Guitar Buzzes and Rattles
Source: Guitar Buzzes
Troubleshooting Rattles and Buzzes:
Finding a buzz or rattle in a guitar can cause a lot of frustration. Because of the way acoustic guitars are constructed, the entire body and neck of the instrument vibrates, which can telegraph a buzz or rattle to a remote location.
Before we can repair a rattle or a buzz, we first have to find out the cause of it. Here is a list of things to look for to get you on your way to being the guitar buzz private investigator.
The Most Likely Culprits:
The most obvious area to look for buzzes and rattles in the string action department. The first thing you should do is to thoroughly check out the action of the strings, the fret condition and see if there are any irregularities that need to be investigated any farther. Here are some areas for you to check out. If you click on the link, you will be taken to an article that thoroughly covers the repair needed to fix that condition.
High or Low Frets:
Loose Truss Rod:
Improper Nut Slots:
Loose Frets:
Next in Line:
The second area that should be checked out and is next in line as the likely buzz or rattle generator would be the entire bridge area. Again click each link to go to the article for the repair instructions
Strings Improperly Installed on Bridge:
Loose Mechanical Devices That Secure The Bridge:
Bridge is Loose:
Structural Problems That Cause Rattles or Buzzes:
These can be a bit more difficult to track down. It can be a loose or broken brace, a crack in the top, back or side plate, loose bridge place
Loose Braces:
Cracked Braces:
Loose Bridge Plate:
Repair of Cracks:
Separation Of Plywood Plys:
Miscellaneous Rattles or Buzzes:
Loose Pick Guard:
Loose Machine Heads:
Use Your God-Given Built In Tools:
The best investigative tools you can use are your own 2 hand and your ears. Never be shy about rapping a top with your knuckles or taping around on the bridge. Rapping on the neck can give you clues as to the location of a truss rod problem or on the top for loose or broken braces.
A Final Word:
So don’t get too discouraged if you have trouble finding a buzz or rattle. One area where you can be really let down is to find one of these causes, fit it string the guitar back up, only to find the buzz or rattle still persists. Alright, that means there were multiple causes and you will have to start nearly from scratch to find the next one.
Tags: fixing guitar buzzes and rattles, guitar buzz, guitar repair, how to fix guitar buzzing
