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Post subject: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 10:45 am
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Roughly two years ago I got my first Strat. It's an Eric Johnson signature and I ordered it through an authorized dealer. After about a year I got this strange kind of buzz which I pinpointed as coming from the neck pickup. Whenever I would play certain notes the resonance would most likely cause something in there to vibrate and make a sort of buzzing noise. I quickly solved this by folding two small pieces of paper and inserting them in between the pickup and the pickguard. The pickup stood firmly in place and the noise was gone. I removed the pickguard as soon as I got a chance to change my strings. I cleaned the inside but couldn't find anything wrong or loose. Today I just started getting more of this kind of buzz, except this time it only goes into resonance once I play the higher strings. You can hear it clearly while playing anywhere on the G string, although it's also slightly less present on the B and E strings. It almost sounds like something you'd get from the string parts that go to the tuning pegs over the nut. But I've covered those so no harmonics ring out. I also inserted pieces of straw in the springs on the back that keep the tremolo floating. I've removed the little spring inside the hole where the tremolo bar goes. The radius on my bridge is fine, my action is high enough (roughly 2.5 mm at 12th fret), I've checked to see if the string is brushing a fret when I'm playing, not the case. I also checked for issues with the neck, also not the case. I'm really out of ideas here. Additionally when I put my ear against the guitar body and knock on the pickguard I can hear a harmonic (all strings muted of course). Has anyone encountered a similar situation? What else can I check for? Oh and thanks for reading all that!


Last edited by C.Radu on Sat Nov 30, 2013 3:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 1:42 pm
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C.Radu wrote:
...this strange kind of buzz which I pinpointed as coming from the neck pickup...I quickly solved this by folding two small pieces of paper and inserting them in between the pickup and the pickguard...


Hi C.Radu,

Looks like you've answered your own question. :?:

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Post subject: Re: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:33 pm
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If the noise is vibrationally-based and coming from one or more of your pickups, you might try substituting coil springs in lieu of the surgical rubber tubing used to hold the pickups firm to the pickguard when the mounting screws are snugged down. The rubber tends to dry out and shrink with the passage of time which might be responsible for loss of tension between the pickup bobbin and the bottom of the pickguard. A six-pack of coil springs runs about five bucks on Ebay.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:44 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
If the noise is vibrationally-based and coming from one or more of your pickups, you might try substituting coil springs in lieu of the surgical rubber tubing used to hold the pickups firm to the pickguard when the mounting screws are snugged down. The rubber tends to dry out and shrink with the passage of time which might be responsible for loss of tension between the pickup bobbin and the bottom of the pickguard. A six-pack of coil springs runs about five bucks on Ebay.

Arjay


Not sure what rubber tubing you're talking about :? (just goes to show how much I know about the insides of my guitar) But indeed I did not check the pickpup height springs. They could be the culprit. I will investigate as soon as I get a new pair of strings (and springs). Thanks!

shimmilou wrote:
C.Radu wrote:
...this strange kind of buzz which I pinpointed as coming from the neck pickup...I quickly solved this by folding two small pieces of paper and inserting them in between the pickup and the pickguard...


Hi C.Radu,

Looks like you've answered your own question. :?:


Sorry for writing a wall of text, maybe I could have been more concise. But no, I did not answer my own question (wouldn't have bothered otherwise). Let me clarify: I never removed the pieces of paper I used for the initial fix, this new buzz I'm getting just came out of nowhere. Thanks for the reply! :)


Last edited by C.Radu on Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:49 pm
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When you disassemble your guitar and look "under the hood" you'll see precisely what I'm referring to.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strange Buzz Issue (Not Fret Buzz)
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:57 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
When you disassemble your guitar and look "under the hood" you'll see precisely what I'm referring to.

Arjay


Thanks again, I really hope that will be it. I've been playing my guitar and I can't hear the buzz through the amp, which is great, but my conscience won't let me rest knowing it's there. Anyways, have a good one, will update the post once I get this fixed :)


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