Official Luthiers Forum!

i've got a buzz that i can't solve and was hoping i could get advice on how to locate the problem.

its a metallic buzz only on the A string when when played hard. the buzz is worst when the sting is played open but at certain frequencies it is there up the neck as well. i can play the same notes on other stings but no buzz. i can't see any braces loose and putting my hand in there hasn't changed anything. it is definitely not fret buzz or the truss rod. i thought it might have something to do with how the ball of the string is sitting but getting my hand in there hasn't changed anything.

any ideas?

what methods do you use to isolate and find the source of a buzz?

many thanks!

_________________
http://www.wideskyguitars.com
https://www.instagram.com/wide_sky_guitars/

There are only a limited number of things that can cause a buzz. Whenever I get a guitar that is buzzing I work through a checklist that looks something like this

Does the string buzz when open only? When fretted only? Or both?

Open only buzz
-nut slot could be to low and buzzing on the first fret
-improper break angle at the nut or saddle

Fretted only buzz
-improper break angle over the saddle
-fret buzz caused by high fret/loose fret or improperly crowned frets (you can get some weird buzzing if the fret are flat on top)


Buzzing while open or fretted
-improper break angle over saddle
-loose brace/loose hardware (tuners, pickup/electronic components)
-action may be to low for the guitar to be played hard without some buzz/poor setup for playing style

Buzzes can be tricky, but I've found that if I go at it methodically I can usually find it.

Josh

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

thanks josh h!

i worked on the break angle of the nut and saddle and that made a dramatic difference! why is that? it hadn't occurred to me that that could have an effect.

_________________
http://www.wideskyguitars.com
https://www.instagram.com/wide_sky_guitars/

well i'm still on the search. i think my ears were too optimistic after working on the break angles and when i tuned the guitar back up i was sharp of 440. for some reason the problem is really present at 440.

there is still some buzz even when fretting the highest fret. i'm thinking it might be a loose glue joint somewhere. does that make sense?

_________________
http://www.wideskyguitars.com
https://www.instagram.com/wide_sky_guitars/

The nut slot should have a light tilt in the same direction as the peg head to ensure the the string is coming of the front of the slot. If the nut slot is filed flat, or even has a slight angle in the opposite direction, it means the string is likely not resting on the front of the slot. Instead it may be resting in the middle or at the back of the slot. When you pluck the string it is then vibrating within the slot creating the buzz. The same thing can happen at the saddle if the top of your saddle has a flat spot.

Is this a guitar you built yourself? It is possible that a bad glue joint is the problem, but it may not be. You can also check the bottom of the saddle to insure that it is properly seated in the slot. If the buzzing is coming from a loose brace or piece of hardware you can sometime find it by applying pressure to different parts of the guitar while you play the note. For example, hold onto each tuner button individually while plucking the note, apply light pressure to the back of the tuning machine itself. Press on the bass side of the saddle and then the treble side. The wings of the bridge, various position of the top and back are also places to try.

The weirdest buzzing problem I ever dealt with was on a guitar that had a few improperly crowned frets. I was dead sure the buzz was coming from the bridge area and tried everything I could think off. After exhausting all the regular methods I examined the frets. I could see a few flat spots and decided to re-crown them all in a last ditch effort. I re-crowned the frets properly and the buzz entirely disappeared. I'm not saying this is the problem with yours, it only illustrates the point that you can think the buzz is coming from one part of the guitar (and it may really sound like it) when it is actually caused by something on another part of the instrument.

Hope this helps.

Josh

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

thanks josh, this is a great help and lots to think about.

this is my first build and although i'm a cabinet and furniture maker and really was conscious about getting good coverage, i could have not glued something adequately.

i've been thinking i'll take a look at the frets and truss again. i've been convinced the buzz was coming from within the box but like you said it is hard to tell where sound is coming from.

_________________
http://www.wideskyguitars.com
https://www.instagram.com/wide_sky_guitars/