marcellis
Senior Member
I bought an NS SF III around 18 months - 2 years ago. I'm mainly an acoustic player. I did not know much about electrics. I noticed fret noise right away. Plugged in it wasn't amplified, but it bothered me. Fret buzzing is a real problem on acoustics - not so much apparently on electrics. Other players liked how the SF III played and did not mind the fret noise. Sounded super plugged in.
Wanting to eliminate fret noise - I naturally tried to elevate the Tune-o-Matic bridge. Then I noticed the ToM poles were already nearly maxed out at the highest position. I couldn't raise it high enough to get rid of the stupid fret noise that only seemed to bother me.
Soooo, I had another idea, get a new wooden bridge. I'd replace the stock Guild Rosewood bridge w/a taller bridge. I had a trip to Vietnam in the cards anyway. I had Mr. Binh fabricate a couple for me.
So at last, the problem of fret noise should go away, right? I took the new bridge to a local guitar repair and asked him to replace the stock bridge w/one of the taller bridges.
He couldn't do it. The frets buzzed no matter what wooden bridge was used. He dug deeper. Then he emailed me this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PHB_Mb315s&feature=em-share_video_user
The top was sinking. Inside, the glue work was bad and separating. Taller, heavier bridges made it sink more.
Remember, from the very first day, I was annoyed by the stupid fret noise. I was really aggravated
the ToM poles were already nearly maxxed out in height.
Fortunately, the vendor has agreed to ship me a new one free. But I suspect this is not a one-and-done defect. I think it's a manufacturer's problem.
Has anyone else received an NS Guild with ToM poles maxxed out? Anyone else have a problem w/fret noise that could not be eliminated? Take a careful look.
Wanting to eliminate fret noise - I naturally tried to elevate the Tune-o-Matic bridge. Then I noticed the ToM poles were already nearly maxed out at the highest position. I couldn't raise it high enough to get rid of the stupid fret noise that only seemed to bother me.
Soooo, I had another idea, get a new wooden bridge. I'd replace the stock Guild Rosewood bridge w/a taller bridge. I had a trip to Vietnam in the cards anyway. I had Mr. Binh fabricate a couple for me.
So at last, the problem of fret noise should go away, right? I took the new bridge to a local guitar repair and asked him to replace the stock bridge w/one of the taller bridges.
He couldn't do it. The frets buzzed no matter what wooden bridge was used. He dug deeper. Then he emailed me this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PHB_Mb315s&feature=em-share_video_user
The top was sinking. Inside, the glue work was bad and separating. Taller, heavier bridges made it sink more.
Remember, from the very first day, I was annoyed by the stupid fret noise. I was really aggravated
the ToM poles were already nearly maxxed out in height.
Fortunately, the vendor has agreed to ship me a new one free. But I suspect this is not a one-and-done defect. I think it's a manufacturer's problem.
Has anyone else received an NS Guild with ToM poles maxxed out? Anyone else have a problem w/fret noise that could not be eliminated? Take a careful look.