Shawn Lane Master string action
I have a SL Master which I love, but I seem to be getting a lot of string buzz. Are the strings suppose to be resting on the zero fret? or do I need a new nut? I have other guitars that do not have a flat radius, but have better action than the SL. Kinda frustrating please help. Guitar is about 3 years old
someone may correct me, but I'd bet my guitars that the strings should never rest on the nut, instead they should rest on the zero-fret. the nut on Vigiers is only there to guide/align the strings (position/distance from each other and from edge of the fretboard).
your description is a bit vague ... if you put a capo on 1st fret, how does the guitar play? (this scenario removes from the equation both the nut and the zero-fret ...)
your description is a bit vague ... if you put a capo on 1st fret, how does the guitar play? (this scenario removes from the equation both the nut and the zero-fret ...)
yep, you better check string action, you may be surprised ...
i'm very picky about the setup of my guitars, and one thing that i experience or feel is that fret types affect the way string action is "perceived".
for instance, taking the convention that string action is measured from bottom of string to top of fret, the tallest the fret, the higher that action feels, even if the string is really close to the fret (obvious thing if you think it).
an extreme example would be a scalloped fretboard, in which even the lowest action (understood as string to fret top), may be "felt" and seen as high action, as strings are still far away from the wood/fingerboard.
as a side note i too feel that the wider the fret (i.e. jumbo frets), the lower the string action feels.
narrower/triangular frets make me feel action is higher ...
i'm very picky about the setup of my guitars, and one thing that i experience or feel is that fret types affect the way string action is "perceived".
for instance, taking the convention that string action is measured from bottom of string to top of fret, the tallest the fret, the higher that action feels, even if the string is really close to the fret (obvious thing if you think it).
an extreme example would be a scalloped fretboard, in which even the lowest action (understood as string to fret top), may be "felt" and seen as high action, as strings are still far away from the wood/fingerboard.
as a side note i too feel that the wider the fret (i.e. jumbo frets), the lower the string action feels.
narrower/triangular frets make me feel action is higher ...
and talking specifically about the Shawn Lane model ... take into account too that light gauge (9-42) + short scale + low action ... will always buzz more when strummed vs. thicker strings and/or longer scale, ... so right-hand playing style will play an important role with this combination of very low action + short scale + thin strings, etc ...
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marcwormjim
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Though we still don’t know what the issue is with your guitar, I’ll mention that I’ve settled into using a 10-52 set on my SL. The heavier strings vibrate less-elliptically; and result in less buzz at the low action the flat fingerboard allows. For reference, I use 9-46 sets on my 25.5” scale guitars.