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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | OK I think I have a little problem with my B string. It buzzes open and fretted. The high E does buzz when played hard but not nearly to the extent of the B string and not fretted at the first fret. I have checked the set up via all the methods. I have proper relief at the nut (about .004-.005 when capoed at 3). The height at the 12th fret on the high E is 2/32. Not really high but not certainly not low. I would think that if I had a high fret it would be more prevelent on the 2 adjacent strings. G string is fine all the way up that I can tell. Open is not as bad as the first fret and 8th fret. Sounds weird. I have put the capo on the first fret and fretted at 14 to check the neck relief. It is a bit low at about .006 and the relief on the low E is about .012.
Any of you gurus have ideas? |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Someone who knows more than me will be along shortly, but I would be walking up the fretboard looking for the fret at which the buzz stops, then having a real good look at that fret, and possibly a tap with a piece of wood. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Here`s what I did ..
Put a piece o ` FELT ( 1 m/m = Very Thin ) in between NUT and STRING of Offending Strings , and .. Woopteeh .. problem solved ..
Vic |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I was going to suggest that, but won't solve the problem if the buzz occurs when fretted, i.e. it can't be the nut that is the problem (other than the nut who is playing it). |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | You MAY want to also look inside and check if any of the bracing has come up. I have had 2 different guitars recently that have had bracing problems. The way KK at the factory told me to check (aside from looking inside with an inspection mirror and flashlight) was to put your fingers over the strings with your left hand, and "thump" around on the top with the side of your right thumb. If it makes a "snare drum" sound, you have a loose brace. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by bvince:
If it makes a "snare drum" sound, you have a loose brace. Unless it's loose wiring, loose preamp, or battery :p |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Thanks for the replies. I checked the bracing and it is fine. It is the UTE so it is easy to do. No snare drum sound.
I went with a bit heavier string and it seem to take care of 99% of the problem up the neck but I still get a slight buzz when fretting at the first fret. But, only on the B string. If I tune down a half step it is slightly worse as expected. It is almost as if the saddle is not high enough for that string? I checked and there is no great grooving, hardly any at all as the guitar was never really played by the previous owner. I tried to check the fret heights with dial calipers but that is difficult to get any repeatablility. In any case it would buzz on the adjacent strings if the fret were popping up I believe?
As Tafkar said it is fine open and only a problem when fretted so that takes the nut out of the equation. Maybe time to talk to the pros.
On the positive side most of the buzz is gone with the heavier strings and I finally got around to puttng on the set of GHS Infinity Bronze strings I had laying around...I am impressed. They are not nearly as slippery as the exlixers and sound much brighter to my ear. We'll see how they last. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Sounds like you need a setup and a fret check. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Hey thanks for the all suggestions. The guitar was set it up with 11-52s on it and it was fine at that initially. As I mentioned the neck releif on the treble side was about .005-.006 (when capoing a the first fret and holding down at 14) which is not really a lot. He concured. I put the 12-54 lights on it and let it sit overnight and the buzz is basically gone. I had backed off on the truss rod with the 11s on there but I think they just did not have enough pull to get me the relief I needed. The 12s did it. It gave me just enough tension to eliminate the buzz. I think the 11s just did not have enough tension to allow me to adjust the neck to have any more bow. As to why it was the B string only, I am still not sure. Perhaps it vibrates in a bigger elipse than either of the adjacent strings? One of those big guitar mysteries, but the gremlins are gone and all is well. |
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B string buzz
