Trevor Gore wrote:
However, the problem with that is that there isn't a "standard" solution. The nut and saddle compensation vary with neck relief, string action, string gauge, etc. etc. There is a way of working it all out, but I'm not going to tell you it's easy. However, once you've heard a guitar that plays really well in tune, there is no going back.
Bingo!
Like I said I don't know exactly what Buzz teaches but it's likely the self same way of approaching nut and saddle comp.
Tom, down at the Fret House, whose been setting guitars up for 50 years looks kind of askance when the subject of nut compensation comes up but like Trevor said once you've heard a guitar set up right...you're there!
Another thing, there's a whole difference in the way individual people hear. I know for a fact, and if you talk to a Doctor you will find this to be true. There is a very big difference in physiology between people.
In cooking I watch a Dr. explain a big difference in senses. In measuring taste ability the Dr pointed out that the host of the show had about 30 papillae(taste buds)/cm. Most people only had 15. While some people only have 8. The host was what the Dr called a "super taster". The host could sense things many others couldn't. At the same time if the host was to pick up a spicy pepper it could "blow his head off" while the 8 papillae would only sense a slight buzz. It's not that 8 papillae is more "manly" it's just his tastes are dull.
Ace fighter pilot's in WWII were almost all above average in eye sight 20/10 or above...first to see, first to kill. Some peoples sense of smell is much more pronounced than other and are payed a lot of money in the perfume business.
We know that human hearing is not linear on top of that. People are generally more sensitive to higher pitched tones. The human ear is is much more sensitive to a sharp condition than to a flat. The problem with the guitar is everything is set up to make the guitar sharp. The tuning keys allow adjustment so it's "dealable"! On a piano, that would never be tolerated!
On a guitar the strings are pulled to the fret... they sharpen. The higher on the neck string to fret pull... they sharpen even more. The strings wear...they sharpen. The frets wear..they sharpen. Saddle wear..sharpen. Neck needs a reset.. it sharpens the scale length!
Nut compensation is a compromised attempt to bring that back into balance. The problem with the Buzz system, as I know it, is it involves a standard set for all guitars. Compensate a guitar and there's generally a pattern but they are not all the same. The Buzz system kind of gets you there...kind of doesn't.
Like the Chevy Nova's name in Mexico had to be changed, "No Va" means "No Go". I just don't like the sound of "Buzz" anywhere around my guitar!
