I'm just trying to finish off my first build and I've hit a problem that I just can't seem to solve.. If I pluck each string going up the scale I get a lovely clear sound, smooth even and bang on tune.. The problem is when I strum all 3 strings I get this nasty vibration along with the chord.. The vibration increases with the intensity of the strum..
I doesn't appear that it is coming from any buzzing on the next fret.. I've tried raising and lowering the action but it hasn't helped..
Does anyone have any ideas..
Cheers..
Tags:
Eric, i can only suggest checking the bridge and nut are seated well, and not moving at all, from your photo, it appears that long brown strip is your bridge, and if so that looks like a good place to start, a bridge with that large a footprint as it appears to have lends itself to varying pressures over it's length and might be causing some vibration in areas outside the strings loading zone. If that bridge is not glued down, i'd try a piece of hardwood or steel just a bit wider than the strings width and see if that stops the vibration, just do it as a temporary measure to see if it helps. The picture doesn't show the contact area very well, but that is the most obvious starting place to my eye
That pic was just one of many attempts.. yes in that shot that long strip is the bridge but I have tried long bridges, short bridges and metal bridges but it makes no difference.. The nut is really well recessed into the neck and solid..
I've tried fitting a small block of wood directly under the bridge between the neck and the box lid and that has no effect either..
I'm a bit worried about gluing the bridge to the box lid just in case it doesn't cure the problem and then I have to try and somehow get it off and possibly damaging the lid in the process..
Make sure the tuners are tight at the back. There is a metal object on the head, can this be removed? If it's decorative try the guitar without it.
When I get a vibration issue I get a big golfball size blob of blue tack (I don't know if it's called this in the USA) and start sticking it to various bits on the guitar. Both inside and out. The most difficult one to find was a small washer on the underside of my volume pot that I has mistakenly put on before a height adjusting bolt. I have also found a wire from my electrics vibrating against the soundboard.
Could you box lid be vibrating against the Box? Is there anything loose like the edge of a paper decoration?
Try the blue tack trick on all the parts on the outside. It's heavy weight stops the vibration and you get closer to its source.
Real Head-Scratcher...only there when you play a chord but not individual notes? Is that when you bar a chord or playing all open strings? or both?
Strum the string and press on the box lid, bridge, nut and other objects to see if the vibration noise stops.
Surprised you still haven't found it Eric, like others have said you need to eliminate any potential moving/loose parts, maybe tape anything suspect down tight while you go through it, don't forget to check your pick up, and wiring etc, an extra long wire might be looping and making contact when you close the box, also check your string tee/guide, it might be better to have the strings firmly touching it rather than "just" missing it. It's just an elimination process now i think, 1 thing at a time
Many thanks for the input guys, it's very much appreciated..
I've rechecked the wiring in the box and none of it is vibrating against the lid..
When I did the build I glued and screwed a small length of wood along the inside of the box so that when I close the lid I can secure the lid to the body of the box by 3 small screws so that is pretty solid..
I've rechecked all the tuners and they are all well screwed in and tight..
One thing I have tried just now that has made a sizable improvement is that I put in a metal bridge (an Allen key) that had no grooves filed in it for the strings to sit in.. Up until now every thing I have used as a bridge I just naturally grooved as I thought that was the norm..
The nut is also and Allen key that I had put grooves in so I turned that around so that again the strings did not sit in them and that improved it again.. The fault is still there but it has been somewhat diminished.. I think with perseverance I'll get there.. I think it was Henry Ford who said that if you get it right the first time then you've done something wrong..
Just one more thing though.. I've tuned it to the open G tuning G-D-G but when I strum it with nothing barred my little digital meter says it's a D chord..
I
Tuners are just like guidance teachers, don't treat them like priests.
Add a couple of free ones to your phone apps (if you have one) and make a best guess based on all of them and your ears.
Cheers JL, buzz is exactly the word for it.. Having done a lot of playing about with it the problem seems to definitely coming from the bridge.. Bearing in mind those pics of yours I'll start experimenting with some shapes..
I have to be honest I don't know the first thing about guitars, hell I can't even play one so I'm really flying blind..
I just this year turned 60 and after a lifetime of building and restoring bikes I've had enough and am looking for a new direction in life.. I love music, especially the blues and I figure you're never too old to try something new so here I am besides I still get to tool about in the shed..
One thing I did try last night was changing the tuning from open G to open A and man what a difference.. Yeah that buzz is still there but it's almost imperceptible.. Whether it's the size and shape of the box or the type of strings I'm using I have no idea but it went from sounding pretty average but good to sounding absolutely crash damn hot, even if I do say so myself.. Now all I have to do is teach myself how to play the damn thing.. :)
I'm more or less using this build as a test bed to find out as many pitfalls as possible and then be able to correct and improve with the next one..
Tuning up to open A made it buzz less, hmm, a clue, more string tension made it less....
Fret buzz could be lessened by more tension making the relief increase, bridge or nut not seated flatly could buzz less under more pressure, tuners loose in the holes could buzz less when tighter....others????
BYW I'm 50 and just started riding a motorcycle this year.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. yesterday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by A.D.EKER on Wednesday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango on Tuesday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 20. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!