Les Paul Neck setting

[wannest]

Hi, I've build a Les Paul, with very good result, except for the following issue.
The low E string has some buzzing when playing at the first +/- 5 frets.
I have checked the neck without strings: perfectly flat.
When I place the strings and tune, then the neck bends a very little bit, this with the (single action) truss rod nut fully loose. In fact, the neck should be a bit more bent.
When to get rid of the buzz, the only thing I can do is set the action higher, but of course, this not what I want to do for 1 single string (the low E).
Since I cannot get the neck curve right (a slight upbow): any suggestion to solve this problem?
A way to bow the neck a little bit more, knowing that it is a single action truss rod?
Another solution?
Thanks
Wannes

 

[charliechitlins]

You only need the tiniest bit of relief.
Even a flat neck is good.
I think the best reason for relief is to make up for slight inconsistencies in the neck/fingerboard and to allow for a bit of change. If you have no relief, the tiniest change in the wrong direction will give you backbow and no tech wants to set a neck perfectly flat and have to listen to the customer complain about buzzing in a week or 2.
You can set your neck dead flat if you know how to tweak it when it shifts.
Is the buzz coming through the amp?
If not, forget about it.
Its an electric guitar and only what comes out the amp matters.
Many folks don't want to hear that.
If you're one of them:
Did you check if its buzzing behind the fretted note?
You could try putting something between the nut and the string to raise it.
Not for a fix, but for diagnosis.
Is the action height measurement right for that string?
Maybe the slot is too deep in the saddle.
Try swapping with another saddle. Naybe the saddle itself is buzzing.
Maybe its a bad string.
It's not quantum physics.
It's a piece of wire supported in 2 ends.
The buzz is coming from SOMEWHERE.

 

[Wilko]

Should be able to play without buzzing on a straight neck. Are your frets level?

 

[ADP]

Slip a tiny piece of gum wrapper under the string at the nut. If that fixes it, you'll need to fill the nut and readjust. Or go for a new nut altogether.

 

[wannest]

Should be able to play without buzzing on a straight neck. Are your frets level?

Yes, frets are dead level.
What I have with the low E string is that there is not much tension. It is in tune and intonation ok. I tried with a new string (.046), but is the same. To play in drop D is even not possible.