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O.K. I just bought a ESP DV8-R and really like the lightness and tone from this beast. Now the bad, there was fret buzz like mad when I picked it up. The luthier let out the neck and it helped ever so slightly when I asked him what else could be done he told me the guitar was drop tuned and that was the reason for some of the slop. I had him retune for me and it seemed to help a little. When I got home and checked tuning, he had tuned up to F. I guess he thought I would'nt notice??????!!!! So I took the guitar back and did not even mention it, just to please take another look at it. So I call him today and he says he let out the neck a little more and did not see the big deal about the buzz because after you turn up the amp it goes away!!!! It does'nt go away you just can't hear it over the amp. I called ESP and they tell me some buzz is normal and I agree but not this much. So I ask you guy's how much is to much? Thanks

Which strings and frets, do the fret buzzing occur on?

For every person it's different...

But if a tech is intentionally mis-leading you by tuning to F then I wouldn't bother to go abck to him ever again. That's just being dishonest and not being interested in getting the job done right.

The buzz is primarily on the 4 big strings, and pretty much all over the neck. The action is not especially low and while fretting single strings I can hear slight buzz thru the amp.

Is the nut cut too low? How the curvature shape of the neck, it could be bent too much in a direction. You could also try raising the bridge saddles till the strings stop buzzing.

That guy is obviously a world class ******. A good businessman never argues with the customer and a good tech does a good setup, even if it takes awhile. If it was set up for extreme low tuning it would make sense to have the tech keep the guitar for a few days to ensure that his truss rod fussing has settled and is *already* set to the customers specs BEFORE he gives it back.

The frets likely need leveling and if you decide to have it done, it should be clear by now that that “tech” is not the guy to trust with that type of job (or any job, apparently), as he’d probably sand the frets up and down the neck, rather than parallel. Sure, some buzz is normal, but should be minimal.

Unfortunately (and in my 2 experiences with the LTD line), it’s not uncommon for guitars in this price range to need after-market fret leveling. Some cases are worse than others and it sounds like your guitar may be one of those cases. It could be just one fret that’s higher than the others, but it does sound like a fret issue nonetheless. If you really like the guitar then I’d probably have the fret work done, as it’s really not that uncommon a necessity for guitars in this range.

Just DON’T take the guitar back to that guy, unless you’re returning it for a full refund.

IMO 10% is max w/ superlow action and a heavy attack... that means if every so often it bothers you, and it essentially disappears completely over an Amp, they it´s OK... anything more is intolerable

I agree with above so far...except the nut height, that only affects open strings. What I do is start fretting at the 2xth fret, should be no buzz cause theres no other frets, right? And go 1 fret at a time up the neck, until I get a buzz. The fret JUST BELOW THAT is the high fret.

Also, with the wound strings, they have a bigger radius to their vibe. the angle from the bridge to the fretted note should be enough to clear until you get up around the 7th fret. If they start buzzing there it may be that you just need a little (and I mean a LITTLE, like .010 inches) bow in the neck. Stick a capo on the 1st fret amp; hold at the 16th or wherever your neck 'thickens' from the heel, look midway (7th fret or so), there should be just enough room above the fret to fit your high E string (I keep a few old strings clipped 1 inch from the ball end around for this as I am too cheap to buy a feeler guage, and besides 'feeler guage' sounds obscene!).

There, that's setup, it is not difficult. As for the nut, low is better for playability. Strings should clear the first fret by the same amount as they clear the second WHEN YOU FRET THE FIRST. Capice?

I love the Graphtech trem-nut, they have one to fit most guitars, preslotted, easy to lower (just rub on a bastard file!) to just the right height. Dunno you have a ESP maybe a locking nut? Check JEMSite for instructs on dealing with those.

I have noticed:

LTDs have the worst fret jobs, ever. Both of my guitars (~500-550) sucked ASS when I got them, they were used but that doesn't make any difference at all! The V-250 is REALLY bad too, once you get past the 14th fret all the notes sound the same!! POS if you ask me, both the guitars are from the 99 line and apparently they've gotten a LOT better (i.e. usable) since then but still...

I spose take it to a GOOD tech/luthier. Get them to do a proper set up and fret dress, then there should be no woes. Since i had that on my dean it has been like butter, i cant complain about anything on it.


Originally Posted by sac

and did not see the big deal about the buzz because after you turn up the amp it goes away!!!! It does'nt go away you just can't hear it over the amp.

Time to find a new tech!

Thanks to all for the feed back. I have not been back to the shop yet, but did call and speak to the store mananger to voice my concerns. Hopefully that did some good.

You do realize that the guitar could have changed tuning during travel etc? That the tech didn't necessarily tune it wrong?

If the buzz is a problem to you, then there's too much. If not, then not. So simple.


Originally Posted by JohtosotkuIf the buzz is a problem to you, then there's too much. If not, then not. So simple.

Agreed. At the end of the day, it comes down to your preference for low action vs. tolerance for buzz.
Personally, I don't have so much problem with buzz when I strike the strings (as long as it's not audible through an amp) because I have a pretty heavy touch. IMO, buzz that persists after the initial attack is generally unacceptable.