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Epiphone Les Paul string buzz

Louis_Lalonde

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
6
Hi, I recently got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50's and have been trying to get it set up since. My main issue is the A string buzzing all over and most strings buzzing at the first fret. Action is as high as I can stand (3mm+ on low E and 2.5mm on high E) and relief is quite low (a piece of paper fits under the low E string when fretted at first and 16th fret). Buzzing happens on low strings from 3rd fret to 10th and, as I said, the A string will buzz regardless of what I do.
Any help would be appreciated before I take it to a tech, thanks!
 

Gibbons59

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
45
I had to have my frets leveled. My '59 was fantastic out of the box, but my '50s Standard was awful. From so many of the reviews I've seen, it's not an uncommon problem.
 

Louis_Lalonde

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
6
I had to have my frets leveled. My '59 was fantastic out of the box, but my '50s Standard was awful. From so many of the reviews I've seen, it's not an uncommon problem.
I'll head to my neighbour's and have that done, hopefully won't have to replace my brand new strings!
 

Gibbons59

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
45
You'll be thankful, regardless. Mine was close to unplayable, and no amount of adjustments made much of a difference. Now I enjoy playing it quite often! I hope yours is easily sorted!
 

Keefoman

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
576
Not uncommon for one or more frets to sit too high on those. Sometimes it's enough with a proper setup, sometimes it's enough to knock the high frets down, sometimes they need a full fret dress and setup. Either way it's well worth getting it done, as they are generally good guitars. :)
 

Louis_Lalonde

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
6
Hi, I recently got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50's and have been trying to get it set up since. My main issue is the A string buzzing all over and most strings buzzing at the first fret. Action is as high as I can stand (3mm+ on low E and 2.5mm on high E) and relief is quite low (a piece of paper fits under the low E string when fretted at first and 16th fret). Buzzing happens on low strings from 3rd fret to 10th and, as I said, the A string will buzz regardless of what I do.
Any help would be appreciated before I take it to a tech, thanks!
Update: Having been at my neighbour's house for the night, the fret buzz has disappeared for all but the 7th fret of the A string, having adjusted everything else to perfection (except action which is still high) I will have the frets levelled. Epiphone make very nice Les Pauls indeed!
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Update: Having been at my neighbour's house for the night, the fret buzz has disappeared for all but the 7th fret of the A string, having adjusted everything else to perfection (except action which is still high) I will have the frets levelled. Epiphone make very nice Les Pauls indeed!
Just a word of caution before you go after the frets with the file as that's permanent , exhaust all other possibilities please . Best Wishes !
 

Louis_Lalonde

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
6
Hi, I recently got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50's and have been trying to get it set up since. My main issue is the A string buzzing all over and most strings buzzing at the first fret. Action is as high as I can stand (3mm+ on low E and 2.5mm on high E) and relief is quite low (a piece of paper fits under the low E string when fretted at first and 16th fret). Buzzing happens on low strings from 3rd fret to 10th and, as I said, the A string will buzz regardless of what I do.
Any help would be appreciated before I take it to a tech, thanks!
UPDATE: Finally took it to a tech which is a nice 45min drive for me. The frets are very very uneven, so it requires a full fret level and dress. I will also be switching to 11's and that should help too.
 

Gibbons59

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
45
My tech said that the frets on mine were a total mess as well. But he got it playing wonderfully, and I use eights! I have no doubt that you'll be very pleased. It's just a shame that this much work needs to be done to make them playable.
 

Louis_Lalonde

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
6
My tech said that the frets on mine were a total mess as well. But he got it playing wonderfully, and I use eights! I have no doubt that you'll be very pleased. It's just a shame that this much work needs to be done to make them playable.
Might be a shame, but it plays exactly to my liking now, and oh boy were people right to love these! I never would have thought it could play this well and sound this good. So much for worrying it might be my technique!
 
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