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732 Views 10 Replies Latest reply: Dec 16, 2011 5:32 PM by McBrain RSS
andreschamat Just Startin'
andreschamat
4 posts since
Nov 17, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Dec 8, 2011 5:43 PM

JTV-89 Fret Buzz

Hello everyone,

 

last week I received a JTV-69, it was a so-so guitar in my opinion, the finish was nice, the magnetic pickups are really really good, however as I have owned only one guitar for 10 years, its a Ibanez RG, so that has made me spoiled about my neck preferences (the wizard neck is THIN fast and furious). So after thinking about it a lot I realized the neck it didn't fit my style and I couldn't lower the action enough without serious buzzing.

So I returned the JTV-69 and exchanged for a 89... now THIS is what I was looking for, there are minor blemishes here and there but I'm ok with that, the blood red finish is kinda good, for anyone out there worried about the thickness of the fretboards of the 3 JTVs, the 89 is the way to go for any Ibanez lover, or any lover of thin necks for that matter the neck of the 89 is very THIN, I would say 1 or 2 milimeters thicker than a Wizard II neck...

 

So anyway, I've been trying to lower the action and I found out that the 13th fret is higher than the other, so that's causing really really bad buzzing, the question is should I try to sand it off to match the others? or should I return it and expect a better one is this Variax lottery?

 

My only fear is that after returning it I might get a worst one? everything works fine in this one except of that one fret. I went to Guitar Center in Houston and played a 89 and a 59, and the 89 had the highest action I have ever played in my life, it was really disappointing to see a "shred" guitar so badly setup, it really turned me off in this model but fortunately I received a better one.

 

PS. By the way, somebody said that his JTV-89 sustained forever... well I gotta say this guitar sustains really really good with a medium action, but with a lower action not so much, but I guess that happens with any guitar.

 

In advance, thanks for any help.

 

Andres.

  • RainmanRam Just Startin'
    RainmanRam
    15 posts since
    Jun 14, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 9, 2011 5:37 AM (in response to andreschamat)
    Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

    Why risk it? I'd take it to a luthier and have it corrected. I have an 89 as well and I'm still tweaking the setup but like the neck. No problems so far other than not having a non-battery power source (they can't expect pro's to play on battery alone can they?). With all the problems I read about on the 59's and 69's, I'm glad I went with the 89. The choice was made based on the neck.

  • mkrohne Just Startin'
    mkrohne
    50 posts since
    Jul 22, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 9, 2011 5:40 AM (in response to andreschamat)
    Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

    You could send it back and take a chance, or you could have the frets leveled by a local luthier and keep the guitar you are otherwise happy with.

     

    In my experience, it is often (not always) better to have minor problem fixed on a guitar you like than to swap it out for something that may just have a different problem. In the latter case, you sometimes end up just swapping one problem for another.

  • andreschamat Just Startin'
    andreschamat
    4 posts since
    Nov 17, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 9, 2011 5:59 AM (in response to andreschamat)
    Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

    Alright guys, thanks for the suggestions, I also noticed that the angle of the fretboard against the body is a little weird, but this doesn't seem to affect anything for now, is it normal or something to be worried about?JTV-89 Neck 2.JPG

    • RainmanRam Just Startin'
      RainmanRam
      15 posts since
      Jun 14, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 9, 2011 6:08 AM (in response to andreschamat)
      Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

      Normal. I'm surprised Tyler signed off on it like that. It bugs some people visually.

    • andreschamat Just Startin'
      andreschamat
      4 posts since
      Nov 17, 2010
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 9, 2011 8:14 AM (in response to andreschamat)
      Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

      Hey RainmanRam, you say you're still tweaking your setup, I also like a lot the neck of 89, do you think there's hope in getting a good setup on these guitars? My point is, last week I went to GC and played a $300 Ibanez and it played awesome right away, it didn't need any setup, so, if we are paying $1.300 for these it's just unfair getting this quality, the 69 I received last week was really bad, I mean it feels cheap, and now on my 89 I see blemishes that just tell me these are  mass produced guitars without getting any considerable quality check for this price, this is really disappointing because the sound is really good, has anyone noticed how the nuts on all the models are somewhat high? These guitars should get more love in their production but it seems is just about producing them really fast for the money, right now I'm trying to lower the action but more frets are begginning to buzz and the action isn't THAT low yet, in fact that angle of the fretboard against the body seems to give some problems in the action department, so WHY should I pay to a luthier to fix these things if I already payed $1.300? Sadly it seems World Music was a bad choice for this job, or Line 6 isn't paying enough for the production of these guitars?photo.JPG

      • RainmanRam Just Startin'
        RainmanRam
        15 posts since
        Jun 14, 2008
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 9, 2011 8:38 AM (in response to andreschamat)
        Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

        Yes, I think you can get a good setup on them. I bought mine through sweetwater (first purchase through them). They do their own setups before shipping a guitar. Mine was ok but they missed on the intonation due to the set screws on the bridge being too tight but other than that it was a pretty standard setup. I like the action as low as possible which takes a bit of tinkering to find the limit.

        • VARIAXED Just Startin'
          VARIAXED
          52 posts since
          Aug 22, 2006
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 15, 2011 8:51 AM (in response to RainmanRam)
          Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

          Rainman, I agree; you get a ballpark adjustment from sweetwater (probably the best online retailer) and for those in the know, It's up to the individual to make their personal adjustments as needed.

      • litesnsirens Iknowathingortwo
        litesnsirens
        649 posts since
        Mar 20, 2010
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 15, 2011 7:50 AM (in response to andreschamat)
        Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

        I don't think that the angle of the neck is going to affect the ability to set up your action. A lot of guitars, including Les Pauls, have a neck angle on them that's just a comfort thing.  I can tell you that I have gone into various music stores and tried out numerous American made strats and they all felt different.  It took a long time to find the one that I eventually bought.  While I understand that guitars can be set up afterwards I just figure either the store or the company should set up their guitars half decent if they want people to buy them.  I'm just making the statement that it's a must if they want me to buy it. 

         

        In the case of the JTV (I bought the 69), it's the first guitar I have ever bought sight unseen.  I wound up swapping out the neck after all, it was a little too chunky for my tastes (more like a retro strat neck as opposed to modern thinner neck).  I wound up doing the whole job myself including the set up and luckily for me it turned out great.  From what you are describing I think a good setup guy should be able to dial it in for you.  I know it sucks to have to pay extra but unless you like the same setup that is considered the average this is probably going to be part of your life.  As far as the fret buzz, are you only noticing it when the guitar is not plugged in, or are you putting it through your amp and still hearing the fretbuzz?

        • VARIAXED Just Startin'
          VARIAXED
          52 posts since
          Aug 22, 2006
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 15, 2011 9:58 AM (in response to litesnsirens)
          Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

          The angle of the neck most certainly affects one's ability to set up the action properly and to acheive the best possible results (performance and playablity) from their guitar. First off: one needs to start off with a neck that is parallel to the body and not tilted. You have a finite amount of adjustment room when it comes to string height, string length and the almighty truss rod neck adjustment. A lot of guitarists get themselves all messed up when making adjustments. Example: the guitarist has string buzz and raises the string height, unbeknownst to him that his neck has no bow or even a back-bow to it. some guitarists fool around with the trussrod, string height and length so much they get themselves into a lot of trouble. The trick is to be able to properly evaluate your guitar before making unnecessary ajustments, winding up all confused, twisted in knots, at wits end and totally unsatisfied by their guitars performance.  Lets not forget the nut which can be filed down too shallow or too beep, creating an additional layer trouble, compounding existing truss rod and bridge adjustment problems.

  • McBrain Just Startin'
    McBrain
    13 posts since
    Sep 28, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 16, 2011 5:32 PM (in response to andreschamat)
    Re: JTV-89 Fret Buzz

    Most guitars in this pricerange will need a fret job to achieve very low action. Nothing special about that. This is also sometimes the case with higher end guitars. My $2300 Caparison also needed one. No biggie, since a pro setup is also included in the price of a fret level. A fret job made by a good tech will also almost always be better than one made at a factory, so its money well spent IMO.

     

    The neck angle is where it should be. The reason is that the bridge used on the JVT89, is more or less a wrap around Tune-O-Matic and since it is set higher than a strat-type bridge the neck will need an angle. Had it been recessed like this one the neck would be parallel to the body. This is also why the tremolo posts on Ibanez's are recessed into the body as opposed to other brands such as Caparison that need an angled neck. Both methods are fine.

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