okay string buzz fixed with rediculously high action

If you went from 10's to 9's then you probably do need a truss rod adjustment. Going back may solve it.

It is easy to determine if you need adjustments so just go to my pages below and look at the "Basic Setup" pages and just do the checking to see if adjustments are needed. If they are then you can decide if you want to try it yourself or take it in for a setup.

Here's another site you can use to check out your guitar problems. But I would recommend that you bring it in to a specialist if it is really giving you problems.

http://www.frets.com/

I second the vote to take it to a tech. Don't risk screwing up, take it to a tech and ask him to explain exactly what's wrong and exactly what he's doing to fix it. Next time, you'll be better prepared and have a more complete understanding of your guitar.

its your neck man,

find out how to measure relief and adjust your truss rod. If its a nice guitar, you can take it to a good tech. I would go to a fender service dealer.

You can sight the neck by looking at it to tell if its bowed back or forwards. Once the neck is straight + any relief you want, then you should adjust the action.

Truss rod adjustments aren't that big of a deal. Have a tech set the guitar up (with whatever gauge string you plan to play) and it should be a breeze from there. Maybe even have him/her show you some basic maintenance that you can handle. Shouldn't cost more than $60.

I've played around with it somemore ... and it's time to take it in. Sigh ... I hate not being able to fix something my self ... must be a guy thing.

Oh well, thanks for all the advice.

Logan5

Turn your guitar over and look at the square plate where the neck bolts on. Is there an additional hole? If so, your guitar has what Fender calls "Micro-Tilt".

There is an Allen Screw in there. Turn it counter-clock wise. This will tilt the higher frets downward and raise the headstock. It doesn't really raise the headstock, but I was trying to describe it so you understand how the neck would be moving.

This sounds like it could be your problem. Some folks raise up the higher frets for lower action but it can also cause fret buzz at the higher frets if you go too far.

It could also be a truss rod adjustment. Look down the edge of the neck from the headstock down. You should see just a slight curve or bowl in the neck.

When the truss rod is too tight it causes the neck to be too straight or even convex. The headstock can be forced downwards. Usually this will cause fret buzz in frets 1-5.

When the truss rod is too loose it causes the neck to bow concave. The headstock comes up. This will usually cause buzz at frets 5-10.

I have heard the too concave neck explained like this. Imagine a guitar string suspended above a bowl. Press the string down in the center of the bowl. Eventually the string will touch the edge of the bowl. So this is what a too concave neck does. When you fret at say the 5th fret, the string will touch higher up the neck at maybe the 12th.

But the condition you describe sounds more to me like someone has adjusted the micro-tilt and raised up the high frets end of the neck.

Hope that wasn't confusing.