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String rattling in tailpiece

L

Luca79

New member
Joined
Dec 24, 2004
Messages
141
I have this annoying rattle on two strings of my R9, it's the strings that rattle inside the tailpiece.
I guess the ball retaining wrappings are touching the hole of the tailpiece on the front end (i.e. towards the bridge).

I have tried lower/higher tailpiece positions but it's more or less the same.
And I have also enlarged the holes drilling in the aluminum (made them oval-shaped), with no success.

This is making me crazy because the affected strings gets also kind of muted in the higher registers, I don't think it's a coincidence.

If I press with my hand against the strings between bridge and tailpiece, the buzz seems to go away.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
Z

Zentar

New member
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
830
Are you sure it isn't the bridge doing the rattle? The ABR1 had a rep for rattling.
 
L

Luca79

New member
Joined
Dec 24, 2004
Messages
141
It may be, but it’s difficult to tell.
The bridge is Faber with their locking system, it looks like a well made piece.
 
Z

Zentar

New member
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
830
Sounds like you modded your guitar.
Do you have the 59 style ABR1 bridge with the wire?
There isn't a lot on the tail piece that can rattle
 
L

Luca79

New member
Joined
Dec 24, 2004
Messages
141
Tonight I re-installed the stock heavy tailpiece and there is less rattle.
But b string sounds chocked in the higher registers, with little sustain.
The guitar was just refretted and is well set up.

I think it’s the bridge, at this point.

Going crazy!
 
A

Arnold M.

Active member
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Messages
296
Luca79 said:
I have this annoying rattle on two strings of my R9, it's the strings that rattle inside the tailpiece.
I guess the ball retaining wrappings are touching the hole of the tailpiece on the front end (i.e. towards the bridge).

I have tried lower/higher tailpiece positions but it's more or less the same.
And I have also enlarged the holes drilling in the aluminum (made them oval-shaped), with no success.

This is making me crazy because the affected strings gets also kind of muted in the higher registers, I don't think it's a coincidence.

If I press with my hand against the strings between bridge and tailpiece, the buzz seems to go away.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have the same problem, I swapped the standard TH tailpiece for a DMC tailpiece and the rattling of the three treble strings was totally out of control, I have tried everything and the only solution so far has been to jack the tailpiece up real high.. can't find the source of the problem
 
Black58

Black58

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
10,139
Luca79 said:
Tonight I re-installed the stock heavy tailpiece and there is less rattle.
But b string sounds chocked in the higher registers, with little sustain.
The guitar was just refretted and is well set up.

I think it’s the bridge, at this point.

Going crazy!
Click to expand...

Not for nothing, but it sounds to me like the frets aren't completely level, up top.
 
gmann

gmann

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
6,161
I've had the screw in saddle on several ABR's rattle, I've had it happen on a Faber as well. A very small dab of clear nail polish solved that.
 
Black58

Black58

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
10,139
gmann said:
I've had the screw in saddle on several ABR's rattle, I've had it happen on a Faber as well. A very small dab of clear nail polish solved that.
Click to expand...

Ditto, that. .. I've even had an actual saddle rattle, at certain frequencies, from OTHER strings! That, ended up being the saddle not seating correctly because of a bent screw!
 
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