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First build issue

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..

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 3, 2016 at 10:41am

Hi, the first thing I noticed was the long string distance from nut to tuner post. This may cause the string behind the nut to vibrate being as it not as tight as it could be. Dampen this area, if that works fit some string trees.
Just a thought. Taff

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on November 3, 2016 at 8:13pm

The slots in a nut and bridge are supposed to angle downwards toward the tuners for the nut and towards the rear/tail of the guitar. If the slots are just straight across, that could be your problem. Also the strings should have a healthy "Break Angle" over the nut and bridge to the tuners and tail piece. Usually 3 to 8 degrees.

Little problems like this can be hard to locate and irritating. Don't loose it, remain calm and you'll find the problem eventually.

If you want another old bike to restore, I got one for sale. Haha

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Permalink Reply by Eric Shepherd on November 4, 2016 at 9:02pm

The reason for that extra long headstock was my first stuff up.. It seems that not all YouTube tutorial videos are created equal :) When I first cut and shaped it I had this feeling it was way too long but I carried on only to find out that the dimensions given gave it a scale length more of a short scale bass than a guitar..

Unfortunately I had already shaped and rounded the back of the neck and it pretty much made it impossible to move the tuners forward, it was either that or make a whole new neck.. As this build is my test bed for learning I just carried on knowing I'd be making more mistakes as I went..

I made a clever little adjustable doo hecky to pull the strings down at a good angle over the nut..

It was motorsport day today with my son so nothing got done but I'll be remaking both the nut and the bridge tomorrow and see how that shapes up..

So what bike do you have for sale, I've built everything from dirtbikes to dragbikes and back again, it'll have to be something pretty darn special to pull me out of two wheel retirement.. I still ride but if I'm to break out the spanners again you'd better be selling a 1915 Cyclone board track racer for $50.. :)