Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ChickenScratch]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

You know, you can find all the info and offsets at the patent office. I've actually looked through the company liturature over there when this thing just came about.

[LarryL]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

It's a simple change, move the nut forward very slightly and re-intonate. It does become more of a PITA with a lock nut.

U.S. Patent Number 6,143,966

[MikeE]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

Some say just using the offsets help (w/o moving the nut). I can't confirm this but it's free and worth a try.

A Google search came up with this thread that has the offsets.

[iron_monkey]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

The thing is, given the small size of the tuning offsets, it would seem you need to use a strobe tuner to get the full benefit. Also, you would need to have good fretting technique as well. You would get a lot of benefit just using a strobe tuner on your guitars and you wouldn't even have to mod anything. It seems like the effects are too subtle for rock n roll, if you know what I mean.

[bucknaked31]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

With the Earvana nut, you don't need any offsets. I like them a lot. Some of the guitars we build over here use them. I wish they would do a locking version, though.

[Joe_Steeler]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

I recently finished reading through Dan Erlewine's book and he says that mofifying the nut (i.e. moving it forward) gets you 50% of the benefits of the BF system.
Dan mentions that what's left will only improve 2-3 cents on yuor intonation.
Moving the nut forward is relatively easy, there is no routing on the fretboard and completely reversible.

Scott is right, retrofitting a guiatr with the BF system is VERY intrusive, you or yuor tech don't know really what they are doing and you have a greek tragedy in your hands.

[eaeolian]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd have an Earvana nut on my Soloist, but they don't make a 7 string version, and apparently aren't planning to. Bastards. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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How much room do these things take up, and exactly which size/style did you get? I'd like to know before I order if it will fit with a Kahler locknut already in place. I really don't want to relocate the nut on my USA's.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not much - they're a shelf nut, sort of similar to the BF "retrofit" style. So they don't require much space. How well they'd work with the Kahler, though, is anyone's guess.

[ QUOTE ]
No plans to make a 7-string version? Have they been asleep for the last six years? Are they on crack? [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently, 7 string guitarists don't want to be in tune. From what I've seen, I can understand how they arrived at this conclusion. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

If you have a Floyd or something other than a hardtail or a string thru the BF system is a complete waste.

[noodlesatf]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ QUOTE ]
Not much - they're a shelf nut, sort of similar to the BF "retrofit" style. So they don't require much space. How well they'd work with the Kahler, though, is anyone's guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I'll find out soon enough when I order one. I've been itching to try it. The BF system works great with a Kahler, so I don't expect this to cause a problem. Once again, I'll try it on one of my imports before moving to the USAs. What size do I need, 1 11/16"?

This is one of those few times that I'm not hating a behind the nut lock. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Zerberus]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ QUOTE ]
If you have a Floyd or something other than a hardtail or a string thru the BF system is a complete waste.

[/ QUOTE ]

And HOW does having a Floyd change the tempering of the scale to suddenly be in tune in all key? Please enlighten me, because there´s obviously something I overlooked in teh last 10 years of tech work.

The problem stems from the guitar (like the Piano, Xylophone, Harp, Harpsichord and others) being what is called a tempered instrument, i.e. "solid" noted, no being a cent higher or lower like on a fretless bass or Violin.

Since it´s unfeasible to calculate different fretboards for different keys (or to retune a piano between compositions), the mathematical "average" is taken and used on these instruments. As any concert musician wil tell you, changing the key in an orchestra setting actually changes the note itself minimally, only a few cents, but audible in context. This is on single notes, btw.

Now, if you take MULTIPLE single note (i.e. a CHORD), depending on where on the neck´you are it may sound angelic, or it may sound like total ass. Hthis is because you will, at places, invariably have one string a few cents high while one or 2 others are a few cents low.

THIS is what BF and Earvana counteract with tuning offsets an SCALE LENGTH CHANGES by way of the shelf nuts. Without the scale length change, you may have a minimal benefit, but you´ll be screwed that much more in other places.

I have used BF, and almost became a retrofitter. Noodles hit the nail on the head. The benefits ARE there, depoending on playing style they may or may not be evident. But the system DOES work, I don´t know anybody that has actually researched or used it that doesn´t agree. Nor would high end manufacturers like Anderson be EXCLUSIVELY using BF if ther weren´t some notable advantage. I´ve met and spoken with Tom in depth before during a clinic he held in my shop in ´97, and he would NEVER put something on a Guitar that would even minimally risk making it worse instead of better, that´s not what he seems to be about [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[LarryL]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ QUOTE ]
I recently finished reading through Dan Erlewine's book and he says that mofifying the nut (i.e. moving it forward) gets you 50% of the benefits of the BF system.
Dan mentions that what's left will only improve 2-3 cents on yuor intonation.
Moving the nut forward is relatively easy, there is no routing on the fretboard and completely reversible.

Scott is right, retrofitting a guiatr with the BF system is VERY intrusive, you or yuor tech don't know really what they are doing and you have a greek tragedy in your hands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Over at the Les Paul Forum Dan has also commented that converting to the BF system gave him the biggest improvement in his playing in something like 20 years. He's an extremely accomplished player so that says something. Of course he's not hammering out power chords thru a Bogner or SLO with massive gain so the comments about how useful it is for rock music are probably accurate.

As for installation, any authorized tech. should be competent as they need to be licensed and have the proper training to install the system. If a tech. can't do this modification I wouldn't trust them with much more than a string and tune. It isn't a DIY project so that shouldn't be an issue.

I've had three guitars "Feitenized" and have noticed an improvement with each. Not enough to make me want to do all of my guitars. I'm not playing a bunch of strange chord voicings high up the neck so I really don't miss it on my guitars that don't have it. You do pretty much have to throw away your needle tuners and get a Peterson.

[ChickenScratch]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

I've applied this (http://www.mimf.com/nutcomp/) on my friend's ESP and I'm pretty happy with it. Many of you know that I'm not techy in any way and it took me f-ing months but it works.

[tonemonster]

Re: Buzz Feiten tuning Charvel / Jacksons?

[ QUOTE ]
You would get a lot of benefit just using a strobe tuner on your guitars and you wouldn't even have to mod anything.

[/ QUOTE ] I second that!! I have a peterson Virtual strobe tuner and I think it certainly makes a difference in setting intonation, and overall tuning quality. I highly recommend one to anyone. Yes, they are a bit pricey, but worth it IMO. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]