String buzz and set-up problem!

[Searcher]

Hi guys, can anyone recommend a good way to fix this: I'm getting huge amounts of buzz from the strings when played open and on the first three or four frets. The guitar is an Ibanez S540 with a locking trem system. The bridge is screwed pretty low, but it could go lower. The action is average and gets higher the closer you get to the bridge. The action is at its lowest right near the nut, so I guess that's the problem, but how do I fix it? It would be nice to have the strings running more parallel to the fretboard the whole way through, too, instead of them kicking up close to the bridge.

Thanks in advance!

[Ratrod]

Try a turn at the truss rod. (1/4 or 1/2 turn)

[Searcher]

Thanks Ratrod!

I'm wondering though, if the action is kinda high everywhere else except the first few frets, wouldn't an overall change along the whole neck kinda fix it partly and make it worse elsewhere? You can tell I don't know a lot about this stuff, though I can replace pickups.  :)

[Ratrod]

If that's the case you may need to raise the nut. You'll need a luthier to do that properly.

[Searcher]

Cheers, Ratrod. It might come to that. I already have a shim under the nut though from a few years back. All this travelling to different countries is no good for my guitars!

[PhilKing]

Losening the truss rod will give the neck a curve.  Assuming it is parallel to the strings at the body end, the nut end will curve up and you should be able to stop the buzzing.  If the strings are too far away at the body end when you do this, then you might need to put a shim under the neck, in the neck pocket.  If you aren't too familiar with all this it might be time to go to a guitar tech for help.