Let’s Talk About Fret Buzz Why does it happen? Why do most guitars fall victim to fret buzz at least once in their lives? How much fret buzz is acceptable? To get a better grip on fret buzz, let’s discuss some common causes and how you might go about fixing it on your guitar.
QUESTION Hi Humbucker Soup, Your website is very helpful and clear. I need some help with a problem. I bought a Dragonfire 3-way blade switch that has all the pole pieces in a straight line, numbered 1-8. Could you tell me which pole piece corresponds to which pole piece in a typical Grigsby 3-way blade […]
We know that cleaning is probably the least exciting thing when it comes to owning a guitar. However, if you are a smart guitarist who wants your beautiful axe to last you a lifetime, then cleaning it is something that you need to do. There are plenty of reasons why our guitars accumulate dirt and […]
Question Hi HBS, I have a new Chinese lap steel P90 single-coil pickup, with volume and tone knobs. I’m new to electronics, and I’m not sure of pot resistance. I have a new guitar cable and spark amp but I get an electronic buzz on all amp channels on the lap steel through the tone […]
It’s inevitable. As time passes, the sound quality of your electric or acoustic guitar begins to decline. Since most guitars are made of wood, they’re susceptible to damage from a variety of enemies, including moisture, temperature, greasy fingers, and more. Most serious guitarists are diligent about maintaining their instruments, through regular string changes and careful […]
Question Hi Humbu, Have you come across something called crosstalk with 3-way selector switches in a Les Paul-style guitar? With all my volume and tone controls turned to 0 and my guitar connected to my amp, I can still hear a very small sound output when I strum. I have rewired this guitar myself, but […]
Question Hi there, There was a Squier Strat made in China in 1996 (called an NC6***) that has an odd 5-way switch. I have not figured out the wiring diagram and the odd switch with 7 tabs and not 8. I generally use a jumper from the unused tone tab for the bridge pickup and […]
Choosing the Best Guitar Wire Before we talk about choosing the best guitar wire, let’s go over some of the most common types that are used, and which kind might be best for you. Because there are so many available options, it can be challenging to choose the right wire.
HBS READER QUESTION: Hi, Can you help, please? I got this Marshall MG10, and I’ve had this buzzing and crackling problem when I play the Strat. I sent it back to them and they listened to the sound recording I had of the buzzing and they said I had a loose earth connection or the […]
A reader recently asked about how he could adjust the angle of the tremolo bridge on his Stratocaster. In his case, the bridge was leaning towards the neck. Making a Strat bridge angle adjustment is a very simple process. The main thing to keep in mind is to avoid tightening the trem claw screws too […]
When building your guitar, it’s easy to find yourself with a ground or buzz problem, which can be truly frustrating at times. But it doesn’t have to be such a nightmare – you just need to retrace your steps. If you logically track the signal path, you can find the source of the problem. So, […]