I've been thinking about buzz lately. A lot of the guitar videos I watch have some, and it kind of adds character I think. Almost like it's the Fender sound.
I remember a friend saying "Well, my bass gotta HONK dude!!". And it kind of makes sense
Do you think it's part of the charm, or should one always chase a setup with virtually zero buzz?
Do you think fret buzz is part of the guitar sound?
- aliendawg
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Do you think fret buzz is part of the guitar sound?
Last edited by aliendawg on Thu May 07, 2020 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- Danley
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Re: Do you think string buzz is part of the guitar sound?
I think zero buzz/unplugged depends as much on playing style as anything; but I typically won’t compromise on action anyway. More than 2mm at the 12th fret on any string is too much, but all my guitars can be set up lower than that with no buzz when I play. Even severe buzz to a degree can end up masked by the amplified tone anyway. So it doesn’t make as giant of a difference as people think, even if it bothers us as guitarists.
King Buzzo: I love when people come up to me and say “Your guitar sound was better on Stoner Witch, when you used a Les Paul. “...I used a Fender Mustang reissue on that, dumbass!
- aliendawg
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Re: Do you think string buzz is part of the guitar sound?
That's a fair point! You're right, most of the time buzz is masked by amps
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- adamrobertt
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Re: Do you think string buzz is part of the guitar sound?
"Virtually" zero buzz is the key. It is almost impossible for a guitar to literally be buzz and rattle free. When I set my guitars up I usually am OK with what I consider "acceptable" rattle that you can't hear through an amp and is mostly inconsequential. Even my guitars that have gotten the PLEK treatment still do this - it's just how it works.
I always am amused by dudes who are chasing the "literally 0 buzz" dragon. Not gonna happen bro, unless you want high action.
I always am amused by dudes who are chasing the "literally 0 buzz" dragon. Not gonna happen bro, unless you want high action.
- Kinx
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Re: Do you think string buzz is part of the guitar sound?
I consider buzzing frets as a part of my sound to some extend, adds juice to the distorted sound - I'm quite annoyed when bent notes die out, but I don't really mind fret buzz or any sympathetic rattle for the matter. It's also part of the jag/jazzmaster sound for me I really like to use super-microphonic guitars (such as Eko 500-3V or ancient Jolana Diskant archtop), because they add so much character to the mix when all the noise is properly tamed in a musical way.
Check out my band, The Atavists ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG-HZtrljMg
- jorri
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Re: Do you think string buzz is part of the guitar sound?
Sometimes i get a bit of sitarry twang off hitting the open string ringing out. Love it. anything fretting out i hate, but i am sure there are plenty of records with some buzzy tones. I guess with anything sounding like its meant to be there and owning it is the trick