Do I have a setup problem?

[gogators93]

I have an Alvarez Yairi CY-95 that I purchased about 10 months ago. I bought it new at a local store and my teacher played it before I bought it and said it played great. It came setup decent so I have not touched it.

About 2 months ago I replaced the stock strings with some Savarez (sp) high tension strings. The 6th string has now developed a buzz at the 9 thru 12 fret. You can hammer each of these frets and the buzz is very noticable. All the other strings and frets are fine.

Does it appear that guitar has develped a problem or does it need to be setup to use the high tension strings. As I mentioned, I have never had the guitar setup before and I believe it is factory setup and played great.

Thanks.

[Pepe Vergara]

My experience with the Yairi's has been that there is not enough room in the bridge to lower the saddle more. It seems that the saddle only sticks out by one-half of a millimeter. Is that the case with this guitar? If that is the case, you could make another saddle a bit taller to avoid the buzzing. The only neck I have ever removed to adjust the neck angle was a classical Kazuo Yairi. Those guitars are usually very smooth and easy to play, plus provide a wonderful sound too. High tension strings vibrate with more energy and the deflection could be larger than with medium tension strings. Try the new saddle and see what happens.

[gogators93]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not quite sure I follow what you are asking about the saddle only sticking out a half millimeter. I'm not an expert on guitar parts. If I'm thinking right, the strings go across the bridge which sit in the saddle. The bridge sticks up quite a bit out of the bridge and the action is pretty high. Now the thickness of the bridge under the saddle does look pretty thin, but I don't think this is what you meant.

I went to Alvarez's website and I have an authorized dealer a couple of miles from my house. The website says if you think you have a problem, take it to an authorized dealer and have it checked. If there is a problem, I will have them send it back for repair.

Thanks again for the reply.

[deAlmeida]

that guitar is unacceptable...if you can still exchange it with a new one, do so.. if not, you should definitely have it checked out. there are a number of possible reasons why that is happening.

[gogators93]

that guitar is unacceptable...if you can still exchange it with a new one, do so.. if not, you should definitely have it checked out. there are a number of possible reasons why that is happening.

Could this really be that serious? Most of the reading I've done leads me to believe that the change of string tension would be the likely culprit. I am going to have a local authorized seller check it out and see what they say. Hopefully if it is a problem that requires warrantee replacement or repair, he will know. Thanks again for the help.

[Pepe Vergara]

that guitar is unacceptable...if you can still exchange it with a new one, do so.. happening.

Kind of radical, however, if you can change it without problem do it. I just want to insist that that is the problem with factory made guitars, the action is set up in a way that is high to avoid buzzing. The only dealer/distributor I know who does a thorough job setting the action and checking the intonation of the guitar he distributes is Ronald (Ron) Fernandez, of Fernandez Music. He distributes ESTEVE guitars and Juan Hernandez of Spain.