What to do when a Luthier isn't an option?

[Majik]

For pickup heights, it’s best to reference the manufacturer’s specs.

For example:

Pickup Heights and Pickup Height Adjustment

https://fendercustomersupport.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-us/knowledgebase/article/KA-01939

Cheers,

Keith

[Lefteris]

@sequences

If you know about the magnetics,

I want to dust off the magnetism and electro-magnetism (also the electronics) chapters of my books but I’ve spread myself thin and putting this off all the time

The Ibanez S series guitars look great and feel great. I had tried one in a store and liked how it felt!

[LamphunLamyai]

I’ve used the straight edge on my String Action Gauge and the frets don’t seem high.
I’m going to try Richard’s suggestion and just raise the string saddle height a tad bit and see if that makes a difference.

[LamphunLamyai]

@Richard_close2u

Just one fret buzzes with one string?
A guitar tech might analyse that easily to determine the cause - not so easy remotely. Given it is a Strat, raise that string’s saddle a small amount using the two grub screws that adjust the saddle height. Try 1/4 of a turn at first. Loosen the string, turn the screws, re-tune.

Hey Richard. I finally hauled the Strat out of its case tonight. Raised the string but that didn’t solve the issue. I have very solid fret buzz but only that 5th string 7th fret. However, I hooked it up to my amp and to be honest, I don’t hear it thought the amp.

Fyi. I may have found a luthier here in Chiang Mai. I did find a luthier from Chiang Mai but he now lives in Australia. But I gave me the phone number and FB page of someone he recommended here in Chiang Mai. Thai and not an English speaker, but I can work around that.

On a side note (but important in a sorta self-analytical manner), I’ve noticed that I “pull” the guitar neck with my fretting hand. I just noticed that yesterday as I was cursing the God’s Of Guitar for whacko intonation issues.
“Ah-huh. Relax the hand and arm. Whao! I’m literally pulling notes sharp.”
That’s not to say there aren’t intonation issues between the 1st and 5th fret on the 6th and 5th strings - there are - but my grip on the neck as making it much worse.

Then another revelation. I guessing the air conditioner in my room is affecting the neck as well. In between practice I either hang in on a guitar stand or lay it on my bed. The A/C blows down on the bed. I’ve let it sit there while doing other stuff, then picked it up and played and it sounds awful. Check the tuning and adjust, by then check the intonation up and down the neck and it’s wayyyyy off.
So now I keep the guitar in it’s case or hang it out of range of the A/C fan.

I’m slowly figuring out the external factors affecting the intonation of the guitar.