F9 with a buzz

[bgjunkie]

No, it hasn't been drinking (been around the cafe a while, I know how you guys think).

The buzz does not seem to be fret related, or doesn't sound like fret buzz. I checked all the screws on the tuners (had that issue before). I also placed my hand on the back of the bridge to make sure there was no vibration between the bridge and tailpiece.

It is really weird because it is a very woody sounding buzz that almost seems to be coming from the body, but I don't know how or why it would. The mando is a 2007 model. I have been running a humidifier since the weather around Nashville has been so cold and dry. I try to keep the humidity in my music room (aka home office) at around 45%.

Any ideas?

[yankees1]

I experienced a buzz from my mandolin on the D string fourth through sixth frets and after raising the bridge just slightly the buzz went away and overall tone/volume on all strings/frets sounded better!

[markmando]

I recently had a similar problem and it turned out to be a loose truss rod nut.
I didn't discover it until I took the cover piece off.
Simple solution... maybe that's it.

[Jim DeSalvio]

Could it be loose tone bar or brace? I don't know if you can get an inspection mirror in there to have a look.

[Tom C]

New strings?

[MikeEdgerton]

For a start take a look at this Buzz Diagnosis page on Frank Ford's www.frets.com.

[Gail Hester]

Check the adjustment wheels on your bridge then the truss rod nut, these are common buzz producers. A brace problem would be unlikely on a new instrument.

[EdHanrahan]

... and after raising the bridge just slightly the buzz went away ...

Possibly also the OP's issue: Repeated tuning may have cause the bridge to lean just slightly toward the fretboard, so that the "tailpiece edge" of the foot is not in solid contact with the top. Could cause a buzz; I've had that.

[bgjunkie]

I will have to check the truss rod nut, but I have checked about everything else. It is driving me nuts. I could play some heavy metal mandolin music with this thing, got a built in distortion.

[Dale Ludewig]

Does this instrument have a pickguard? I recently finished a mandolin and it had a buzz that was driving me nuts. Then I put my hand on the pickguard and the buzzing stopped. Just a little space between the support piece under the pickguard and the top. A bit of felt took care of it.

[Big Joe]

Hey Steve... bring it by and we will go over it for you and find the buzz. No charge to check it out.

[bgjunkie]

Thanks Joe. I will have to stop by after Christmas. It will give me a reason to stop by the shop since I haven't been by in a while. You guys got your mandolin line started?

[bgjunkie]

I think I may have found the culprit. I took the truss rod cover off to check the truss rod for any vibration and I noticed that the buzz was gone. I played for a little while with the truss rod cover off and it sounded much better. I put the cover back on and made sure the screws were tight and, so far, the buzz is gone. Who would have thought that the truss rod screws could be loose and cause a problem with buzzing. Learn something new all the time.

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions.