ESP Eclipse Standard II buzz problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter RuxinCaldwell
  • Start date Start date
R

RuxinCaldwell

New member
Hey guys, I've owned an ESP Eclipse Standard II for a couple years now, and ever since I owned it, and got it set up for the tuning I play in (Drop A# with 13-59 gauge strings), the thickest E string (well, A#) buzzes like absolute hell. Like I mean it isn't even playable. I'm considering selling it due to the fact that no guitar tech has been able to fix the problem. The guitar was "B-Stock" when I bought it "new" for $1100 off of eBay, Christmas of 2010. Maybe it had something wrong with it to be a B-Stock?

I just cannot wrap my mind around this. Why does every single string play and sound flawlessly, but the top string isn't even usable due to the immense amount of buzz? The ONLY two things I could think of replacing that would solve this issue is a new bridge, or new nut.
 
If the guitar tech can't find the issue, find a new guitar tech.
 
Code001":1salgwna said:
If the guitar tech can't find the issue, find a new guitar tech.
Click to expand...

The people I have took it to are extremely knowledgeable guitar techs. No luck.
 
You need to find where the buzzing is occurring at. Then you can go from there. It may be as simple as a nut or it could be that a fret has come loose.
 
SDMF38":1ww6aif2 said:
You need to find where the buzzing is occurring at. Then you can go from there. It may be as simple as a nut or it could be that a fret has come loose.
Click to expand...

Would "a fret" that has come lose, affect just the top string though? All the other strings play fine, it's just the thickest E. If it was as easy as a new nut, I don't see how any of the guitar techs couldn't have figured that out yet. I would order a new nut for it if I knew that was what was causing the issue. I have no way of knowing though.
 
usually if a fret comes loose it's on one side of the board. The truss rod may be to tight there are some options as to what's causing it. Try pressing down the low e at the first and twelfth fret and look at the space between the strings there should be a small amount all the way down.
 
SDMF38":2bzv4l9v said:
usually if a fret comes loose it's on one side of the board. The truss rod may be to tight there are some options as to what's causing it. Try pressing down the low e at the first and twelfth fret and look at the space between the strings there should be a small amount all the way down.
Click to expand...

Ya, it could be a fret. There's really not that many things it could be. It may need a new nut, could use a truss rod adjust, or raise the action some. It could be more serious like a twist in the neck. You really need to take it, or send it to a better luthier.
 
I have a Normal Eclipse II and yes it buzzed as well. I am good at setting up guitars and it took a while for me to dial it in. I am used to playing 25 1/2 scale guitars and going to a 24 3/4 will cause more buzzing since the strings are looser at that scale.

But one thing that made a huge difference is my picking. I had to lighten up my picking had because it was used to 25 1/2 scale guitars. Also different brands of strings make a huge difference even at the same gauge because some are tighter than others. GHS in my experience is the stiffest and of course Ernie Ball is the sloppiest. D Addarios seem to be middle of the road.

A guitar Luther told me that some times different brands of strings make a difference.

Since you said you took it to techs, they should have filed the nut slots for heavier gauge strings and possibly lifted it depending on the string height above the first fret, as well as the neck adjustment

Also too much neck relief will cause the middle frets to buzz, and also not enough will. On ESP's website they have a manual that specifies the min-max neck bow tolerances.

But one thing that could be the issue, is the neck is not at the right angle to the body. On bolt on guitars techs commonly use shims to correct this issue. But in your guitar if this is the case your hosed. B Stock could mean exactly that and the guys at ESP had the same issues so they sold it as B stock.
 
baron55":29iqcaec said:
I have a Normal Eclipse II and yes it buzzed as well. I am good at setting up guitars and it took a while for me to dial it in. I am used to playing 25 1/2 scale guitars and going to a 24 3/4 will cause more buzzing since the strings are looser at that scale.

But one thing that made a huge difference is my picking. I had to lighten up my picking had because it was used to 25 1/2 scale guitars. Also different brands of strings make a huge difference even at the same gauge because some are tighter than others. GHS in my experience is the stiffest and of course Ernie Ball is the sloppiest. D Addarios seem to be middle of the road.

A guitar Luther told me that some times different brands of strings make a difference.

Since you said you took it to techs, they should have filed the nut slots for heavier gauge strings and possibly lifted it depending on the string height above the first fret, as well as the neck adjustment

Also too much neck relief will cause the middle frets to buzz, and also not enough will. On ESP's website they have a manual that specifies the min-max neck bow tolerances.

But one thing that could be the issue, is the neck is not at the right angle to the body. On bolt on guitars techs commonly use shims to correct this issue. But in your guitar if this is the case your hosed. B Stock could mean exactly that and the guys at ESP had the same issues so they sold it as B stock.
Click to expand...


The last sentence in your post is the one I'm leaning towards as well. I guess my next step would be how to sell a guitar that's b-stock that you paid $1100 for?
 
You know you could try contacting ESP and asking what denotes B stock. usually it is cosmetic. Just curious how low is your action?

I know ESP says that n the low "E" string 5/64" is the min and on the high "E" 1/16" is the min.
 
sounds like a bad set-up...raise your action a bit and check the neck relief a# with those gauges should be fine I have ec400 tuned to drop A with 54-11's and have no problems..
 
The frets may have to be filed and re crowned. Come to think of it. I have a 3 week old Eclipse II and it buzzes like a son of a bitch! Going to take it in to a luthier. The setup is good, neck bow to spec, and buzzes pretty bad on the higher lower gauge strings. Doesn't matter with the action height either.

In the early 90's I had a M II that had a twisted neck out of the box, sent it to Hollywood (tanito was the main guy then) under warranty, and they replaced he neck, 4 months later same thing happened, sent it back and they replaced the neck again! So after 3 necks I finally got a good one-the neck on the Eclipse I have is fine, but ESP has had issues with necks and fret dress issues, pretty sporadic. It is documented pretty well on many message boards including ESP.

But many times the guitar frets are dressed and crowned with the neck off which is normal, but no refiled after the neck is on the guitar and under load.

I bought a PRS SE that had the same issue, after a fret level and re-crown, it was perfect
 
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you are using a thick as hell string, tuned ridiculously low, on a 24.74 inch scale guitar, with a heavy picking style?
B-stock as far as I know only applies to cosmetic issues.
If your tech knows what hes doing and says the guitar checks out fine, try stringing up with 10-42, and see if the buzz is still there. If it is gone, then re-string with your thick gauge and raise your action until the buzz is gone.
The Eclipse might not be the guitar for you.
 
baron55":1h0gphn2 said:
The frets may have to be filed and re crowned. Come to think of it. I have a 3 week old Eclipse II and it buzzes like a son of a bitch! Going to take it in to a luthier. The setup is good, neck bow to spec, and buzzes pretty bad on the higher lower gauge strings. Doesn't matter with the action height either.

In the early 90's I had a M II that had a twisted neck out of the box, sent it to Hollywood (tanito was the main guy then) under warranty, and they replaced he neck, 4 months later same thing happened, sent it back and they replaced the neck again! So after 3 necks I finally got a good one-the neck on the Eclipse I have is fine, but ESP has had issues with necks and fret dress issues, pretty sporadic. It is documented pretty well on many message boards including ESP.

But many times the guitar frets are dressed and crowned with the neck off which is normal, but no refiled after the neck is on the guitar and under load.

I bought a PRS SE that had the same issue, after a fret level and re-crown, it was perfect
Click to expand...
THIS
 
My '07 Horizon NT-II has always been a bitch. It hardly ever feels right, and even after leveling the frets it still has issues.
 
I got mine dialed in. :)

One thing to check and it sounds very silly, but you would be suprised. I had a firend who had a Les paul with suposedly the same issue. Single notes were fine but buzz very bad . The neck pickup was too high (EMG) the strings were barley touching it when strummed causing all the buzzing. LOl Yes really.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top