• Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Topic: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

It's an inexpensive guitar that I've played the snot out of for a while.  It's been banged around in my truck and tripped over at campfires and generally treated like the guitar of someone who enjoys playing outdoors with friends. 

So, I'm thinking it's possible that this is a bridge issue. 

I change strings regularly.  I know how to fret the chords.  The buzz is a recent thing. 

Thoughts?  I'm considering replacing the bridge with a bone or a Tusq bridge and having the tech set it up at the same time.  I'm guessing that will be less expensive than a new guitar, and I'm going to keep this one regardless because no matter how good of a guitar I get ever, I'm still going to need a campfire beater. 

Any idea on the right value for labor I ought to be paying? 

- Zurf

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2 Reply by wlbaye (edited by wlbaye 2010-03-01 15:06:48)

  • wlbaye
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  • From: Black Hills So Dak
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,284

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

Zurf,

I am not sure if you control your humidity or not , but I've found humidity and temp changes my biggest enemies in trying to keep my guitars in top shape. My solid wood guitars are affected way more than my laminate guitars but they all go out of tune with our humidity problems here. My Martin guitar usually starts buzzing on the G string when it starts drying out. I have a humidifier near my guitars now and that has taken care of my dry guitar issue. Winters seem to be hard on guitars , when we are heating our homes.

Good luck,

Later, Wayne P

wlbaye's Website

  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

wlbaye wrote:

Zurf,

I am not sure if you control your humidity or not , but I've found humidity and temp changes my biggest enemies in trying to keep my guitars in top shape. My solid wood guitars are affected way more than my laminate guitars but they all go out of tune with our humidity problems here. My Martin guitar usually starts buzzing on the G string when it starts drying out. I have a humidifier near my guitars now and that has taken care of my dry guitar issue. Winters seem to be hard on guitars , when we are heating our homes.

Good luck,

+1 on Wayne's advice. I live in the Northeast and this is the worst year I can remember for dry conditions. I've got buzzing and dead spots on just about all the hollowbodies I own. Those little humidifiers are supposed to help. For 10 or 15 dollars you coudl that a go. Cheaper than a set up that will just need to be done again in a couple months. Usually my old Yamaha is impervious to climate chanegs but even old faithful is "feeling it". I wouldn't panic, it's probably just the weather.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

+2 on checking the humidity! Chances are that's the culprit. However, if that's fine, you may want to check your frets out. The b and e strings seem to be the first to get divets in the frets. The smaller diameter wears the frets faster. So you may need a little leveling and crowning done. If both of those are good I'd just give it a slight truss rod adjustment... For a mild buzz, 1/8 turn (counter clockwise/loosening) of the truss rod will more than likely solve the problem.  You can pinpoint the bad or high fret that's causing the buzz by simply placing a piece of paper between the fret and string and see if the buzz mutes. Try that on the frets before and after the actual fretting point to see if it's a nut issue or bridge issue. If it quitens it when placed before the fretting point (towards the nut), the nut slots are probably worn, if after (towards the bridge) than the saddle could have some wear or need to be raised/replaced... If you find a single high fret you can spot sand it with some 600 to lower it and solve the problem.

Unless you have a usp (under saddle pickup) I'd choose bone over tusq. Tusq has a more consistent density resulting in more balance sound transfer for pickups. Bone sounds slightly better (IMO) but can be inconsistent with USP's causing some strings to sound more pronounced when plugged in. I'd think you could get a new saddle shaped and installed for aprox $50-60 including some minor set-up tweaking. -Pix

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
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Guitarpix's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 192

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

I just got a "Dampit" for the same reason. It's the time of year.

  • From: Alabama Gulf Coast
  • Registered: 2008-06-24
  • Posts: 1,819

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

If your guitar has a adjustable bridge, raising the right side a tiny bit may eliminate the buzz. You can lower it back in the summer when the temperture swings are less.

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  • From: Tooele Ut
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 4,049

Re: Getting some buzz on the b and e strings.

I use a Dampit year round here.  It sure helps.  It even closed up a tiny crck that started on the back of my guitar.

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