Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by William H Bonney on March 25, 2013 at 11:54am

Not sure. I would have to see the nut/peg head end.Are the string slots the right size per each string? It seems that your first build worked so if it is the same I would assume this build should also.

Permalink Reply by Marcus P. Clarke on March 25, 2013 at 12:03pm

I agree that the string slots are to sloppy. I have had the same problem but since I bought some nut files the problem has all but disappeared.

Permalink Reply by Michael Recchione on March 25, 2013 at 12:21pm

Do you mean you hear a buzz coming from the nut?  Does it only happen when the string is played open?  Or does it also buzz when you play the string stopped at some fret position other than open?  If the latter, it's probably not the nut, but a high fret, which is a different problem to solve. 

If it is a nut issue, the good news is that it's easily fixed without replacing the nut (usually).  There are two possible causes: that the string coming from the tuner is actually higher than the bottom of the slot, or that the slot is not cut properly - either too wide, or sloping downward towards the bridge. 

If the string is higher than the bottom of the slot, coming from the tuner, you can fix that by using a holddown-guide to pull it down into the slot.  I've used round-head brass screws, driven partially into the headstock, for this (a very low-tech way to do it), but if you look at the pictures section of this site, you'll see loads of creative and decorative guides to accomplish this same thing - it's a common issue with CBGs because the neck is usually made of a single 1x2, without a proper scarf joint for the headstock.

If the string coming into the nut from the tuner is lower than the bottom of the nut slot, then the problem is probably either that the slot was cut too wide, or that the bottom of it slopes down towards the bridge, so the point of contact is not at the most forward part of the slot.  I usually cut my slots such that the bottom is sloped down towards the tuners, so the highest point is facing the bridge.  And yes, I've had to fix them after putting the strings on, as part of the final set-up of the guitar, using a dovetail saw to recut them so they slope down towards the tuners, and a diamond file to make sure it's smooth.  I don't know if it's common for others, but I usually have some fettling to do with the nut, the bridge and frets to get the low action and clean sound I want from the guitar.

If the slots are too wide, you can shim them with a little piece of aluminum foil in the slot, under the string.  That may sound a little cheesy, but I've actually seen it recommended by people who set-up fine guitars, professionally. 

In the future, you might consider not gluing down the nut.  I've glued down nuts on CBGs, but I've read that the nut should NEVER be glued in, just held in by string tension.  I guess that makes fixing stuff like this a lot easier...

Permalink Reply by Peter J Thorne on March 25, 2013 at 12:41pm

I had the exact same headake on my third build about a month ago, it took me a little bit of time to locate the buss at the nut what I did is press lightly down on the problem string with a guitar pick right at the nut, if the buzzing stops when you press in front of the nut then compensate by carefully filing the string slot behind the nut, if the buzz is happening behind the nut then do the opposite in front of the nut and hopefully you have enough nut to ever so slightly cut the slot deeper on the opposite side of the nut. It takes very little! 

Permalink Reply by Tim LaFave on March 29, 2013 at 12:28pm

It helps sometimes to identify the fret that is 'buzzing", and gently file it down until it rings free.

Permalink Reply by Tom Baugues on April 1, 2013 at 9:57am

I solved the string buzz by adding a string tree. Thank you all for your help. I do have another issue I want to bring up however. This guitar does not play near as loud as my first guitar. Boxes are pretty close to same size. When hooking them up to an amp if I set my amp for the first guitar then just unplug the guitar and plug in the second one it is a very big difference. What could be some reasons why one plays loader than the other. Im guessing the way the lid sits on the Piezo??????

Permalink Reply by Tim LaFave on April 1, 2013 at 3:10pm

Might be any number of things; not the same volume of space inside the box, different kind of wood in the box, different thickness of the wood, piezo may not be making direct or efficient contact, or wiring may be compromised, volume pot no good ... to name some possibilities?

Permalink Reply by Tom Baugues on May 16, 2013 at 1:16pm

ok...I fixed the vibration by using a string tree above the nut....worked great. Now.....

My newest is also a three string built the same way with same pickup and all however....I can tune it to G,D,G and the tone is real good but when I push a string down the notes tend to sound sour. It never did this on my first guitar so I'm really confussed as tho what to look for.

Permalink Reply by HarleyTodd on May 27, 2013 at 5:55pm

Sounds like your action so too high...I.e. string is too high above fretboard, and thus, when you play a note by fretting a string, the string has to stretch and it throws off the tone. Chicken bone John has a good vid on YouTube about this. If it is a fret less, built only for slide, uyou can have a high action. But if fretted, try to go no more than 2 millimeters. I try to be less than thickness of a nickel.