Re: Yes, another G String Buzz Thread
You have to determine exactly where the buzz is coming from. Are you absolutely certain it’s coming from the tailpiece? If so, either it’s the tailpiece itself or sympathetic vibrations from the strings below the bridge. Make sure all of the screws holding on the tailpiece are nice and tight. Try playing with the tailpiece cover removed. Does that make a difference? Loosening the tailpiece is the wrong way to go. A tighter fit would be better. The sides can be carefully bent a bit for snugger fit. A piece of felt will sometimes help. It’s easy to get the stick on kind at the big box hardware stores. Just cut to fit and stick it on the underside of the cover. For sympathetic vibrations some people weave a leather bootlace through the strings below the bridge. Or some other kind of leather or felt strip. Others use tiny rubber grommets, which are used to protect electrical wiring going through metal panels. You used to be able to get them at Radio Shack when there was such a thing. They have a groove in the center and fit quite nicely between the strings of each course, acting a vibration dampeners. Weber sells a fancy version called a “wood nymph” that looks prettier and costs more but it does basically the same thing, dampening the vibrations with rubber on the underside. Adjusting the truss rod will do nothing to help your problem, if you are describing it accurately. Rods can buzz if the nut is too loose but the buzz wouldn’t be coming from the tailpiece. And finally, unless you bought the mandolin from a dealer that includes professional setup, it is always a good idea to pay for a professional setup, but only if you can find someone who is familiar with mandolins. There are some “luthiers” out there who only know guitars. Good luck, hope this helps.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Bookmarks