Frequently Asked Questions
How is my guitar Retrofitted with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System?
The Buzz Feiten Tuning System® Authorized Retrofit involves two steps:
Step 1: The nut is moved closer to the first fret to eliminate sharpness at the first three frets caused by end tension. This step
employs our exclusive Shelf Nut branded with our lightning-bolt logo for authenticity. Installation of this part is non-invasive to
your instrument. Your Authorized Retrofitter removes the original nut and installs our Shelf Nut according to our patented
formulas for your guitar based on its scale length, string gauge and fret width.
Step 2: Your guitar is intonated according to our patented pitch offset formulas. This step uses the existing adjustable bridge
saddles on your guitar bringing each string into pleasing intonation with every other string at every fret across the entire
fingerboard.
Will having the Buzz Feiten Tuning System installed on my guitar affect the way I play?
No. Just play as you normally would and enjoy playing in tune across every string, every fret, everywhere on the neck. The
beauty of having a guitar that is truly in tune and properly intonated with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is that you can focus
on your technique and expression rather than being distracted by the tuning inconsistencies inherent with standard intonation.
Will there be any visual difference after the tuning system is on my guitar?
The only visual difference will be a very slight overhang of the BFTS Shelf Nut. This is nearly imperceptible and has absolutely
no effect on fingering at the first fret. The beauty of the system is that it is totally non-invasive on electric guitars and basses
since it uses your existing adjustable bridge saddles for setting the intonation. Acoustic guitars require additional modification
to the bridge and saddle because acoustics employ a fixed saddle; that is, they do not have individually adjustable bridge saddles.
Other than that, your guitar will play and sound exactly the same...except beautifully in tune. Every string, every fret,
everywhere on the fingerboard.
How can I tell if the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is installed on a guitar?
Check the back of the headstock for our BFTS Logo Sticker on guitars that have the system included by the manufacturer and
the BFTS Serial Numbered Logo Sticker on guitars that have been retrofitted with the system. If it doesn’t have the sticker, it
doesn’t have the system. In some cases, a retrofit customer may not wish to have the sticker fixed to the back of the
headstock. In this case, the sticker should be included with the guitar to prove that the system was properly retrofitted by one
of our Authorized Retrofitters.
What about playing in alternate tunings?
The Buzz Feiten Tuning System works great with any alternate tunings. You can even tune a whole step down. In other words,
if the guitar is normally played in standard tuning and ocasionally tuned to alternate tunings, your BFTS retrofitted guitar will
retain pleasing intonation. The reason for this is that our tuning system balances the guitar string-to-string, so, even when you
use alternate tunings, the string-to-string balancing of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System remains intact.
If you drop your guitar down a whole step for all strings you may need minor setup adjustments (truss rod, etc) to compensate
for the different string tension. As described above, the string-to-string balance of the BFTS will still maintain pleasing
intonation even when tuned lower without having to re-intonate. Check with your Authorized Retrofitter if you feel you need
further assistance.
If you have a guitar that is setup and played in one specific tuning always, then we recommend that it is tuned and intonated
with the appropriate tuning model of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. Your Authorized Retrofitter will help you in determining
this.
The only concern is if you drop down to a low A on a shorter scale guitar like a Les Paul-style instrument, you will need to put
on heavier strings than when you are at standard pitch. A standard 10-46 gauge set of strings will work fine with standard or
Drop D tuning, but to try and tune lower than that without increasing the string gauge and making any necessary truss rod
adjustments will result in strings that are too loose to deliver correctly intonated notes. Make sure you consult with your
Authorized Retrofitter for the best course of action and to perform the necessary adjustments.
If you want to check your guitar's intonation yourself, you can use the Peterson StroboStomp and Korg DT-7 Tuner, which have
the Buzz Feiten Tuning System Mode for tuning and intonation and the Peterson VSII and Peterson 490 which can be
programmed with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System for tuning and intonation. Check out details on "How to Use the Korg DT-7
Tuner" by accessing the link button on the Home Page of this site. Check out Peterson's website www.petersontuners.com for
details on using their tuners.
I use a capo on my guitar, will the BFTS help and doesn't the capo eliminate the need for the nut to be moved?
The positive effect created by nut movement in the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is the elimination of sharp notes at the
first three frets. This is due to the fact that guitar strings exhibit greater tension at the point of attachment to the nut
than they do further up the fingerboard. This phenomenon, called 'end tension', causes strings to play sharper in pitch
near the point of attachment to the nut - typically the first three frets. The movement of the nut slightly changes the scale
length (the distance from the nut to the bridge) of the strings according to our formulas based on the original scale length,
string gauge and fret width of the guitar. When your guitar is retrofitted with the system, your Authorized Retrofitter uses our
exclusive Shelf Nut that slightly hangs over the fingerboard so that the end of the fingerboard does not need to be cut to
reposition the nut. The entire process is non-intrusive to your instrument making it perfectly acceptable for any guitar
including vintage instruments. Your Authorized Retrofitter will grind the front of the Shelf Nut so that the 'shelf' protrudes
over the top of the fingerboard the exact amount needed to eliminate sharp notes for your particular guitar. This effect is then
integrated into the formulas for the tempering process (adjustment of the bridge saddles) of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.
The two steps, nut movement and tempering, are what balance all the strings across the entire fingerboard in our system. A
capo doesn't replace our nut movement, just as playing a barre chord doesn't. A capo only has the same effect as playing a
barre chord. Please note that when applying the capo, use only enough pressure to hold the string down, the same as you would
when playing a barre chord.
Can the tuning system be installed on my mandolin, classical nylon string guitar, or any other stringed instrument? Yes! Any
fretted, stringed instrument can be retrofited with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. In addition to electric and acoustic guitars
and basses, we’ve retrofitted the system on mandolins, banjos and 'touch-style' instruments. Classical, nylon-string guitars are
notoriously problematic with regards to the tuning inconsistencies of standard intonation. Classical guitars retrofitted with the
Buzz Feiten Tuning System are some of the most dramatic examples of how well the system works.
Reviews and Articles on the Buzz Feiten Tuning System®
Setup of the Stars - Michael Thompson
Guitar Player Magazine - April 2002
Triple Threat: Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan & Dave Larue Rumble on the G3 Tour
Bass Player Magazine - November 2001
Tune Dance - Washburns with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Guitar World Mag. - Sept. 98
World Headlines for the Guitar? Fuzz Magazine puts the Tuning System to the Test
Fuzz - Feb. 98
Stay Tuned : Buzz Feiten takes aim at the gremlin of bad intonation
Acoustic Guitar Magazine - Jan. 98
Buzz Feiten interview
20th Century Guitar - Nov. 97
Musician Magazine -- Editor's pick '97
Steve Vai on the Tuning System
Guitar Magazine. - Oct. 96
You Can Tune A Strat, But Can You Tuna Fish?
Guitar Shop Mag. - Dec. 96
Developer of a Revolutionary Tuning System
Pro Talk
"I've been playing guitar since I was six years old, and it's finally in tune. Congratulations."
- Larry Carlton
"I think it's one of the greatest innovations in guitar technology
- Steve Vai
"What's the buzz about? Perfect intonation. With the Buzz Feiten Tuning System every note, every chord will be in tune across
the entire fretboard. A fundamental requirement but something guitarists have never had until now."
- Adrian Belew
"The effect is so undeniable that we switched over the very next day and we're now making our electric guitars differently. It's
an incredibly pleasing experience to play."
- Tom Anderson/Tom Anderson Guitar Works
"For as long as I can remember, the guitars that my fellow classical guitarists and I have played always sounded slightly out-of-
tune and I just assumed that tuning our instruments was always a matter of compromise - that they would never sound
perfectly in tune in the upper frets if the open strings were in pitch. Having recently discovered Buzz Feiten's amazing system,
I realize that what I had always believed is untrue. A guitar can be in tune in any fret! I would highly recommend his
revolutionary approach to guitar tuning for any performer or builder, no matter what style. It will change your life.
- Liona Boyd
"Amazing, it really works! from the 1st fret on my low E to the 24th fret on my high G, the bass is finally in tune. Having the
1st four frets in tune (not sharp) has made my life in the studio much easier. I'M SOLD!"
- Stu Hamm
"With an amazingly simple adjustment my instruments are now all in tune! The Buzz Feiten Tuning System works. It has
changed my professional life. Now, I can just concentrate on the music at hand with a new found level of confidence! A definite
improvement to my overall performance."
- Jimmy Haslip
"It's a pretty incredible system that really works. I'm not a tuning nut and I never really have been, but his system is so good
that when you really want to get in tune, it makes it possible, whereas before - forget about it. You can never really be in
[tune] with regular guitar tuning. It's in tune all over the neck now, which is something that most guitars aren't."
- Scott Henderson
Players who use the Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Steve VaiLarry CarltonRobben FordRobert FrippAdrian BelewPete AndersonLiona Boyd"Dimebag" DarrellMick MarsMichael
LandauTim PierceDean ParksJackson BrowneDavid CrosbyMichael ThompsonJeff MileyThe California GuitarTrioBobby
CochranStu HammJimmy HaslipRick Bedrosian ( Hair of the Dog ) Ben Bledsoe ( Natural ) Tim Bogert Rich Briere Sekou
Bunch Stephen Bruner (Suicidal Tendencies) Ranam Burch (Native Percent, Bermuda Strollers) Reggie Carson (Underground
Railroad) Jeffrey Carswell (Ed Calle, Jaco Pastorius Big Band) Frank Cheatham Tim Cole (421) Walter Cosby (Julie Dexter)
Bob Croft Joe Csibi (Riverdance, Ireland) Dave Daw Michael Dimin Gail Ann Dorsey(David Bowie) Paul Duke (In His Name)
David Dyson (Bob James, Me'Shell N'degeocello) Hubert Eaves (Erykah Badu) Fima Efron Harvey Estrada (Otis Day and the
Nights) Ethan Farmer Jason Foster Freddie Flewellen Adrian Garcia (KC & the Sunshine Band/Storm) Arnd Geise (Mettalex)
Melvin Gibbs (Rollins Band) Malcolm Gold ( Movin Out) Andrew Gouche Joe Hall (Horizon Praise Band) Jimmy Haslip (Yellow
Jackets) Dave Holland Hughie (Johnny Wishbone\ Rubikon ) Justin Huth Al Improta ( Luciar ) Dave Inamine (Michael Paulo)
Glen Kawamoto (Tish Hinojosa, Jimmie Dale Gilmore) Tim Kelly ( Trace Moran Band ) Booker King Bill Lawrence Markku
Lappalainen( Hoobustank ) Bob Lee Terry Lewis Chris Loftlin (Brian McKnight) Jim Mayer (Jimmy Buffett) Don McGriggs (Gil
Scott Heron) Juan Nelson (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals) Eoghan O'Neill (Riverdance) Chris Parks Patrick Pfeiffer
Lou Reed Rawn Randall Ben Rietveld (Santana) Scot Risch ( South Fm ) Curtis Robertson (Lou Rawls) Greg Rzab Fernando
Saunders Rhonda Smith (The Artist) Melvin Smith (KoKo Taylor) Tom Snellgrove (The Statler Brothers) Tony Steele
(Riverdance) Mike Sterling (Otis Rush) Paul Stitick (Delerium Theory) Norm Stockton Jan Olaf Strandberg James Strong
SUMON ( Aurthohin ) Lori Sunde (Dave Starr) Tom Tafuto (Portable Rainbow) Aubrey Torres ( Jeremy Camp ) Rob Trujillo
(Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves) Bobby Vega Joey Vera Jerry Watts (Andy Summers, Wishful Thinking) Mark White
(The Spin Doctors) Joel Whitley Lionel Williams (Amy Sky) Jim Williams(R.B. Morris) Sue Williams Tim Williams Eric
Winter (Murali Coryell) Tom Witt Vicente Archer
"I'm over the moon about the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. Chords ring so true it's out of this world. It's one small step for the
nut and , one giant step for intonation. After the constant struggle with intonation - some chords being in tune while others
aren't - I can finally hear all my chords and voicings ring true in perfect harmony. The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is a giant
step in the advancement of the guitar." - Lyle Workman
"It increased my efficiency in the studio by 30 percent, because I don't spend all that time messing with my tuning."
- Gary Burnette
"Long overdue and overlooked, this system has finally made the guitar in tune from top to bottom. Radical bends and steel
licks above the 12th fret have never sounded sweeter. I no longer have to fight pitch!"
- Pete Anderson
"Listening to the Anderson 25.5"-scale and 24.75"-scale guitars they brought quickly convinced us of the Buzz Feiten System's
abilities. We know Anderson builds great-sounding guitars, but these were unreal. Gone were the sharp low-register notes.
Close-interval chords sounded much more in tune than they did on any of our guitars, and the bloom of sustained chords was
beyond anything we've heard."
Bench Tests: "The Buzz Feiten Tuning System" Guitar Player Oct. 1996
"Many have attempted ingenious systems to repair the fretting errors, but none have been entirely successful until now...
Listen, do you hear that distant rumble? Sounds like the Big One coming... could it be? Yes, (cue the trumpet fanfare) a
solution is at hand. With it a radical shifting of paradigms for designing and building fretted musical instruments. The Buzz
Feiten Tuning System has arrived.
- Luthiers Mercantile 1997 Catalog
(None of the above may be reproduced without the express written permission of Buzz Feiten Design, Inc) James Herb
SmithJean-Luc LajoieKevin RogersKirk HammetLandon TaylorLarry CraneDann HuffDanny JacobDanny ParksMack
CurtisMark ChatfieldMark GoldenbergMark JacksonMark ThomsonMick MarsGary BurnetteEdie BrickellDon CarrDon
FelderDoug DerryberryDoug WestFernando OlveraJeff King"Bad" Brad HendersonAdam RogersAdrian WilliamsBret
GurwitzAlan GilbertBob SegerAlexander DumbleAllan SlutskyAndre CoutuAndrew KastnerBasil FungBenedict RodriguezDavid
CrowderBrad WhitfordBrent WilsonBrent RowanJoe BraslerMichael CuneoMichael ThompsonMike TurnerNick NolenJeff
StincoJim CorrJoan ArmatradingJohn CarrollKeith HowlandMichael HakesChris LeuzingerChristopher CrossClint BlackCurt
CoffieldDanny WeisDanny WildeDarren DaughtryDave CabreraDavid BarryGawain ReifsnyderGene BlackGeoff
WhitehornGlenn FreyGraham NashGreg LakeHayden NicholasHenry KaiserJack ParkerJack ShawdeMartin BarrePat
KelleyPete AndersonPete NelsonPeter HarrisTony KingPhil CollenTodd ParsnowRichard FortusRod JanzenShawn
PurcellShayne HillSteve EzzoSteve FarrisSteven MackySuriel ZayasTim PierceRichie SamboraRobert McEnteeTim
WomackTimothy DruryTom SanchezTommy ShawTrace RitterTravis BransonVernon ReidVivian CampbellWill McFarlane
How is my guitar Retrofitted with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System?
The Buzz Feiten Tuning System® Authorized Retrofit involves two steps:
Step 1: The nut is moved closer to the first fret to eliminate sharpness at the first three frets caused by end tension. This step
employs our exclusive Shelf Nut branded with our lightning-bolt logo for authenticity. Installation of this part is non-invasive to
your instrument. Your Authorized Retrofitter removes the original nut and installs our Shelf Nut according to our patented
formulas for your guitar based on its scale length, string gauge and fret width.
Step 2: Your guitar is intonated according to our patented pitch offset formulas. This step uses the existing adjustable bridge
saddles on your guitar bringing each string into pleasing intonation with every other string at every fret across the entire
fingerboard.
Will having the Buzz Feiten Tuning System installed on my guitar affect the way I play?
No. Just play as you normally would and enjoy playing in tune across every string, every fret, everywhere on the neck. The
beauty of having a guitar that is truly in tune and properly intonated with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is that you can focus
on your technique and expression rather than being distracted by the tuning inconsistencies inherent with standard intonation.
Will there be any visual difference after the tuning system is on my guitar?
The only visual difference will be a very slight overhang of the BFTS Shelf Nut. This is nearly imperceptible and has absolutely
no effect on fingering at the first fret. The beauty of the system is that it is totally non-invasive on electric guitars and basses
since it uses your existing adjustable bridge saddles for setting the intonation. Acoustic guitars require additional modification
to the bridge and saddle because acoustics employ a fixed saddle; that is, they do not have individually adjustable bridge saddles.
Other than that, your guitar will play and sound exactly the same...except beautifully in tune. Every string, every fret,
everywhere on the fingerboard.
How can I tell if the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is installed on a guitar?
Check the back of the headstock for our BFTS Logo Sticker on guitars that have the system included by the manufacturer and
the BFTS Serial Numbered Logo Sticker on guitars that have been retrofitted with the system. If it doesn’t have the sticker, it
doesn’t have the system. In some cases, a retrofit customer may not wish to have the sticker fixed to the back of the
headstock. In this case, the sticker should be included with the guitar to prove that the system was properly retrofitted by one
of our Authorized Retrofitters.
What about playing in alternate tunings?
The Buzz Feiten Tuning System works great with any alternate tunings. You can even tune a whole step down. In other words,
if the guitar is normally played in standard tuning and ocasionally tuned to alternate tunings, your BFTS retrofitted guitar will
retain pleasing intonation. The reason for this is that our tuning system balances the guitar string-to-string, so, even when you
use alternate tunings, the string-to-string balancing of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System remains intact.
If you drop your guitar down a whole step for all strings you may need minor setup adjustments (truss rod, etc) to compensate
for the different string tension. As described above, the string-to-string balance of the BFTS will still maintain pleasing
intonation even when tuned lower without having to re-intonate. Check with your Authorized Retrofitter if you feel you need
further assistance.
If you have a guitar that is setup and played in one specific tuning always, then we recommend that it is tuned and intonated
with the appropriate tuning model of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. Your Authorized Retrofitter will help you in determining
this.
The only concern is if you drop down to a low A on a shorter scale guitar like a Les Paul-style instrument, you will need to put
on heavier strings than when you are at standard pitch. A standard 10-46 gauge set of strings will work fine with standard or
Drop D tuning, but to try and tune lower than that without increasing the string gauge and making any necessary truss rod
adjustments will result in strings that are too loose to deliver correctly intonated notes. Make sure you consult with your
Authorized Retrofitter for the best course of action and to perform the necessary adjustments.
If you want to check your guitar's intonation yourself, you can use the Peterson StroboStomp and Korg DT-7 Tuner, which have
the Buzz Feiten Tuning System Mode for tuning and intonation and the Peterson VSII and Peterson 490 which can be
programmed with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System for tuning and intonation. Check out details on "How to Use the Korg DT-7
Tuner" by accessing the link button on the Home Page of this site. Check out Peterson's website www.petersontuners.com for
details on using their tuners.
I use a capo on my guitar, will the BFTS help and doesn't the capo eliminate the need for the nut to be moved?
The positive effect created by nut movement in the Buzz Feiten Tuning System is the elimination of sharp notes at the
first three frets. This is due to the fact that guitar strings exhibit greater tension at the point of attachment to the nut
than they do further up the fingerboard. This phenomenon, called 'end tension', causes strings to play sharper in pitch
near the point of attachment to the nut - typically the first three frets. The movement of the nut slightly changes the scale
length (the distance from the nut to the bridge) of the strings according to our formulas based on the original scale length,
string gauge and fret width of the guitar. When your guitar is retrofitted with the system, your Authorized Retrofitter uses our
exclusive Shelf Nut that slightly hangs over the fingerboard so that the end of the fingerboard does not need to be cut to
reposition the nut. The entire process is non-intrusive to your instrument making it perfectly acceptable for any guitar
including vintage instruments. Your Authorized Retrofitter will grind the front of the Shelf Nut so that the 'shelf' protrudes
over the top of the fingerboard the exact amount needed to eliminate sharp notes for your particular guitar. This effect is then
integrated into the formulas for the tempering process (adjustment of the bridge saddles) of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.
The two steps, nut movement and tempering, are what balance all the strings across the entire fingerboard in our system. A
capo doesn't replace our nut movement, just as playing a barre chord doesn't. A capo only has the same effect as playing a
barre chord. Please note that when applying the capo, use only enough pressure to hold the string down, the same as you would
when playing a barre chord.
Can the tuning system be installed on my mandolin, classical nylon string guitar, or any other stringed instrument? Yes! Any
fretted, stringed instrument can be retrofited with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. In addition to electric and acoustic guitars
and basses, we’ve retrofitted the system on mandolins, banjos and 'touch-style' instruments. Classical, nylon-string guitars are
notoriously problematic with regards to the tuning inconsistencies of standard intonation. Classical guitars retrofitted with the
Buzz Feiten Tuning System are some of the most dramatic examples of how well the system works.
Reviews and Articles on the Buzz Feiten Tuning System®
Setup of the Stars - Michael Thompson
Guitar Player Magazine - April 2002
Triple Threat: Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan & Dave Larue Rumble on the G3 Tour
Bass Player Magazine - November 2001
Tune Dance - Washburns with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Guitar World Mag. - Sept. 98
World Headlines for the Guitar? Fuzz Magazine puts the Tuning System to the Test
Fuzz - Feb. 98
Stay Tuned : Buzz Feiten takes aim at the gremlin of bad intonation
Acoustic Guitar Magazine - Jan. 98
Buzz Feiten interview
20th Century Guitar - Nov. 97
Musician Magazine -- Editor's pick '97
Steve Vai on the Tuning System
Guitar Magazine. - Oct. 96
You Can Tune A Strat, But Can You Tuna Fish?
Guitar Shop Mag. - Dec. 96
Developer of a Revolutionary Tuning System
Pro Talk
"I've been playing guitar since I was six years old, and it's finally in tune. Congratulations."
- Larry Carlton
"I think it's one of the greatest innovations in guitar technology
- Steve Vai
"What's the buzz about? Perfect intonation. With the Buzz Feiten Tuning System every note, every chord will be in tune across
the entire fretboard. A fundamental requirement but something guitarists have never had until now."
- Adrian Belew
"The effect is so undeniable that we switched over the very next day and we're now making our electric guitars differently. It's
an incredibly pleasing experience to play."
- Tom Anderson/Tom Anderson Guitar Works
"For as long as I can remember, the guitars that my fellow classical guitarists and I have played always sounded slightly out-of-
tune and I just assumed that tuning our instruments was always a matter of compromise - that they would never sound
perfectly in tune in the upper frets if the open strings were in pitch. Having recently discovered Buzz Feiten's amazing system,
I realize that what I had always believed is untrue. A guitar can be in tune in any fret! I would highly recommend his
revolutionary approach to guitar tuning for any performer or builder, no matter what style. It will change your life.
- Liona Boyd
"Amazing, it really works! from the 1st fret on my low E to the 24th fret on my high G, the bass is finally in tune. Having the
1st four frets in tune (not sharp) has made my life in the studio much easier. I'M SOLD!"
- Stu Hamm
"With an amazingly simple adjustment my instruments are now all in tune! The Buzz Feiten Tuning System works. It has
changed my professional life. Now, I can just concentrate on the music at hand with a new found level of confidence! A definite
improvement to my overall performance."
- Jimmy Haslip
"It's a pretty incredible system that really works. I'm not a tuning nut and I never really have been, but his system is so good
that when you really want to get in tune, it makes it possible, whereas before - forget about it. You can never really be in
[tune] with regular guitar tuning. It's in tune all over the neck now, which is something that most guitars aren't."
- Scott Henderson
Players who use the Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Steve VaiLarry CarltonRobben FordRobert FrippAdrian BelewPete AndersonLiona Boyd"Dimebag" DarrellMick MarsMichael
LandauTim PierceDean ParksJackson BrowneDavid CrosbyMichael ThompsonJeff MileyThe California GuitarTrioBobby
CochranStu HammJimmy HaslipRick Bedrosian ( Hair of the Dog ) Ben Bledsoe ( Natural ) Tim Bogert Rich Briere Sekou
Bunch Stephen Bruner (Suicidal Tendencies) Ranam Burch (Native Percent, Bermuda Strollers) Reggie Carson (Underground
Railroad) Jeffrey Carswell (Ed Calle, Jaco Pastorius Big Band) Frank Cheatham Tim Cole (421) Walter Cosby (Julie Dexter)
Bob Croft Joe Csibi (Riverdance, Ireland) Dave Daw Michael Dimin Gail Ann Dorsey(David Bowie) Paul Duke (In His Name)
David Dyson (Bob James, Me'Shell N'degeocello) Hubert Eaves (Erykah Badu) Fima Efron Harvey Estrada (Otis Day and the
Nights) Ethan Farmer Jason Foster Freddie Flewellen Adrian Garcia (KC & the Sunshine Band/Storm) Arnd Geise (Mettalex)
Melvin Gibbs (Rollins Band) Malcolm Gold ( Movin Out) Andrew Gouche Joe Hall (Horizon Praise Band) Jimmy Haslip (Yellow
Jackets) Dave Holland Hughie (Johnny Wishbone\ Rubikon ) Justin Huth Al Improta ( Luciar ) Dave Inamine (Michael Paulo)
Glen Kawamoto (Tish Hinojosa, Jimmie Dale Gilmore) Tim Kelly ( Trace Moran Band ) Booker King Bill Lawrence Markku
Lappalainen( Hoobustank ) Bob Lee Terry Lewis Chris Loftlin (Brian McKnight) Jim Mayer (Jimmy Buffett) Don McGriggs (Gil
Scott Heron) Juan Nelson (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals) Eoghan O'Neill (Riverdance) Chris Parks Patrick Pfeiffer
Lou Reed Rawn Randall Ben Rietveld (Santana) Scot Risch ( South Fm ) Curtis Robertson (Lou Rawls) Greg Rzab Fernando
Saunders Rhonda Smith (The Artist) Melvin Smith (KoKo Taylor) Tom Snellgrove (The Statler Brothers) Tony Steele
(Riverdance) Mike Sterling (Otis Rush) Paul Stitick (Delerium Theory) Norm Stockton Jan Olaf Strandberg James Strong
SUMON ( Aurthohin ) Lori Sunde (Dave Starr) Tom Tafuto (Portable Rainbow) Aubrey Torres ( Jeremy Camp ) Rob Trujillo
(Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves) Bobby Vega Joey Vera Jerry Watts (Andy Summers, Wishful Thinking) Mark White
(The Spin Doctors) Joel Whitley Lionel Williams (Amy Sky) Jim Williams(R.B. Morris) Sue Williams Tim Williams Eric
Winter (Murali Coryell) Tom Witt Vicente Archer
"I'm over the moon about the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. Chords ring so true it's out of this world. It's one small step for the
nut and , one giant step for intonation. After the constant struggle with intonation - some chords being in tune while others
aren't - I can finally hear all my chords and voicings ring true in perfect harmony. The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is a giant
step in the advancement of the guitar." - Lyle Workman
"It increased my efficiency in the studio by 30 percent, because I don't spend all that time messing with my tuning."
- Gary Burnette
"Long overdue and overlooked, this system has finally made the guitar in tune from top to bottom. Radical bends and steel
licks above the 12th fret have never sounded sweeter. I no longer have to fight pitch!"
- Pete Anderson
"Listening to the Anderson 25.5"-scale and 24.75"-scale guitars they brought quickly convinced us of the Buzz Feiten System's
abilities. We know Anderson builds great-sounding guitars, but these were unreal. Gone were the sharp low-register notes.
Close-interval chords sounded much more in tune than they did on any of our guitars, and the bloom of sustained chords was
beyond anything we've heard."
Bench Tests: "The Buzz Feiten Tuning System" Guitar Player Oct. 1996
"Many have attempted ingenious systems to repair the fretting errors, but none have been entirely successful until now...
Listen, do you hear that distant rumble? Sounds like the Big One coming... could it be? Yes, (cue the trumpet fanfare) a
solution is at hand. With it a radical shifting of paradigms for designing and building fretted musical instruments. The Buzz
Feiten Tuning System has arrived.
- Luthiers Mercantile 1997 Catalog
(None of the above may be reproduced without the express written permission of Buzz Feiten Design, Inc) James Herb
SmithJean-Luc LajoieKevin RogersKirk HammetLandon TaylorLarry CraneDann HuffDanny JacobDanny ParksMack
CurtisMark ChatfieldMark GoldenbergMark JacksonMark ThomsonMick MarsGary BurnetteEdie BrickellDon CarrDon
FelderDoug DerryberryDoug WestFernando OlveraJeff King"Bad" Brad HendersonAdam RogersAdrian WilliamsBret
GurwitzAlan GilbertBob SegerAlexander DumbleAllan SlutskyAndre CoutuAndrew KastnerBasil FungBenedict RodriguezDavid
CrowderBrad WhitfordBrent WilsonBrent RowanJoe BraslerMichael CuneoMichael ThompsonMike TurnerNick NolenJeff
StincoJim CorrJoan ArmatradingJohn CarrollKeith HowlandMichael HakesChris LeuzingerChristopher CrossClint BlackCurt
CoffieldDanny WeisDanny WildeDarren DaughtryDave CabreraDavid BarryGawain ReifsnyderGene BlackGeoff
WhitehornGlenn FreyGraham NashGreg LakeHayden NicholasHenry KaiserJack ParkerJack ShawdeMartin BarrePat
KelleyPete AndersonPete NelsonPeter HarrisTony KingPhil CollenTodd ParsnowRichard FortusRod JanzenShawn
PurcellShayne HillSteve EzzoSteve FarrisSteven MackySuriel ZayasTim PierceRichie SamboraRobert McEnteeTim
WomackTimothy DruryTom SanchezTommy ShawTrace RitterTravis BransonVernon ReidVivian CampbellWill McFarlane
Our exclusive 8-point gig ready guitar process …
1. 4-axis Alignment of the guitar neck
Each guitar neck is checked and adjusted to insure that it is true and straight to insure proper alignment on all axis. This step
insures proper action and allows for more accurate and easier guitar tuning, playing and set-up in the following steps.
2. Inspect and Lube the guitar tuning gears
Before installing the guitar tuning gears, each one is checked thoroughly. Each tuning gear is adjusted so that there is no play
in the mechanism. They are then lubricated to insure smooth and even movement to make your guitar tune accurately.
3. Potting the guitar pickups
We dip the pickups in hot wax to reduce squeal and unwanted guitar feedback.
4. Prep the guitar body
Before installing the guitar electronic components, great care is taken to insure that all wires are properly routed, spaced, and
grounded to insure years of trouble free service with your guitar.
5. Level and polish the frets
This insures that all of the guitar frets are level, eliminating any possibility of fret buzz due to unevenness.
6. Radius the guitar strings
Most guitar necks have a contour over the top of the neck. We adjust the strings to make sure that height of each string follows
the contour of the guitar neck.
7. Adjusting the overall guitar string height and the action
Once we set the contour and radius of the guitar strings, it’s time to adjust the overall height of the strings from the top of the
frets to the bottom of the guitar strings.
8. Set the guitar intonation
This step is done twice. The intonation is set two times with a 24 hour "seat-in" period in between to allow the guitar to properly
re-seat to the new adjustments.
1. 4-axis Alignment of the guitar neck
Each guitar neck is checked and adjusted to insure that it is true and straight to insure proper alignment on all axis. This step
insures proper action and allows for more accurate and easier guitar tuning, playing and set-up in the following steps.
2. Inspect and Lube the guitar tuning gears
Before installing the guitar tuning gears, each one is checked thoroughly. Each tuning gear is adjusted so that there is no play
in the mechanism. They are then lubricated to insure smooth and even movement to make your guitar tune accurately.
3. Potting the guitar pickups
We dip the pickups in hot wax to reduce squeal and unwanted guitar feedback.
4. Prep the guitar body
Before installing the guitar electronic components, great care is taken to insure that all wires are properly routed, spaced, and
grounded to insure years of trouble free service with your guitar.
5. Level and polish the frets
This insures that all of the guitar frets are level, eliminating any possibility of fret buzz due to unevenness.
6. Radius the guitar strings
Most guitar necks have a contour over the top of the neck. We adjust the strings to make sure that height of each string follows
the contour of the guitar neck.
7. Adjusting the overall guitar string height and the action
Once we set the contour and radius of the guitar strings, it’s time to adjust the overall height of the strings from the top of the
frets to the bottom of the guitar strings.
8. Set the guitar intonation
This step is done twice. The intonation is set two times with a 24 hour "seat-in" period in between to allow the guitar to properly
re-seat to the new adjustments.
| Instruments for Professionals Realize Your Potential |
| Each Haywire Custom Guitar comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Unique serial number so you can identify your guitar and we can identify our workmanship which is guaranteed a full year. |
| When a guitar is set up properly: the guitar will feel and sound its best all the strings will sound with exactly the notes they are supposed to all notes will sound correct when played at each fret up and down the neck the guitar will be as easy as possible to play strings will break less frequently. If a guitar plays easily and sounds its best then it's easy for the player to feel the music. When a guitar is not set up properly: the guitar may not feel or sound quite right some notes may sound correct while some others may sound sharp or flat the guitar may be difficult to play strings will break more often. |