6. The Buzz Feiten Story

A Remedy for Depression author: Hansi Tietgen

The problem: Regardless of the quality, the tuning, the setup of a guitar, it somehow always sounds a wee bit out of tune. A somewhat usable tuning is thus merely a compromise - the proverbial lesser evil.

If you tune a guitar in a way which allows the normal open chords to be more or less regular, you'll experience intonation issues in the higher tonal positions.

The story: Although the problem itself was obvious, old formulas and experiences handed down through the ages served as the benchmark for calculating the scale and setting up the intonation. These inherited bits of knowledge were based upon a method developed by piano tuners in the 16th century: the equal temperament.

The core of the system is an approach undoubtedly correct from a mathematical standpoint; however, it may lead in practical application to the aforementioned tonal depressions. Over time, several innovative guitarists developed various solutions, though none ever achieved a truly satisfying result.

The Buzz Feiten Tuning System

The solution: It is exactly here that our hero enters the stage. Buzz, being among the busier session guitarists, was of course often confronted with slight tuning issues on his tools of the trade. As he was always ready and eager to experiment, Buzz started to rebuild some of his prized possessions quite early on, in order to make things easier for himself. Thus, he started to re-measure the strings with an expensive tuner, one which was actually intended for use with grand pianos.

He started to try out different intonation models, but had also experimented with moving the bridge to various positions. Him being a meticulous guy, each and every step was documented, which made it possible for him to reproduce every positive result. The additional effort was well worth it, as after he blessed various guitars of his with certain reconstructions, he got closer and closer to his preferred solution.

The formula applied generally for fret placement had been developed by Pythagoras ages ago. It contains an omission, however: the stiffness of the string leads to a quite apparent sonic discord. This was only the beginning, though. So far, we have only been talking about bridge placement, and all you can improve by changin this is the intonation of the first three frets.

Thus, he began to explore the relations of the strings to each other themselves. We all know what it is like: you set up the intonation - utter perfection, a few chords even sound pristine, totally in tune. Other, though, sound appalling. The question arises: what is the issue despite the right setup? The answer: the entire intonation model must have been wrong in the first place! To take the tone pitch of the 12th fret alone as a reference is a mistake.

It represents the idea of a pure tuning, which will sound right in a single given key only. Buzz had gone on to use highly accurate tuning devices to develop models allowing him to determine the perfect divergence on the 12th fret. He ended up with "tempered tuning charts", which were basically just columns of mathematic figures helping him to properly adjust the intonation.

Buzzy would later have the combination of an alternative intonation model and the special positioning of the bridge he found patented under the moniker 'The Buzz Feiten Tuning System'. This tuning system has nowadays become established as the surefire method for a good sound, and more and more guitar players from all over the world have their axes modified by authorized retrofitters.

There are a few member of the world's Premier Guitar League among the happy customers:

• Larry Carlton: I've been playing the guitar since I was six, and it's finally also tuned right. Congrats!
• Adrian Belew: 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.
• Scott Henderson: It's a pretty incredible system that really works. You can never truly tune a regular guitar. It's in tune all along the neck now, which is something that most guitars aren't.
• Steve Vai: One of the greatest discoveries in the history of guitar development!

Bass players also swear on Buzzy's invention:

• Stu Hamm: 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. My life in the studio has become much easier. I'm sold!
• Jimmy Haslip: With an amazingly simple adjustment my instruments are now all in tune! The BFTS 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.