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probably an amateur question, but what cause a string to buzz open, and in every fretted position? my action is pretty average, maybe slightly higher, I'm using roller saddles, so I thought maybe the groove was not wide enough for the string, so I filed it wider and a little deeper (btw, these "roller" saddles dont roll much... I was ably file the grove without the roller ever budging...), I filed the nut slot slightly deeper before, and this helped considerably with open string buzzing... the frets are nice, the neck is straight, with slight relief. the 9th fret buzzes and frets out on the A and D strings, i can fix this fine, but for the life of me, I cant figure out what makes my low string buzz everywhere, I thought the saddle for sure where the groove was so slim and the strings are 12-58's.
where can I look next? any other info needed?

Truss rod? Tuner bushings?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

great, thanks! I'll check this out. this is gibson style headstock, but it's probably worth the read anyway. 14 degrees I believe. I tried to make the angle of the nut match, but maybe my bass side is still a bit flat. thanks.
I tightened all my tuner bushings when I refiled the nut the first time, so hopefully none came loose, and I really hope it's not the truss, unless you mean just an adjustment.

The first thing to check is the cheapest.
Have you changed the string yet?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Could easily be a bad string with the wrap seperating from the core.

Extremely common with DR brand round core strings.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

ive never actually considered a bad string... interesting! I'm using Ernie Balls. I'll try changing it just to see

Check the nut slot on the low e by tuning to pitch and fretting between the second and third and holding this while tapping the string directly over the first fret crown. If you have some space it's a good thing, if not the slot is too low. The slot can also be too low on a low e even is there is some space. Typically 1/2 the diameter of the string in terms of the space between the first fret crown and the string while holding it fretted between the second and third will be OK and Less can be problematic.

If you fret the low e anywhere on the neck and it still buzzes it is not likely the nut slot but still could be too if there are multiple issues.

Nut slot angles are typically 1/2 the angle of the head stock set-back. On a Fender shoot for around 7ish degrees.

Also on Fenders the nature of the design, as mentioned, leaves something to be desired for string break angles over the nut. You can easily increase break angle on many of these style of head stocks by simply leaving more string to wind resulting in additional windings below the hole in the string post thusly increasing break angle over the nut. This is one of the reasons for string trees on these kinds of axes. Often the G string is the worse if there is not a second string tree and a G string will benefit from extra winds on the post anyway to distribute the tension over a greater area and help prevent breakage at the post.

It would be helpful if you did not already say so and I just missed it to let us know what model guitar this is and we always love pics too.

Also although much less of an issue with electrics we are seeing countless dried out guitars these days because of the lousy winter and our furnaces being on so much our instruments dry out. Again although not usually much of an issue on electrics if this is a hollow or semi-hollow body or the thing is uber dry it can change the set-up lowering strings, causing buzzing, etc.

Typically though if an open string buzzes but not when fretted it is likely a nut slot. Not always but usually.

If you hear a bit of a Ravi Shankar Sitar sound (love his daughter....) and have messed with the nut slot this sound is caused by the vibrational wave of the string continuing past the break point of the face of the nut. Usually too shallow or a curved nut slot that does not have enough angle to terminate the speaking length of the string cleanly and precisely at the nut face.

Who knew a stinkin nut slot could be co complex.... Uppty suckers that they are...

Hope something here helps you out!