Black58
New member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2005
- Messages
- 10,139
Try picking on the open low E and lightly pushing down on each of the strings, individually, in between the bridge and tailpiece.
You mentioned the rattle/buzz showed up after your last string change. Perhaps, a bad string or strings, like the wrap and twist at the end isn't quite right and vibrating against the underside of the tailpiece?
Do you get the rattle if you put the wound strings back in their original positions? I also agree with Black 58. Seems that if the B string is contacting that cover, it's going to transmit some serious vibrations.
Now, the gears are turning. Good for you! :salude .. You mentioned your sight. Dude, get some glasses or "cheaters", and a GOOD flashlight. I'm not a young man anymore (51), and they're the most important tools in my kit! :ganz ... And yep, an ALIVE guitar will make all KINDS of things rattle! :rofl .. Bridge saddle screws, bridge saddles, retainer wires, loose nuts/washers on Grovers, loose nuts/washers on strap locks, the ground wire against a pot casing, bad string/end wraps, the neck pickup against the mounting ring ... I've got a REAL good one, currently: Something inside the bridge pickup volume pot! Certain notes on the low E and that thing buzzes like a bitch! If I press down on the knob, it stops! It isn't the knob, or that U clip at the base of the shaft, nor the wiring and wiring tabs. :hmm
I've got the readers (+1.50) but I need something stronger for really small stuff. I live away from my home currently (caring for a family member and working out of town) so I don't have all of my resources so easily handy. I'll have to pop for some +3.00 glasses so I can really see the small stuff.
Wheels are turning indeed!
Last evening I plucked individual strings and used my fingers to damp the strings at the tailpiece. To my surprise, this did not mute the rattle at all! But I had my ear near the guitar. I could hear it in the F hole and all up and down the trapeze. And being that close to the guitar, I could hear a bit of string/fret buzz.
2 things:
1. I stuffed the velvet bag under the base of the trapeze which had as much effect as using it under the string slots. :hmm
2. I removed the velvet bag altogether and raised the string action until the fret buzz stopped. :doh
While the guitar is far from silent, this solved the excessive rattle. The fret buzz was transmitting through the length of the trapeze and echoing/amplifying through though hollow of the guitar and out the F-hole. Wow. I usually have a little bit of fret buzz, nothing excessive, but damn.
I assume that between weather changes and the bridge moving during a string change and cleaning, this is how this annoying rattle appeared.
The action is just a little higher than perfect and I have a little bit of room for a truss rod adjustment, but the excessive rattle has been solved. No more velvet bag.
And I have been playing the 330 like crazy the last few days while contemplating the nature of the rattle. Good fun.
Thanks, guys, for challenging me to look at everything trying to determine the source of the rattle. :dude::dude::dude: