PRS McCarty String Buzz acoustically but can't hear it all when playing through FM9.

J

Jetset95

Member
So this is starting to drive me crazy - auditioned this guitar for hours and had not issues with it. Get it home and playing it acoustically on the sofa there is noticeable string buzz on D strings (around fret 9) and G and B strings (around fret 2/3) - but it's not always there. And I could not hear / feel anything testing the guitar amped up, and can't hear anything when I have it plugged into my FM9.

I have had it back to the shop, had it run through a PLEK machine and gets a clean bill of health. So - any ideas?
 
If you play heavy handed, you might try raising your action and/or increasing your neck relief a tiny bit. Heavier strings with more tension can sometimes help too.
 
What's the problem, then? Unless you want to mic it like an acoustic, the fret buzz is inaudible and therefore won't be recorded either, unless, as I said, you are actually recording it like an acoustic. Or you are standing close to a mic while singing and playing.

If neither of those two scenarios apply, Remind yourself that it's an electric guitar, and what matters is its output at the jack.

You could, of course, raise the action until it ceases buzzing... (Ninja'd)
 
Thanks guys, Peavey I don't know about you but I kind of want to have my set up correct so that frets are not worn down or the strings break in the middle of the first solo so when there are issues like this I like to get them fixed. Perhaps that's me being a bit OCD but...
 
Jetset95 said:
Thanks guys, Peavey I don't know about you but I kind of want to have my set up correct so that frets are not worn down or the strings break in the middle of the first solo so when there are issues like this I like to get them fixed. Perhaps that's me being a bit OCD but...
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Then it sounds like you already know what you want to do...

A slight bit of fret buzz that does not get amplified can be a result of too low of a string action or not enough neck relief.

I agree with @Peavey Herman that a bit of buzz that is inaudible in a recording is not a major issue, and you only have two choices, fix it or live with it. A simple slight raising of the action or neck adjustment could be all it takes to get rid of it.

A little string buzz isn't going to break your strings or wear down your frets anything like fretting the string with some vibrato or bending.
 
Buzz just in the middle of the neck I could understand saying neck relief but buzz in the middle on the D string and at the neck end on the G/B strings sounds more like high / low frets or combined neck and nut problems - but I always thought the PLEK would diagnose those and it didn't flag anything at all.
 
Jetset95 said:
Thanks guys, Peavey I don't know about you but I kind of want to have my set up correct so that frets are not worn down or the strings break in the middle of the first solo so when there are issues like this I like to get them fixed. Perhaps that's me being a bit OCD but...
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I didn't mean to sound so nonchalant, I'm at work and need to be quick. 😉

I'd prefer the better playability/lower action and observe over time if torn strings are a common occurrence. I'd just take the wear and tear along with it.

But if it drives you mad... Go for it. Hope you get it sorted out!🤘🤘
 
You might also want to verify you're not hearing pickup case resonance. Dstring-f9 = Gstring-f2 = A (note), suggesting a sympathetic resonance. Try pushing down on the pickup case while playing those notes to see if it disappears. (I have a McCarty that has this issue, and like your situation I hear it acoustically but not amplified.)
 
If i cant hear it amplified and its not an obvious impediment to the sound (ive had some notes decay quick on the odd fret, took it in) im gonna play it.

Play it plugged in and enjoy.
 
Peavey Herman said:
I didn't mean to sound so nonchalant, I'm at work and need to be quick. 😉

I'd prefer the better playability/lower action and observe over time if torn strings are a common occurrence. I'd just take the wear and tear along with it.

But if it drives you mad... Go for it. Hope you get it sorted out!🤘🤘
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No worries and thanks for the follow up.
 
Fotukito said:
You might also want to verify you're not hearing pickup case resonance. Dstring-f9 = Gstring-f2 = A (note), suggesting a sympathetic resonance. Try pushing down on the pickup case while playing those notes to see if it disappears. (I have a McCarty that has this issue, and like your situation I hear it acoustically but not amplified.)
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Thanks - didn't even think about that - will check it out.
 
Fotukito said:
You might also want to verify you're not hearing pickup case resonance. Dstring-f9 = Gstring-f2 = A (note), suggesting a sympathetic resonance. Try pushing down on the pickup case while playing those notes to see if it disappears. (I have a McCarty that has this issue, and like your situation I hear it acoustically but not amplified.)
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On my guitars, fret 9 on the D string <> the note "A", it is "B". The 2nd fret on G string is indeed an "A", but then yr resonance theory goes away, unless the pickup covers resonate with both A and B notes, which is unlikely.
 
Bobbyoso said:
On my guitars, fret 9 on the D string <> the note "A", it is "B". The 2nd fret on G string is indeed an "A", but then yr resonance theory goes away, unless the pickup covers resonate with both A and B notes, which is unlikely.
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LOL, yea my bad, different notes on my guitar too :flushed:... So agreed probably not the same resonance I have on mine.
 
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