please help, I'm buzzing!

[MandyLynn]

okay, so I just *got* my new mando and already I feel I've broke it. :/ okay, I haven't broken it, but I am very, very frustrated.

when I got home, after playing for awhile, I lowered the action a bit, then decided to change the strings to some lighter ones (J67's). I noticed a buzzing on the top A string, and raised the action a little--no dice. I've been trying combinations of raising and lowering the action, and tightening and loosening the string, but to no avail, and now I've got *both* the A strings buzzing. help! I broke it!

I remember having some sort of problem like this with my Fender, but that was like a year ago and I can't remember what I did. do I need to just play around with the bridge some more?

[jmkatcher]

I thought I broke my Gallatin in the same way when I initially lowered the action, but repeated twiddling and some playing in made everything OK. Whatever people can say about the Brekke bridge, it's darned easy to adjust, especially under tension.

P.S. I just changed the strings on this instrument and it took about two hours of intense play before it sounded more or less normal again. Mandolins are cussed little beasts. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MandyLynn]

okay. it's only buzzing open.

my eyes tell me the strings aren't messing with the frets, either.

I'm going to play the heck out of it for awhile then fiddle with it some more.

thanks, you made me feel better. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Tom C]

Were there used strings on it when you got it? After changing strings it is normal for them to sound tinny -almost buzzy for a while (maybe days depending on how much you play). The first time I changed strings on my first mando, I almost freaked out until I was told this by the store and after some time it goes away.

[Philip Halcomb]

If it came with heavier strings, it was probably setup for that guage of strings. Since you put lighter strings on it, the neck is under less tension. Therefore, you may have created a slight backbow with the neck. That might require a slight truss-rod adjustment. I recommend to take it to your local music shop and ask them to adjust your truss-rod. They shouldn't charge more than 15 bucks for that I would think. Mandolins have a real skinny neck as you know, so they are very sensitive to string tension. Good luck and enjoy your new mandolin.

[MandyLynn]

Further clues, as of today, since I've been messing with it some more:

--It's not the frets, not even the first fret. Those are all sighted clear, and when I cranked up the action again, the buzzing was still there on the top A string, though I got it to go away on the bottom one.

--The E strings are not having any problems.

I'm going to try to take it in tomorrow, but after that, the shop won't be open till Aug. 30. The buzzing is driving me NUTS!

Maybe it is the truss rod. I hope that wouldn't cause any permanent damage if I end up having to play it like this for two weeks? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Philip Halcomb]

The Truss-Rod being mal-adjusted won't permanently damaged the instrument. One suggestion though, if you have to play it for two weeks like that, put a set of the original size strings on the mandolin, and then it should settle back in to the way it was. (Atleast then it probably won't buzz and it will be playable) Then when you take it in, bring a set of J67's with you and tell the repairman that these are the strings you want on the mandolin so he can adjust the mandolin for the lighter strings that you desire. Good luck... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[peter.coombe]

Lighter strings is the clue, and also the fact that it only buzzes on the open strings. #My guess is that the A strings are rattling around in the string slot in the nut which have been cut to fit the heavier strings. You need either to put the heavier strings back on, or have the string slot in the nut narrowed with a nut file. #That should fix it.

[MandyLynn]

Peter wins!

I did take it in to Old Town School today, and the guy guessed the problem in a second, and in a few more, fixed it. It was the nut slot. And now it's fixed, and is once again perfect!

Thank you guys for your reassurance and help. I was kind of freaking out there for a bit http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif