What's this Buzz Feiten system?

[Scott674]

How does it work.  I've searched about a bit, but nobody wants to tell you how it works/what it is... they want you to pay them to do it!  Do they replace parts?  Is it just adjustments?

[gingataff]

http://www.buzzfeiten.com/howitworks/howitworks.htm

[Hell Hound]

It's far too complicated to setup your guitar with that system. An Earvana nut is more efficient and you can do your setup as you've always done it.

[WezV]

the system is a combination of a compensated nut and aletered compensation (intonation) at the bridge)

here is a good article on understanding and making compensated nuts
http://www.mimf.com/nutcomp/

although, the earvana is good enough to save the hassle of making a nut like that

https://www.earvana.com/

and here is what PRS say about it

"In response to concerns, requests and questions referencing the Buzz Feiten Tuning System, I would like to clarify Paul Reed Smith Guitars position on this matter.  In 1980, I patented a compensated nut for guitars that addresses the age-old problem that fretted instruments do not play in tune at the nut end of the neck.  This patent was assigned to DiMarzio to market at that time and has since reverted ownership back to PRS Guitars.

When the drawings and tooling were made for the first PRS models, I incorporated this patented concept by shortening the distance between the nut and the first fret on all PRS guitars so the intonation would be adjusted at the nut and the guitars would play in tune.  I did not advertise this fact because I knew a good percentage of customers would notice these new PRS instruments played in better tune then what they owned or was available at the time.  I also felt that would translate into sales and customer satisfaction.  I did not feel the need to explain the whole concept to the rest of the industry.

Anyone who is concerned that their PRS does not incorporate the Buzz Feiten Tuning System nut compensation feature can rest assured that nut compensation has been an integral part of all PRS instruments since 1980. "

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[FELINEGUITARS]

I have been importing and selling the Earvana nut for several years now.
I have fitted it to many instruments and find it really good.
Personally I prefer it to the Buzz Feiten system as it only requires you to set up and tune your instrument as you normally do it.
It looks like you have intonation set at both ends of the string as the nut has a stagger for each string

Some players think that the staggered nut looks odd at first but are then so pleased with the improved in-tune nature of their guitar that they dont mind.

For Gibson type guitars there is a "shelf nut version that just drops into place
See below


The Buzz Feiten and Earvana systems both try to tackle the same problem.
What they try to do is to solve the problem of notes being slightly sharp near to the nut and as you go up the neck through proper compensation.
Sharp notes will stop the chord ringing true and especially on the 3rd of any chord, which the ear is more sensitive to.
I find that after using these systems you can play chords that normally dont sound good with overdrive like a C and it sounds much sweeter . It also allows you to move from chord to chord with them all sunding more in tune.
The diagram below shows a before and after test done with a strobe tuner with an Earvana nut being fitted to a guitar.

[Scott674]

http://www.buzzfeiten.com/howitworks/howitworks.htm

 :oops: guess I didn't look very hard.

Excellent info guys, thanks!

[AngusYoung01]

Jonathon, can you put an Earvana nut onto a guitar with a locking nut?

[FELINEGUITARS]

Not as yet - we haver been waiting for the Floyd version for nearly 2 years
Fingers crossed on that one!

[WezV]

if we can get a floyd version of any of the new intonation MOJO things i want it, be it earvana or Buzz Feinin

[Afghan Dave]

Jonathon, can you put an Earvana nut onto a guitar with a locking nut?

Jon do you remember at last years LGS, we were chatting with Ben (Twilight) and his locknut arrangement might work with the earvana nut.

[gingataff]

There are plenty of people who've had the Feiten thing done with locking nuts (Washburn do it as standard on some models) and Monte Allums does a zero fret type intonation compensator http://www.monteallums.com/enut_tuning.html#ensupp

[FELINEGUITARS]

Jonathon, can you put an Earvana nut onto a guitar with a locking nut?

Jon do you remember at last years LGS, we were chatting with Ben (Twilight) and his locknut arrangement might work with the earvana nut.

Yes - that was because Ben uses the Kahler behind the nut style locking clamp that uses a regular nut (which can be replaced by an Earvana) .
Would work well if your guitar was done like that - however more tricky if you already have a Floyd locknut installed.

The Buzz F system can be done with FRT nuts though, but you have to shorten the Fingerboard by 1.5mm and shift the nut forward

[Johnny Mac]

My Charvel 6 has a nut and a locking clamp separate. The graphite nut needs replacing anyway as the strings have cut deep into it over the years of abuse I've given it.

[Pale Rider]

Jonathon, can you put an Earvana nut onto a guitar with a locking nut?

Jon do you remember at last years LGS, we were chatting with Ben (Twilight) and his locknut arrangement might work with the earvana nut.

Yes - that was because Ben uses the Kahler behind the nut style locking clamp that uses a regular nut (which can be replaced by an Earvana) .

Which is the best way to implement this? Is it better to build the neck in a way so the earvana and the string lock can be fitted in that pocket between the neck and headstock or to put the string lock on the headstock? (talking about custom builds)

Actually I like the first idea more as it lets the truss rod cover clear and ready to use.

Thanks

[PhilKing]

Jonathon, can you put an Earvana nut onto a guitar with a locking nut?

Jon do you remember at last years LGS, we were chatting with Ben (Twilight) and his locknut arrangement might work with the earvana nut.

Yes - that was because Ben uses the Kahler behind the nut style locking clamp that uses a regular nut (which can be replaced by an Earvana) .

Which is the best way to implement this? Is it better to build the neck in a way so the earvana and the string lock can be fitted in that pocket between the neck and headstock or to put the string lock on the headstock? (talking about custom builds)

Actually I like the first idea more as it lets the truss rod cover clear and ready to use.

Thanks

I built Ben's guitar and the way I did it was to get a standard neck cut for a Fender style nut.  I then routed off part of the reverse curve where the fingerboard joins the headstock.  This gives about .5 cm between the nut and the locking nut.  Ben has screw in lock nuts not bolt on, however that shouldn't make a difference.  On the neck we were using (a Warmoth), the truss rod adjuster is on the bottom of the neck and also on the lower side at the heel.