'54 Goldtop Reissue wraparound bridge "sitar" issue...

[ggc]

Hi folks!

I'm hoping to get some suggestions/advice from someone who has had some success eliminating the sitar-like effect that seems pretty common with wraparound bridges. I have a '54 Goldtop reissue that is buzzing/choking on the high E string. The sound is most prominent when the string is played open, but it can also be heard on the first several frets...It seems to diminish as I go up the fretboard.

I replaced the stock bridge with a Music City Bridge Savvy (and the locking studs), and, although it has made the problem slightly better, it is still happening and can be heard both acoustically, and through the amp (the new bridge and studs did improve the intonation considerably, and eliminated any leaning).

The action and relief are within factory spec, and I'm using 10-46 strings in standard tuning.

I'm wondering if anyone can offer any ideas that might solve this (is there anything I can try in terms of setup, or is there anything other than the bridge that could be causing the problem?). It's a great sounding guitar that, otherwise, plays very well, so I'm really hoping for a solution!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[LeonC]

I never had this problem with mine.

But I do use a capo from time to time in different spots on the neck. And I did notice having a bit harder time getting it in tune properly when doing so. I have a '54 Oxblood RI which came with a modern compensated wrap around stop tail piece and decided to go with one like that. I wound up with Music City compensated wrap around. If you look at it, you'll see that it provides a more well-defined edge which gives the strings a more solid break point.

My guess is it will help with you problem.

 

[renderit]

Have you tried putting an old ball end through the string before stringing it?

I think you may have strings that the wrap on the ball end is coming up too far when wrapped around the bridge.

That's about the only thing I can think of that could cause it other than frets or a nut that is notched too deep on that string.

 

[LeonC]

Have you tried putting an old ball end through the string before stringing it?

I think you may have strings that the wrap on the ball end is coming up too far when wrapped around the bridge.

That's about the only thing I can think of that could cause it other than frets or a nut that is notched too deep on that string.

Yeah that's a good suggestion. I've been doing this for so long, I didn't even think of it, lol. You clip the ball ends off your last set of strings, then take each new string and thread it through the loose ball before threading it through the tailpiece.

It has the effect of keeping more of the string wrapping away from the edge and top of the tailpiece where the wrapping may not really sit solidly.

I started doing this because I do a lot of string bending and would not infrequently break strings (right around the end of the wrapping, where it was going over the edge of the tailpiece). It was because the wrap would go just over the back edge of the tailpiece where it was bearing the bulk of the tension.

 

[charliechitlins]

Lightning bar bridge.
Maybe more break angle/down pressure... I'd have to check.
Definitely less contact area.
Buzzing occurs when the string lies on a flat surface.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Have you checked to see if might have a fret that is a little high in the region where this is occurs up to? Fret ends tend to lift first and could be causing your problem on the high E. If you have something very flat that can cover the length of 3 frets you can rock it over them on the high E section of the fret and check. A credit card might work.

 

[lesserpaul]

I replaced the stock bridge with a Mojoaxe . The original buzzed and was so out of tune the higher you played .

 

[ggc]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think the problem may be both at the bridge and at the nut...The MCB bridge improved the issue, I released the truss rod slightly and it improved a little more, and I took some very fine sandpaper and ran it through the nut slot a few times, angling it back toward the headstock slightly, and it improved again. I've taken it in so a tech can take a look at the frets near the headstock end and see if anything is high. Overall, the problem has improved a lot, I'm hoping that maybe a fret problem can be discovered and I can get rid of the issue completely.

 

[lesserpaul]

A mojoaxe will sort out the buzz and intonation will be spot on. Never had any trouble since. The R4 is a fantastic guitar ....!

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Never had a problem with an old original Gibson wrap around bridge/tailpiece. The radius was pretty bang on and all strings were roughly the same height. Blows my mind, as well, as to how they can be perfectly intonated with nothing but a slight tilt and a straight line ridge. One of my favorite bridges of all time that somehow worked perfectly within their design. Is it possible reissue bridges can have to much curve to them lowering the outer strings? I know I have seen some, as well, that don't have as nice of a ridge along their top as the old ones.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Sounds like the guitar needs a pro setup. The bridge is good. I suspect there may be a twist in the neck. If you’re hitting all the factory numbers and it’s a progressive issue on fretted notes on the high E a twist is the first thing I’d check for. Not the end of the world. A pro setup can level it out. Worst case would be to rework the fretboard and refret.

Could be the nut too. Put a Scrunci on the first fret and see if it disappears.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

How is the lean?

The market has a bunch of studs where the gap for the tailpiece is so wide the lean is dramatic and you get a really shallow string break. Some new Gibsons both angled & lightning wraps feature this bug.

But that might not be your issue, as speculated.

If you do have that issue I've used various locking studs and the winner for me is the faber design which is just a regular single piece stud that has a nut plus reverse thread: https://faberusa.com/product/3350-0-wrap-lock-inch-gloss-nickel/

 

[Offshore Angler]

Another question: Can you hear it through the amp? I’ve seen many a guitar owner get all OCD wound around the axle for things that really don’t matter.

 

[charliechitlins]

Never had a problem with an old original Gibson wrap around bridge/tailpiece. The radius was pretty bang on and all strings were roughly the same height. Blows my mind, as well, as to how they can be perfectly intonated with nothing but a slight tilt and a straight line ridge. One of my favorite bridges of all time that somehow worked perfectly within their design. Is it possible reissue bridges can have to much curve to them lowering the outer strings? I know I have seen some, as well, that don't have as nice of a ridge along their top as the old ones.

Some of the reissues are problematic.
I had one on a LP Special where it had to be adjusted so far back it was literally almost off the studs.
Gibson sent me a replacement that worked beautifully, and I was upfront about not being the original owner.