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Posts: 3533
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
buzz help?
Okay, I changed the strings on my guitar, and eventually noticed that the high e string was buzzing when i played it open. I changed the string to another brand and it still did it. The buzz occurs when I play it more than mf open, and if I play fairly hard fretted on 1. I guess that means there is something wrong with the nut? Any ideas on how to narrow down the problem?
You could put a paper under the head-bone but it will become more difficult to play the guitar al aire. In general I think its ok if a flamencoguitar snares a bit.
Tension change? Changing strings - not all strings are the same gauge. My Rodriguez seems to prefer Reg' Tension, D'Addario Composite. I tried Hard Tension Galli Composite - nooooo...way too 'tinny' - and they buzzed.
Did you pull ALL the strings off at once? Or one at a time? If you took them all off, it can take awhile to settle in. That may be it, too.
And do NOT add paper under the saddle or bridge nuts. If you have to shim, shim with ebony wood or make a new bone piece (harder to do on a bridge nut).....
And do NOT add paper under the saddle or bridge nuts. If you have to shim, shim with ebony wood or make a new bone piece (harder to do on a bridge nut).....
Just things I've learned...
Ramon
Because of the sustain? Hm, i have paper under bridge and under saddle. Its just a tiny little bit of paper, i dont know how i could find such thin wood?
I had a luthier 'set up' my guitar, and when he pulled the bridge nut off, he found a slim piece of very soft wood.... The look he gave me.....
Sort of answered the question of using soft wood or paper. Up to you, though!!
A better wood supply store, maybe hobby, order something small fom eBay (Luthiers/Building Kits) - someone there might make you a piece to thickness, a guitar shop that services, a cabinet shop.... I made an ebony one once. Just a small sanding block I made, razor blade....super thin.
For all the effort, best to have another nut made that you can have as a backup. I now have 3 or 4 in a box of 'parts'....
Paper under the bridge isnt good, coz there the vibration is transmitted from the strings to the soundboard. But under the saddle (top of the guitr) its really no problem. You could use flat Steirchhoelzer. Or plastic from a CD box.
The diagnosis is complex because I changed strings, and the action is low anyway. I changed from high tens. Galli to high tens. Savarez. The Savarez had the buzz and it also had defective tuning. Then I put in a med. tens. La Bella. The buzz was worse. Now I put on some extra high tens. D'Addario. Still buzz. Then I put a shim of 1 layer of paper under the string. Buzz is gone!
It looks like I gave misinformation because the 1st fret buzz was probably unrelated. It's been humid around here, I hope that is the problem. I don't like playing with extra high tension strings!
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