Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Transcend on August 18, 2010, 08:13:13 PM

Title: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Transcend on August 18, 2010, 08:13:13 PM: Whats the deal with this? i have my eye on a guitar that has it well its almost THE guitar ive been searching for for the last 2 years or so

http://www.dv247.com/guitars/washburn-wv66gt-greg-tribbett-electric-guitar-white--49187

the only things putting me off so far are the headstock which im unsure on and the tuning system as i dont know anything of it at all

i looked on the buzz feiten site and it looks more hassle than its worth having to tune the guitar in a different way.

Would it play havoc if i tuned it the way i do all my other guitars?
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 18, 2010, 08:18:34 PM: If you get one of the tuners that has the offsets built in it makes it easier

I much prefer the Earvana system as once fitted the player doesn't need to do anything differently at all
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Transcend on August 18, 2010, 08:22:01 PM: Quote from: FELINEGUITARS on August 18, 2010, 08:18:34 PM
If you get one of the tuners that has the offsets built in it makes it easier

I much prefer the Earvana system as once fitted the player doesn't need to do anything differently at all

So id have to buy a specific tuner or just follow the guidelines on the site?

thanks

also what do they mean when they refer to beatless?

http://www.buzzfeiten.com/howitworks/tuningbyear.htm
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Keven on August 18, 2010, 09:49:19 PM: i figure they mean without any oscillation between the notes. (the kind of out of tune chorus effect)
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Pete24v on August 19, 2010, 02:41:39 PM: i have it on my N4, it does sound more 'intune' than other guitars i have. I did buy the Peterson strobostomp tuner to tune it properly as well.
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: DavidRees on August 19, 2010, 07:38:55 PM: I started a thread on this a while back - its all in here

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=18145.msg243157#msg243157
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Transcend on August 19, 2010, 08:28:46 PM: Thanks a lot.

Is it hard to pick up the system or is it just one of those things that become natural after doing it a few times?

i imagine it will confuse the hell out of me when switching between my ibanez and this washburn if i do buy it
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Groove Cartel on August 20, 2010, 01:30:28 PM: You do need a 'special' tuner, but most modern tuners offer an option for 'sweetened' or Buzz Feiten tuning. The guitar definately sounds better, especially if you play alongside keys as I do. However, you cant get a guitar that has it and tune it to 440 as it will sound out of tune slightly and defeats the objects. All my Vanquish Guitars have it and I would recommend it to anyone. Its not a black art or something special, its just different intonation and a new nut basically.
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 20, 2010, 02:53:56 PM: Both the Buzz Feiten and Earvana systems work well and give pleasing results
Here is a piccy of a Fender with the "shelf" version of the Earvana nut

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/earvana/earvanafendershelf.jpg)

IOt's a nut the cradles over the edge of the fingerboard to shorten certain strins by a set amount
It is completely reversable , so it makes it tempting if you have a valuable or vintage guitar that you may wish to later reverse the process on (not that you'd want to for sonic reasons) it's just a question of getting the old nut refitted or having a new standard one installed
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Transcend on August 20, 2010, 03:41:27 PM: thanks guys youve all been very helpful
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: Elliot on August 20, 2010, 03:46:57 PM: I've had Jon/Feline do 3 of my guitars with earvana nuts and I can confirm that they make the guitar sound fanatastic. For some reason the acoustic properties of the guitar are lifted - For example, my Mexican 60s strat was always dead sounding and on the bassy end of the spectrum - The earvana was like lifting a sonic fog from the guitar.

I was totally sceptical at first but I really recommend the earvana - people talk about the lift a Calaham bridge/block gives a Fender - for the a lesser price including fitting the earvana adds a hell of a lot more zing to your guitar than changing the block or the bridge.
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: JDC on August 20, 2010, 06:46:59 PM: Anyone know if you can you get the Earvana Floyd style locking nuts yet? Saw them on their website a while ago, do they still work if you down tune?
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 20, 2010, 07:52:35 PM: The Earvana Floyd Nuts have just become available in the R3 Floyd Rose or 1-11/16" width
They are about £60-£70

I will be ordering some in with my next earvana order
Title: Re: Buzz Feiten tuning system
Post by: DavidRees on August 21, 2010, 01:08:12 AM: I still kind of go back to some of my original comments - various players within whom we place our trust said something - they must watch what goes on on these boards - fess up or not?
Jonathan's take on this seems the only opinion I can feel comfortable with even though Earvana may not be for me - at the end how our tuning is is always a bit of a funny thing and there is no magic answer for everyone
tune all your E's to E -drink a can of Brew and kick ass!!
best wishes
David