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String buzz after action was lowered   You are logged in as Guest
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UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

String buzz after action was lowered 
Hello!

I went to a luthier to have my strings action lowered. I was warned that it might buzz a little, but he said he would do some adjustments to counter that as well so I would get the best result.

I got it back and it was much better to play. For flamenco it is amazing, but when playing fingerstyle blues, bossa nova or other styles that are played softer the strings buzz a lot on some of the notes and it annoys me.

Now I don't live in a city anymore and don't have access to professionals who can help me.

Is there anything I can do to counter the buzzing more?

If not, what is the best way to go about in order to get the action higher again?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 10:35:56
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
I might add that I now have high tension strings on my guitar.

What would be the difference if I changed to slmething with lower tension? I always played with strings of high tension.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 10:39:47
 
Stephen Eden

 

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
I would probably just suggest you get another saddle made and change them over. I understand that it going to be a pain if you just want to just want to jump straight from one style to another.

Other than that perhaps you have a few high frets. It may be that the guitar just reacts more to certain pitches which is causing the buzzing. That can be a real pain to fix!

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:03:54
Guest

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
You could just avoid the notes that buzz and annoy you ..?

I think some things could come into play
Technique could be adjusted depending how hard you play
I play a lot of bossa nova , samba and choro on my Conde
I like a bit of growl .. If I want to sweeten it up I play lighter

Ask the luthier where he adjusted the action
If it's just at the bridge/saddle you could shimmy something between the saddle and the slot in the bridge in which it rests
Thin sliver of maple or something ..
If the nut was also adjusted much the same idea ..if it is easy to remove .. Otherwise a new nut.. More problematic
Some other options would include getting two different saddles set at different actions
Sliding them in when the flamenco sound isn't what you want
Buying another guitar so you have two different set ups

I'm assuming nothing else was done during the modification ..

Lower tension strings I imagine would rattle more

Also depends what the guitar is...

There's a start
Best of luck out there ..


SEden and I replied at the same time
Good advice on the frets

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:10:04
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
Have a new saddle made? That sounds very difficult! I live far from the city now so I can't go to a luthier. Any changes has to be done by me, so I would be very happy to keep it as simple as possible.

Do you think I could take the bridge out and slide something under there? A piece of plastic or wood? Is it possible to do something similiar with the nut?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:12:43
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
I think I might have been confusing bridge and saddle with one another

Which one is the white piece the strings rest on?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:15:38
Guest

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
You can buy blank bone saddles from strings by mail
Sit down and file them into submission
I'm no luthier but I can file a piece of bone


Hunt around but here's an example

Use wood not plastic for the shimmy though I imagine something like Kevlar may work
If there's a under saddle pickup again problematic http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/classical-guitar-bone-saddle-blank-rp500-5468.html

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:16:04
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
I didn't see your post there AlVal before I posted.

I have tried to avoid the notes. The worst one is the E on the B string which I quite frequently use. I play quite hard, but when I played bossa nova type of pllugging/fingering I play much softer.

Using a capo on the second or third fret I get the best result, but it is still there.

I will try what you said about shimmy something in between. If not I will have a new saddle made (that is the white thingy yeah?)

Thank you both for great advice!
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:22:30
Guest

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
The white thing indeed
Good luck

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:25:29
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
Didn't see your post again, I'm slow today!

Thanks! I think there might be a pickup under the saddle. The guitar can be plugged in. I will investigate this
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:28:22
Guest

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
Ok
Id probably get someone to do it if that's the case
Then again not all plug ins are under saddle

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 13 2014 12:52:06
 
UnderTheSun

Posts: 46
Joined: May 10 2014
 

RE: String buzz after action was lowered (in reply to UnderTheSun) 
Turns out there is a local music store that does guitar jobs where I have moved. I had my guitar there for them to look at and he said he could fix it.

Now he put on a new saddle and it is huge! I can almost get 1.5 fingers in between the body and strings.

Could I just file the new bridge down a few mm? Anything I should be aware of?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 1 2014 22:12:35
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