Just got my Fender Stratocaster last december, which is a Mexican made 60th anniversary version. Its my teacher who helped me buy this guitar. At first , there isnt any problem with the guitar , everything was well setup. And something happened after i changed my string , which is on the guitar now , ernie ball 09. When i strum my guitar, i can hear buzzing sound from the fret , obviously its the string touched the fret , then i thought it was the action too low that matters, i adjust the string to a higher action , but it still buzzing when i struming stronger (accent note). Is there any good technician around KL area ? I think i need to send my guitar for setup

I believe your new string set is lighter than the original that was on the Strat. My guess is your previous was a 0.10. If that's the case, due to the lighter string set, the tension from the strings is less than previous. Hence the strings do not pull the neck strong enough as before. In other words, the truss rod is pulling the neck back resulting the neck to bow backwards.

So, all that need to be done is to adjust the truss rod (ie loosen it) to increase the dip of the guitar. Not much adjustment required, quite simple actually. But if you are not sure, better let a technician do it rather than risking damaging the guitar.

I do not know any guitar technician in KL area. Wait for others to comment.

This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Feb 10 2007, 08:07 PM

My teacher told me my guitar was setup for 09 strings. I am using 09 strings now.

I think you can try out Tham..... contact Everdying for more details...

Or..... if you can.... try out Sinamex in Berjaya Times Square IF the guitar technician is in. Did a DAMN good job on all our guitars there during the free clinic.

This post has been edited by blacktrix: Feb 10 2007, 08:33 PM

Tham's no: 012-2350670

that guy is frm singapore and he rarely comes in.

Ya. My friend is helping me to send my guitar to Tham. Really uncomfortable to play , somemore is new guitar, i think it should have a full setup ! Anyway , who knows Tham location , i might wan to send my guitar ealier b4 my fren send to him...

I was guessing...
Btw, at which fret(s) does the buzzing occur? 5, 7, 8th frets ? or higher at 12, 15, etc ?

strat's come default with 9 gauge.
buzzing is normal with electrics with strong strumming.

some ppl set up their guitars real low, that if you play unplug u can hear buzz.
the most important thing is the buzz is not heard when you play thru the amp.

Even when i strum power chords i can hear buzz...not feeling nice to play ... 1st and 2nd string ok..3 rd string above that buzz alot..

Does buzzing for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th strings occur at higher frets eg 10, 12, 15,... or at the middle ie frets 5th, 7th, 8th?

Just trying to guess and hoping to pinpoint the problem.

This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Feb 11 2007, 01:22 AM

yea, for 12 frets onwards for 4th and 5th string

the other no..

since its a strat, my guess is the 4th and 5th saddles have dropped a little.
you can increase the individual height yourself.
but you will need a radius gauge to have a accurate setup, doing it by feel is not recommended.

I dun feel like doing it myself too. Because i am noob in setting up guitar. So i will send to Tham to hv a check and adjust whtever its needed.

thanks for the info. Im learning something new everyday


if thats the case, my intiution tells me that the strat neck is too bowed (too concaved like an archer's bow). In other words, the strings are pulling the neck too strongly (which is resulting the neck having a deeper "dip"), hence need to TIGHTEN (not loosen as per mt previous post) the trussrod to pull back the neck.


yes, a radius guage is a good tool to have (Im still searching to buy one for myself). Although some guitar repairers do not use it at all, and rely on visual assesment and "feel".

But since it's mentioned... from what I know, a general rule is the neck's dip should measure about 1/64" (0.4 mm) for acoustic. Classical guitar "could" be more. Electric guitar Im not certain, but I would follow the acoustic measurement (maybe someone can confirm this). If it is more than 1/32" (0.79 mm), it should PROBABLY be reduced slightly by adjusting the truss rod.

On how to measure the "dip",
1- position the guitar in normal playing position.
2- Capo the 1st fret.
3- Look at the fret that is in line with the guitar body (eg in my guitar, its the 17th fret). With your right hand press the 6th string at the first body fret + 1 (eg in my case, that would be 17 + 1 = 18th fret).
You'll be able to see a slight gap "dip" between the string and the top of the frets. The biggest gap is around the 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th fret.
4- So measure that gap there. Thats how you measure the neck's dip.


Yup, its best you send it to Tham. I dont encourage you to do it yourself.

However, it would be good to know more about your guitar too than just playing

Btw, after you get the guitar back from Tham, would be good if you could ask him whats wrong with the guitar and what adjustment(s) (eg loosening the trussrod or tightening) he did. I would like to learn more from experienced guitar tech too.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Feb 11 2007, 10:04 AM

try Guitar Store Hartamas...even Hillary Ang, Karl of Cromox and Jamie Wilson send their guitars there...a cool place to meet pro musicians i might say...

heck, i once had the chance to jam with Karl there...(been a fan of Cromok since 1991)...so you'd guess how excited i was that there....we played some riffs of Mistry - and he did the solo of course....haha

and u can always try out their array of Moen pedals that they just recently brought in for some 'alternative' sonic dimensions than all those common sound from Boss stomboxes that you could find...

and i've heard good stories about KlasikA studio as well...they're in Gombak though..

This post has been edited by silbii: Feb 12 2007, 05:10 PM

hilary just sent one of his guitars to tham a couple months ago

Tham said he will be on full bookings until early of march.

you should talk to him yourself and describe the problem.
if what i guess that the 4th and 5th saddles have dropped abit, then it wont take more than 5 mins to do.
of cos i have to play your guitar first to find out exactly what.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Feb 13 2007, 10:30 PM

I guess i will ask him to do a full setup on my guitar.