3 strings buzz, 3 don't? Acoustic guitar

[CoolCat]

I noticed my acoustic is having some buzzing on the g,b,e- high strings.
It seems its all the way on the neck, all frets and even more so with the g.

i've been reading some threads, and will leave it at that.

really can't afford to put anything in this guitar, though I'm very happy with it over the past 16 or so years.

don't even know what string gauge it was setup with, the strings have just randomly been thrown on this guitar.
Blue Steels the past 6 sets or so and just now notice the buzzing. ( I'm a bit sloppy with the finer details of guiatr luthierism-setups).

super-soft strumming = no buzzing.

Always tuned the standard tuning.

the heavier E,A,D are fine.

Can the weather have that much influence? It has been dry, warm where the guitar is at.

thats about all i can tell.

 

[muttley600]

Are the open strings buzzing. Is it buzzing above the 14th fret? What action do you have? Top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the 12th fret. I would suspect a problem with neck relief if its buzzing all the way up the neck. The weather can have a big impact on setup.

 

[Light]

It sounds to me like you probably are having humidity related problems. Get a good humidifier (the Kyser Lifeguard is the best on the market), and make your self a soap dish humidifier (google it, you'll find it). Keep those with your guitar, in the case, and you will probably be OK in a week or two. If you want to double check my (in no way complete) diagnosis, look at the top of your guitar from the side. If it looks like it is dished in, then you have a humidity problem. Deal with it quick, or your guitar will crack.

Yes, weather can have a HUGE impact on a guitar. I have one customer whose (very highly figured maple) neck moves over 1/4 inch between the spring and summer.



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Treeline]

Ditto!!


Humidity (or rather the lack of it) is a HUGE issue with acoustic instruments. Give your axe a little relief and it will thank you.

 

[CoolCat]

Are the open strings buzzing. Is it buzzing above the 14th fret? What action do you have? Top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the 12th fret. I would suspect a problem with neck relief if its buzzing all the way up the neck. The weather can have a big impact on setup.

the strings do buzz when strummed but annoying when pressed down and strummed. again just the g,b,high e.

i don't know what action I have? I like it, its low I guess...is there a number/measurement in inches that determines low,med,high?

yes its buzzing all the way from the nut to the hole...thats why it seemed it wasn't just the fret. if i move my finger on the string, towards the hole, it still buzzes on the frets in front. If i strum lightly, it isn't there.

ok weather was mentioned in all three replys...thanks.

I have a cheap humidifier. Would it help to keep it close to a closet in near the shower/tub, it seems cooler and less dry in there of course?now that I think of it, its been in the closet hanging for a long long time when idle....and I recently started putting it in this case I've had empty for years. maybe that didn't help?

thanks light and treeline,
i was worried it would be a fret job and though i like the guitar it just doesn't justify the price of a "real" fret job. its an old 16-17 yr Yamaha FG 340, I love it..but there's an Alvarez AD90something thats been causing me a little gearlust and can be had for $350 oop + trade.

I played several at GC today...with me its all about the neck and feel, of course I couldn't hear anything in guitar center!

 

[Light]

I have a cheap humidifier. Would it help to keep it close to a closet in near the shower/tub, it seems cooler and less dry in there of course?now that I think of it, its been in the closet hanging for a long long time when idle....and I recently started putting it in this case I've had empty for years. maybe that didn't help?

No, consistency is the bigger thing. Get yourself a big, good humidifier, and if you are in a cold part of the country, get two. Check them frequently, and when you aren't playing KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN THE CASE. During heating season in a cold climate, it is flat out impossible to over-humidify your guitar, short of actually pouring a bucket of water into it. But it is also important to be consistent. If your not, then the guitar is constantly going up and down, in and out, what have you. Think about what happens when you repeatedly bend a piece of metal; well, the same thing can happen to your guitar.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[cannabis]

if humidifying doesn't help

you could try a shim under

the gbe side of the saddle-

maybe a doubled piece of cardboard

to see if that helps



also, sight down the neck

to see if it's twisted

 

[CoolCat]

appreciate it.

the inspecting the neck ideas I tried, but to be honest ....maybe its my eyes but I don't see anything? look down the edge or the fret or the string gap?
do I look over the neckstraight down from the nut? The first few frets are worse, as is typical wear.

The humidifier is now running. for playing as long as I have its embarrassing really to be so unaware of all this detail?
I never took care of things.

i'll keep reading, I setup a Fender Squire electric once with the ruler and truss rod...it came out nice. i'm pretty good with fine adjustments, its whta I've done on tools for my job...calibrating pots and mV's etcc.. and all that crap.

If I measure string height with a steel ruler what would be a ballpark height for each string?

 

[muttley600]

Try holding the string down on the 1st 2nd or 3rd fret and also at the 12th 13th or 14th. You should be able to see daylight between the string and the fret around the fret 5, 6 and 7. This is your neck relief and you should have a little bow in the neck. To measure it you need to use a feeler gauge. In the first instance just check to see if you have any relief. The actual amount of relief will depend on what frets, strings gauge and scale lenghth you have.If the strings are touching the frets then that is your problem. If you have daylight there then you maybe need to look for other possible causes.

You should be able to measure the action fairly accurately with a steel rule. Give it a shot. The humidity issue is one you should address regardless of whether it is the cause or not its good practice especially if you live in an area where you are subject to big seasonal changes. It will never hurt to control the humidity and as Light says consistancy is the key. Try not to subject the guitar to shock changes in humidity. Guitars will move with the weather but you definitely don't want the change to be abrupt. If you can pin down the cause of the problem then you'll be in a better position to decide if your skills and confidence are upto fixing it.

 

[CoolCat]

Well, the buzzing has greatly been reduced.

the humidifier was on and its also raining around here.
At the same time I bought some slightly heavier strings-mediums.

Not sure exactly, between the two? ...hell, I'm happy..the gross buzzing on the strings is better!...so it seems to have cleaned up considerably.

Thanks for the inputs and help.

 

[Light]

At the very least, you should find a good repair person in your area and ask them what they would advise in terms of climate issues in your area. Guitar maintenance is very regional.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[CoolCat]

like I said i'm new to this stuff, I still don't see the bows or concave etc..in the neck. and the gap between the string is pretty difficult imo.

measuring with a steel ruler is there a ballpark? and is it measured from the fret metal, or the fret rosewood piece?

I looked up some sites, and it mentioned 1/64th etc...but that must be from the fret-bar/metal to the string?

 

[philboyd studge]

Sure sounds like humidity to me. You can usually tell by looking across the top at the bridge and/or running you hand across it. If it's totally flat or slightly concave, you've got an underhumidified guitar. Like Light says; keep it in its case with a humidifier. For the most part I use plastic string pouches with a sponge in it but soap dishes work well too if there's room. How long before the sponge dies out depends on how well the case seals, mine average five to seven days.

 

[Light]

How long before the sponge dies out depends on how well the case seals, mine average five to seven days.

Of course, your in California. Here in Minnesota, most guys are lucky to get even three or four days out of even the largest of humidifiers.

As I said, it really is important to talk to a local expert about what is needed in your area. I, for instance, would have absolutely no clue how to maintain a guitar in a swamp.

Well, not no clue, but I sure wouldn't try to give advice about it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[gordone]

Ask Kermit the Frog, he'll know

As I said, it really is important to talk to a local expert about what is needed in your area. I, for instance, would have absolutely no clue how to maintain a guitar in a swamp.

Seriously, make a mental note of how heavy the humidifier is (soap dish or whatever) is right before you fill it up and again after you fill it up. Check every couple of days. When it starts to feel like its getting empty again, refill.

It's a pain checking all my guitars every few days and keeping them fed (I don't get to play as much as I'd like these days), but it's part of the gig! Kinda like having a dog that you don't play with too much, but he'd be really angry if you didn't keep his doggie bowl filled with food!

 

[philboyd studge]

Seems like the buzzing subject comes up every winter when humidity drops and people heat their homes. Only for the past four years or so have I consistantly humidified my acoustic instruments and non solid electrics and I guess it's due to my being more critical about setups and playability. It's a big difference though and worth the trouble. There's about a dozen guitars that I humidify and to make the process of getting the sponges wet again less of a pain, I combine it with memorization of a bunch of original songs I have to keep in my head. Plus it gets me to playing some instruments that would tend to sit in their cases a long time (12 string, mandocello, etc.) and I'll often come up with a new riff or two.

If you don't think humidity has much effect I'll use my Eastman as an example. A year ago I got a new Eastman AR810CE archtop from a dealer in Colorado and though condition was perfect, I had to run the bridge posts up as high as they would go to make it playable...it really looked wierd. Well in the last year since humidifying with nothing more than a sponge in a plastic string pouch, the 17" bout top has risen an astonishing 3/8ths of an inch.