Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok, so I'm setting up my 5th guitar, and the high E buzzes in the open
position. First I check the nut, looks great, still buzzing. Then I file the
saddle being sure the string comes off at a point in the bone. Still buzzing.
Then I shim the nut up just in case. Still buzzing. Then I cut a new saddle,
leaving it a bit tall. Still buzzing. I'm losing my friggin' mind. This guitar
sounds amazing, EXCEPT when the high E is played open. It buzzes. No
buzz if fretted at ANY fret. The buzz is very clearly emanating from the
saddle/bridge area. It's kinda got the sitar sound to it. The bridge is not
loose, nor are any braces.   ANYBODY? ANYTHING? PLEASE!

IMO its the nut slot ... you are flaring it like a trumpet as the string exits to the fingerboard towards the first fret, and it buzzes from side to side in the nut slot - it will SOUND like its coming from the saddle though ... thats where the sound of the guitar is generated from - right !!!!

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

Could be that the first fret is high

thanks guys, turns out it was the angle of the nut slot!

I have Been there, done that !  GREAT advice to get the problem solved. Glad you got it taken care of so quickly!

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Reguards,

Ken H

If you file the nut slots from the fingerboard side back, it's impossible to make the angle negative.   However, if you file from the peghead side, then it's easy to open up the slot at the fingerboard side and get buzzing.   The advice to file about half the break angle is good.

Also, seriously, first thing to do if you're trying to locate a buzz: pop a capo on first, see if it goes away. Pretty much instant diagnosis if it's the nut causeing all the trouble.

Good one, Mattia!  A serious buzz locating tip.  

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

i think frank ford lists something like 120+ possible causes for a buzz. i've never had to check that many possibilities before finding the cause, but on the odd occasion i have got well down the list. be pleased that you found it so quickly!!!

Nut! Had that problem too! Why, seemingly, from the bridge? Must be transfered through the string to the SB, only thing I can think of!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Also check to make sure that the ball of each string is seated against the bridge plate. A string ball end that is only lightly touching the plate will vibrate against it.   

One of the neat things about the guitar is that every part makes sound at some frequency. That's what gives it the complexity of response that allows the player to shape the tone. It's also what makes it so hard to locate buzzes sometimes.

The sound comes from whatever part of the guitar is most effective at radiating that frequency. It doesn't matter where the sound is _produced_; it gets telegraphed to the place that can put it out and that's where you hear it.

I'll have to look at Frank's buzz list: I bet he's missed a few..... :)