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Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | This past Monday I noticed the D string was buzzing on my Custom Elite LX. It sounds like it's coming from the bridge area. So, I changed strings yesterday hoping it would help, but it didn't. Reluctantly I took it to my local music store where there are a couple of guys that I trust who know their stuff. I told them that if it's something minor I'll let them handle it, but if it's a major repair I preferred to send it to Conn. to the mother ship. I've only had this guitar for a couple of months or so. It's the one I bought from a guy on Craig's List. I wonder if the shipping from Oklahoma to North Carolina may have knocked something loose inside. Bummer. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Or that's why he was selling it... |
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | It was perfect when it arrived and has been playing beautifully until a few days ago. The seller and I had several very professional, cordial exchanges. He's a doctor in the Tulsa area with many guitars. Seemed like a really nice guy. I don't think he would have knowingly sold me the instrument with a known problem. He was very up front about everything. Since he didn't have any of the original documentation he printed up a bunch of stuff for me that I could have found easily myself. He didn't have to do that. When the guitar arrived I call the mothership and they sent me all the original documentation anyway. |
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Posts: 4067
Location: Utah | Rattles and buzzes can sound like they come from one place when they are really coming from somewhere else. The nuts on the tuner posts can come loose and make buzzes. Wires inside the body can either come loose or shift so they touch a surface and buzz. The tabs which hold the can for the preamp might be loose. Potentially it could be a loose brace. A little glue and a clamp should fix a loose brace.
Don't panic yet. |
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Location: Pueblo West, CO | MeredithI - 2013-04-26 4:40 PM
This past Monday I noticed the D string was buzzing on my Custom Elite LX. It sounds like it's coming from the bridge area. So, I changed strings yesterday hoping it would help, but it didn't. Reluctantly I took it to my local music store where there are a couple of guys that I trust who know their stuff. I told them that if it's something minor I'll let them handle it, but if it's a major repair I preferred to send it to Conn. to the mother ship. I've only had this guitar for a couple of months or so. It's the one I bought from a guy on Craig's List. I wonder if the shipping from Oklahoma to North Carolina may have knocked something loose inside. Bummer.
Also, check to make sure the nuts on the back side of the bridge are tight. (inside the guitar) These loosen with time. (1/4" hex)
Every used O I've bought has had loose nuts that needed to be tightened.
You'll probably need to lightly grip the exposed threads of the bridge screw with a pair of pliers to prevent it from turning as you tighten the nut. I use a small pair of vise grips for this job. Not too tight or you'll deform the threads.
As FlySig recommends, make sure that the tuner nuts and mounting screws are tight, too.
Vibration causes all the nuts and screws to loosen over time and these need to be tightened periodically. I usually check all the nuts and screws every time I change strings. |
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | I sure wish you guys lived in my town! I don't have the confidence to screw around with the mechanics of my instruments. I change my strings, oil my fingerboard, and change the battery in my pre-amp, but that's it. That's as far as I go. I don't mess around with my truss rod, shims, or any screws. I take it to someone I trust to make those adjustments or repairs. As much money as I paid for my instruments I don't want to screw them up. I am a little squeamish about having a non-Ovation tech work on my babies though. There are no authorized Ovation techs near me though. It's at least a 2 hour drive for me to get to one. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Hi Merideth, My daughter and son-in-law just got out of the Corps after he had an injury overseas. They lived in New Bern. Anyways... The nut tightening thing is the easiest thing to check of all the things mentioned so far. Just lay the gutar face down on a bed and remove the rear cover with a screwdriver. take a small crescent wrench in your right hand, and stick your left hand into the back of the guitar, reaching down to the inside connector. Hold it securely while lightly tightening the securing nut. If you're a lefty, just switch it all around the other way (: The other possible issue mentioned can be easily checked at the same time, while the back is open. Just shine a flashlight in the back hole and use an inexpensive inspection mirror to look inside for loose-hanging wires. It doesn't take a tech to check those things, and even if you don't feel confident about doing it yourself, you can take it to downtown NewBern to that little guitar shop and have them check those things for you. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | An Elite LX should not have any screws/bolts on the bridge.
But I would look for the hanging wires.
Also, Does this buzz on the D string all of the time?
Or is it just the Open D note?
I mean, if you play a D note on the A string... Do you get the same buzz?
Like a harmonic vibration to that particular note?
(just curious)
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | It's only on that string, not any D on any string. If I finger any note on that 4th string it buzzes for a split second then stops. It is easiest to hear if I hit the harmonic on the 12th fret. The buzz goes on and on and only dies out as the vibration of the note fades.
The only "guitar shop" in New Bern is the guys at Fuller Music. I know the owner well and I'm well acquainted with the guys there. Nice guys, but no Ovation guys among them. |
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Location: Pueblo West, CO | MeredithI - 2013-04-29 1:19 PM
I sure wish you guys lived in my town! I don't have the confidence to screw around with the mechanics of my instruments. I change my strings, oil my fingerboard, and change the battery in my pre-amp, but that's it. That's as far as I go. I don't mess around with my truss rod, shims, or any screws. I take it to someone I trust to make those adjustments or repairs. As much money as I paid for my instruments I don't want to screw them up. I am a little squeamish about having a non-Ovation tech work on my babies though. There are no authorized Ovation techs near me though. It's at least a 2 hour drive for me to get to one.
Art,
Thanks for the info. I thought all Ovations had screws and nuts through the bridges, so I guess you learn something new every day.
Meredith,
There's really nothing scary about tightening things like the tuner nuts or screws.
I use a modeling 4-way wrench like the one below. There's zero-chance of it slipping off and scratching the finish on either the wood or the tuners.
These wrenches are available from your local hobby store for less than $10 or they can be ordered online from companies like Tower Hobbies. (See: Dubro 4-Way Socket Wrench)It has 4 sizes: 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" & 1/2" and will also fit 8, 10, 11 & 12mm. The smallest size does have an insert to hold glow plugs, but this can be easily slid out since it's not needed for guitar use. 
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Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | MeredithI - Nice guys, but no Ovation guys among them. who knows, maybe you'll be the local Ovation advocate that enlightens them!
If you're too uncomfortable to DIY, then discuss the issue(s) with them, evaluate their response (you're obviously smart enough to tell if it's bogus). Double check back here if you're uncertain. I'd hope/expect that if they're good luthiers as well as "good guys" they ought to be capable of sorting this out for you. And since you don't have a nearby "authorized" option available, I wouldn't be too concerned about it unless the Ovation in question was still under warranty. just my 2¢ |
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | Since I'm not the original owner I can't claim any warranty work on this Custom Elite. I don't really understand why the warranty doesn't go with the guitar rather than the owner. |
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Posts: 4067
Location: Utah | I'm going to guess it is either something loose in the tuning machine or inside the saddle maybe. It isn't pitch sensitive, it is string specific. If there is a loose nut or loose screw in the tuner it can cause buzzing. The saddle seems less likely to me, but it is an assembly so I suppose it is theoretically possible something internal to the saddle is vibrating.
Also, take a good look at the saddle where the string goes over it. They can deform a little bit. I take a small file and remove the bumps on the front and back of the top ridge. A hard material would not smear, but the plastic in the Ovation saddle does smear a bit. Perhaps the string is buzzing against that little bit of smear.
The nut can cause buzzing if the slots are worn. However it would not happen on fretted notes because the string doesn't really vibrate at the nut. You could though try damping the string at the nut while playing open and fretted notes to see if the buzz goes away. |
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Buzzing D string
