High E buzz on bends

High E string buzzes on bends from 5th fret up. No buzzing from 12th. The action and neck relief is good. No other strings buzz.

Damn strings are so old that they are black. Maybe old strings are causing this problem? I was repairing a MIM neck so I left the old strings while shimming and fixing the action and relief. Everything is just right. I just can't figure what's the problem.

Replace the strings first.

What's the relief and action right now?

The action is 4/46 and the relief is .010+ (can't measure it exactly).

I'd replace the strings first.

Also, I wouldn't usually set the action that low on a Strat or Tele (I assume you meant 4/64"). You gotta let the guitar tell you what it's minimum action is.

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Originally Posted by Don

Also, I wouldn't usually set the action that low on a Strat or Tele (I assume you meant 4/64"). You gotta let the guitar tell you what it's minimum action is.

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Do the strings just buzz when you bend, or do they fret out (stop ringing completely)?

If they're just buzzing a little bit its OK unless that's not what you like. Typically, I don't measure anything while doing a setup, because measurements are all arbitrary and will change from guitar to guitar.

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Originally Posted by Floyd.lt

The action is 4/46 and the relief is .010+ (can't measure it exactly).

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Is that a typo which should read 4/64's?

If it is, that's a really low action for a Strat. I don't think any of mune would play that low.

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Originally Posted by grandturk

If they're just buzzing a little bit its OK unless that's not what you like.

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I agree with that, but only to a point. Fret buzz that isn't audible through your amp can still kill sustain. If the string is making *any* contact with a higher fret -- even if it's not enough that you can hear it when you play without an amp -- it's not going to sustain as well as it could.

It took me a while to figure that out. I used to raise the saddles just to the point where I couldn't hear the string buzzing...but now I raise them just a little higher than that, because I can definitely detect the added sustain I get when I do that.

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Originally Posted by elicross

It took me a while to figure that out. I used to raise the saddles just to the point where I couldn't hear the string buzzing...but now I raise them just a little higher than that, because I can definitely detect the added sustain I get when I do that.

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Then its the question - how much sustain do you NEED?

Doesn't buzzing in the center of the neck only, indicate a back bow? I usually set my neck's with a slight upbow which eliminates almost any buzzing. What shape are your frets in and does the neck have any twist in it at all?