Fraser Welsh Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 On my acoustic (A relativly cheap but quite good quality dreadnaught) there's always been an annoying rattle that seems to come from the headstock/neck. It's not always there though, but seems to be focused around the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings when it is. I've tried everything I can think of (tightening screws, changing action etc.) but can't seem to permanately get rid of it, any ideas? By the way I bought it second hand so unfortunately there's no warranty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Have you checked the height of those frets in question? There are a couple of things that can be causing this. The nut could be cut too low. The frets too high. Style of playing. More info is needed. Also wait for more answers from some of the more experienced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Think there is any chance the truss rod is rattling around inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renablistic Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 i have a feeling it isn't fret buzz. He said he tried to change string action a bit. Brian i think you might be on to something.. and if it was the truss rod rattling around... well that would really suck.The slots in the nut might me too wide, so the strings are buzzin' around. I'm not sure what nut you have, but pics 'll help. Hittin' up the easy to fix possibilities first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 It's definately more of a rattle than a buzz, and does seem to be comming from the neck (though it's difficuillt to tell.) Strange thing is the buzz isn't always there and I can't seem to find a reson for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted February 6, 2004 Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 Tuning machines might be a bit loose. does it buzz only when the stings are played "open" or does it also, or instead, buzz when strings are fretted ? Try to press a little on the strings behind the nut and see if it goes away. or wrap something , like a cloth around the strings behind the nut to see if that makes it go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrock Posted February 6, 2004 Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 gIVE THE GUITAR A SHAKE AND SEE IF IT STILL RATTLES. (AAAAhhhhhhhhhh caps lock). My initial guestimate would be the truss rod but there's far more experienced than me here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted February 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 It does seem to be the open strings rather than the fretted ones and it dosen't rattle when it's shook. When I originally bought the guitar it had a furrel from the machine heads missing which is what I thought was causing the rattle but I've fitted a new one and it's still there. Perhaps a new set of machine heads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Well, open strings means you can pluck the strings and have one hand free to "try stuff" (don't get the wrong idea about that). I mean you could squeeze the tuner parts with your hand to see if the rattle stops I wouldn't plan on replacing them yet. If it's them, probably something could be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted February 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Actually on closer inspection it's not just the open strings, though it's definately more prominant on the 3rd - 5th strings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 try tightening your tuning heads. and maybe the nut worn down at 3/5th string. actually the real nordic god had this problem yesterday with his dean bass. but that was a combination of his neck completly bowed and action messed up. so we had to set the action very high but the bridge was messed so we put dowels under it. long story short it turned out to be the bridge rattling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJohn Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 For an inexpensive guitar you can slide a small thin washer between the plate and the gear.Also try pressing,(fron nut to heel or reverse depending on location),on the truss rod while it is rattling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted March 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Thanks for the help... I'm pretty sure it's the truss rattling (definately comming from the neck) which isn't particularly reassuring...will adjusting the rod help, or is it a lost cause? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJohn Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 The rod could be glued in place and causeing a bind that lets an internal washer float around.An adjustment may help.Also,try wiggling the nut.Some are loose and certain frequencies may cause it to rattle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser Rob Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Please don't mess with the truss rod yourself if you don't know what you're doing. It's probably not broken or the neck'd resemble a ski jump. If you tap the back of the neck you should be able to tell if it's the tuning keys or not. The rod may be too loose and rattling, which may be solved by switching to higher tension strings. However, this sounds like a job for a repair shop. Truss rods can be fussy and overdoing it with the wrench is a good way to ruin them. If you want a good source of info, www.frets.com is the best I've seen. www.fretnotguitarrepair.com has a really good article on truss rods. Hope this gives you some idea of what you're dealing with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted March 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 That might be the key to the solution...the guitar's fitted with 10s which I gather is quite light for an acoustic...I'll try some higher guage strings next time (she's due a restring anyway) I'll kick myself if it was that simple all along! Thanks for the advice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickleweaseler Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 I have a 70s Epiphone that had a tuner rattle. I just bent the worm gear retainer until it was tight. Doesn't rattle anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraser Welsh Posted March 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 Well...she's strung up with a nice new set of 12s, and the rattle's now only there if I give it a big whack, which obviously I tend not to do so I think that can be considered a sucess... Thanks for all the help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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