Sting buzz

[batman]

I know this has been addressed before, but i did a search and couldn't find what i wanted. I have a Sam Bush that iv'e had since 01. I love this mando and it's a killer. all of a sudden i'm getting a slight buzz or rattle on the lower D string. I've checked the nut and bridge slot for burrs and put graphite in them. I changed the string. The fretts are in good shape. I just can't track it down. any ideas?

[fatt-dad]

truss rod is loose? This happened to one of my mandolins. I removed the truss rod cover and it was just un-hunkered. What to do if this is the case, is up to you - but for me, I don't mess with the truss rod.

fatt-dad

[Rroyd]

Fatt-dad may be correct about the truss rod; if you can't find any loose screws or nuts on the tuners, pick guard, or any other hardware, the truss rod may be loose enough to let it vibrate in sympathy with certain frequencies. If it has a washer under the nut, it will create a buzz like what you describe. All you need to do is tighten it just enough so nothing is loose enough to vibrate.
If you are using it to straighten the neck, there is a whole different protocol to avoid damage to the truss rod or truss rod nut, but eliminating vibration doesn't require anything other than a gentle tightening.

[John Flynn]

That Sam Bush is a great instrument, too nice to mess with...get it to a good mando luthier!

[Luthier Vandross]

A buzz can come from too many places to guess at, a loose tuner, a loose brace, a small inclusion in the glue around the top, screw in the pickguard.. for instance.

It would be best to get an experienced set of ears on it.. what is the pitch of the buzz? What is the duration... where is it coming from? I can't see where you are pointing.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It will drive you insane, take it to someone.. not me though, that drives me insane.

heh.. good luck.

M

[batman]

Would a loose screw or truss rod make just one string buzz and the other 7 note very clear. Can't seem to locate the origin of the buzz, i'ts just there, maybe midway of the mando? thanks, Don

[herickson]

You could try Frank Ford's excellent article on chasing the buzz:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPa....ro.html (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/BuzzDiagnosis/buzzintro.html)
Seems to cover a lot of possible issues. Good luck.

[batman]

Thanks for all the input. I found my buzz this afternoon. I feel kinda stupid. It was the nut slot after all. a very slight gap between the string and the bottom of the slot on the fingerboard side. I filed at an angle back to the peghead till the gap was gone. Just about 2 good passes. I'm happy now. Don