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Doing a setup on my guitar and everything sounds wonderful - EXCEPT, a buzz on the 4th string along almost the entire fretboard.

First I thought (buzzing off the back side), saddle, so I replaced the saddle and and moved the breakpoint forward with more ramp. Then I thought, break-angle, so I used one of those bridge beads to give me a greater break angle. Maybe I need "less" angle?

Looking for advice. The guitar sounds wonderful - great sustain and volume - except for the annoying saddle buzz!
Steve

try changing the string (and what is the action on the D, might be its just touch low) .... and remember .. the bridge amplifies everything, no matter where its buzzing ... so you think its the saddle/bridge, but it may be something else ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

My original action was .145 on the base and .135 on the treble. Before messing with the saddle, the first thing I did was the change the string.

My new saddle has about .155 on the base and about .150 on the treble; too high, but am trying to see if my action was just too low. The D just broke, so I can't tell you what the action is now, but it's probably right at about .150 with the new saddle.

-Steve

I had a wierd noise the other day. A high pitched pinging noise. Here it was the lock nut on the tuner was loose. Whenever I have a noise, it's usually the nut. But check the tuners too.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

Clarify this for me please .. the saddle has .150 showing ?? .. or the action at the 12th fret is .150 ?? .. thats way high for it to be any string buzz from the frets thats for sure.. but if the saddle is showing that, thats fine ... but then what is the action at the 12th ??

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

The action on the 12th fret on the D is currently 150.5. My target and original (before replacing the saddle with a higher one) was 142.5. The saddle showing at the 4th string is .108 or about 2.74mm.

I've tried everything, but I know I have to learn how to figure this out and fix it. Again, but buzz is on almost every string when fretted anywhere but right at the fret. As a classical player, there are many times when I've got multiple fingers right on top of each other and can't hit the end of the fret. I'm only having this trouble at the 4th string, and particularly on a medium-strong attack.

I'm using Gali Titanio GR45's (normal tension).

I'm used to banging on my Takamine Hirade H8SS and have never had that problem. This guitar however has much more finesse and is much more responsive, so perhaps it's something I have to modify in my playing style.

If it helps, I can post pictures.
Thanks for all the advise everyone,
Steve

So, it's a classical guitar! Often on a classical, if there is insufficient relief, or a very flat fingerboard, first to 12th fret, the 3 & 4 strings are subject to buzzing. Many makers put a bit of hump in the saddle in the center to accommodate the floppiness of those strings. If the fingerboard is flat, the 3.9 mm you have on the D may not be too high. Depends a bit on your geometry. How high are your strings at the saddle, off the top? 2.75 mm does not sound like excessive saddle for a standard 8 mm bridge height. What is your neck drop in the solera, if you used one? Is the Fingerboard tapered? On my last guitar, I did not add any relief in the board, and I got some buzz on 4 too. I agree that it's irritating. I may re-fret from 4 to 12 and add some from the center to the bass side of the board. It only takes about .4 mm to get enough relief.

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The string height at the saddle (6th string) is 0.49. Seems hight, but the action feels just right; easy fretting, nice medium pressure/release, etc.

I used a 2.5mm drop with a straight neck all the way to the sound hole - I compensated the solera and sides with a ramp of .035 at the end of the fretboard to allow straight geometry.


The neck and fingerboard is straight with a very, very slight dip at the 9th fret of about .015 (hand plan sloppiness), no tapper needed


If you figure it out, let me know. I may start with a new saddle and bridge (again). This bridge was too short, so I have a toothpick under the first couple of strings.

Thanks again guys for all your help. I took it to a repair guy here in town and he just shook his head.

If your saddle is shimmed, you are probably getting some sag in the center, causing your buzz. A new saddle may solve your problem. I don't do inches, so I have to convert everything to mm so I can understand what you have. Takes me a minute or two to understand. I have noticed that even the low E can come back down a bit from the height of the g and D, and it still won't buzz. It's a stiffer string, and has a more controlled vibration cycle.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars