are the mirror to the soul, you will see yourself as I see you
# 4
Just to add to that, different people like different amounts of relief (bow) on their neck, some like their necks as striate as a di, others like a banana.
Also it is easier to cure fret buff by initially tweaking the action before diving in with the truss rod.
Check this out:
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8670
Also it is easier to cure fret buff by initially tweaking the action before diving in with the truss rod.
Check this out:
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8670
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 5
Originally Posted by: soundmancdogg... the 2nd fret on the low E string buzz's like no other!!! ...[font=trebuchet ms]When you say that the 2nd fret buzzes, do you mean that the string buzzes against the 2nd fret when you fret it at the 1st fret, or that that the string buzzes somewhere else when you fret it at the 2nd fret?
If the 2nd fret is badly worn, the string will come too close to the other frets, causing it to buzz. If it's not too bad, a fret-leveling job will fix the problem. Otherwise, the fret will need to be replaced.
If the string buzzes against the 2nd fret when played at the 1st fret, the 2nd fret may have lifted slightly out of the fret board.
If you want to learn how to do this kind of work yourself, I strongly recommend getting this book. Otherwise, it's time to take your baby into the shop for a bit of a look-over.[/font]
# 6