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Post subject: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:31 pm
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So...
I have had a thread a few days ago, detailing a few issues I have had with my new American Strat. And I have to say that, although I solved most of them so far... The constant fiddling with a 1300 euros guitar, is starting to let me down a bit!

Anyway... Long story short, I think the nut on the guitar is acting up. I have done a video to have your opinion:


What do you guys think? You will see that I placed a bit of aluminium foil on the slit of the nut (low E) and that this takes care of the issue. But I am certainly not going to be carrying some aluminium foil on my quite expensive guitar! On top of all, it doesn't really let the string slide along after some whammy usage.

Is this an easy fix? (one other fix, amongst the several I already had to apply, that I can do myself?) Is it because the nut is cut too much or too little? If it is too much, then I have no solution but to get a new nut, right?

Oh well... I am starting to be frustrated! Sorry for that! :)


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:53 pm
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Hmmmm....... what adjustments have you made thus far... ie; lowered the action?.... truss adjusts?.... pickup heights?.... everything you have done please post.

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:57 pm
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So... the guitar was making this buzz from the beginning. It was driving me bonkers, so I have just unstringed the low E, stringed it again and the vibration went away.
I have then made the neck straigther and raised the saddles a bit, as I was having some fret buzz. Didn't touch pickups or anything else!

Today, I replaced my standard tuners with fender locking tuners. I have done this super carefully, removing one tuner at a time (not too push too much stress on the arm). The first one I did was the low E and, as soon as I put the string back in (I reused the old string), the buzz comes back.

And there is no way for me to get rid of it, besides putting some aluminium foil under the string or pressing down on the nut.


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:13 pm
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K.... 1st... I would re-check the Low E locking tuner install... make sure it's 100% perfecto...
next... NEW Stings.... and before you do anything else...Scope this vid:


then this one...


Always be careful when you perform any tweaks on your instrument.... Take your time... and NEVER force anything (truss etc...(
I know you really dig that Strat... You should... It's an Awesome guitar 8)

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:18 pm
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Hey!!! Thanks for the videos... I have already watched them in the past! :) Quite useful, I have to say...
In any case, I can assure you it was not my setup or harware changes that led to the resurfacing of this buzzing sound. I am convinced there is a problem with the nut... The fact that I put a little piece of aluminium foil and makes the buzz go away is somehow indicative.
What I am unsure is whether I have to cut or fill the nut. If I have to fill, this is a quite big issue... As I will prob have to have a new nut fitted (or increase string gauge... but this is not a solution, just delaying/hiding a problem).

So... what I really want to know is... what is wrong with my nut!? :D


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:36 pm
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The nut may be O.K.
What's your break angle to that new tuner?.... that may be the issue...

If everything's cool there and the tuner's all good... you may wish to re-check your relief. With buzzing issues due to relief... Always remember:
1.Buzz on the lower fret areas - not enough relief
2. Buzz on the upper fret areas - too much relief

Hope this helps

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:10 pm
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I assume is the same break angle as with the previous tuners... They are both Fender (staggered) and the pole seems to have the same height. So I am not so sure about it... On top of all, what is odd, is that it was doing it in the beginning and after restringing (the same string) it stopped buzzing.

Also... The buzz is not on frets!!! Once I fret the low E, the buzz goes away!


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:17 pm
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You just bought a new and expensive guitar.

Why not let the store do the fixes, bypass the frustration and go straight to playing the thing? That's one of the reasons you buy from a store. Your constant fiddling is probably creating more problems than you're solving.


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:34 pm
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Just sent an email to Fender to see what they say.
I will probably take it to the store on Tuesday (French are always having days off!!! :)).

In the meantime, I was just hoping someone could exactly pinpoint what is the problem with my guitar and whether there is an easy fix I could do myself (like, cutting a bit the nut or something like that).


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:59 pm
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You probably know this but just thought I would mention with some schaller tuners there are three tuners for the low strings and three for the high.
The slot for the string in each group is in a slightly different spot so make sure you have all in the right positions... :D


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 3:06 am
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After watching your video , it looks and sounds like the nut slot for the low E has been cut at the wrong angle
The correct way to have a nut slot cut, is with a VERY shallow angled cut , the cut being ever so slightly wider and deeper at the tuners side , that way the last point of contact with the actual nut and string, will be the edge of the nut at the guitar side

You putting tinfoil under the string and then pressing down on it BEHIND the nut will in effect shift the point of contact completeley to the tuners side , with string in the nut being muffled by the tinfoil, but vibrating in the nut when it is removed , as in my very crude examples here

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 3:41 am
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Good morning and thank you all so much for your time and help! You guys are really awesome!

So... After being up until 4.30 am, basically going insane over this issue... I discovered that the problem was.............
............ The bloody string!!!!

I tried a .46 elixir and a .42 DR and none produces the same buzz! The string....
Still can't believe it!

At least I had a more peaceful sleep!


Last edited by milcs on Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 3:48 am
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jimmy_james wrote:
You probably know this but just thought I would mention with some schaller tuners there are three tuners for the low strings and three for the high.
The slot for the string in each group is in a slightly different spot so make sure you have all in the right positions... :D


So... given I sort of solved the mystery buzz, I am just going to restring all of the guitar with new strings.
I have a few questions regarding the locking tuners though.
1- Are all the locking tuners position specific, or the three taller ones and the three shorter ones are all similar? (I know that the three taller are for the bass strings and the three shorter for the treble... But that's all I can see that distinguishes the tuners apart)
2- How am I supposed to string the guitar?
Here is what Fender has to say:
Quote:
Locking tuning keys. Picture the headcap of the neck as the face of a clock, with the top being 12:00 and the nut being 6:00. Line the six tuning machines so that the first string keyhole is set at 1:00, the second at 2:00, the third and fourth at 3:00, the fifth at 4:00, and the sixth at 5:00. Pull the strings through tautly and tighten the thumb wheel, locking the string in. Now tune to pitch.

What does it mean exactly? That on the treble E I have to put the string at 1:00 (this is, almost the opposite way from the nut?)

I did try to look online, but I found no conclusive answer.


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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 5:24 am
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milcs wrote:
Quote:
Locking tuning keys. Picture the headcap of the neck as the face of a clock, with the top being 12:00 and the nut being 6:00. Line the six tuning machines so that the first string keyhole is set at 1:00, the second at 2:00, the third and fourth at 3:00, the fifth at 4:00, and the sixth at 5:00. Pull the strings through tautly and tighten the thumb wheel, locking the string in. Now tune to pitch.

What does it mean exactly? That on the treble E I have to put the string at 1:00 (this is, almost the opposite way from the nut?)

I did try to look online, but I found no conclusive answer.


I have Fender locking (Ping) tuners on both of my Strats.
When I restring I turn the tuner key until the hole line up with the nut, so that if you were to look through the hole in the tuner shaft you'd be looking at the nut slot for that string.
Pull the strings individually so that there is no slack from tuner to bridge, then turn the lock nut on the rear of the tuners to lock the strings in place.

Tune up.
Stretch strings.
Tune up again.

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Post subject: Re: Nut problem on a new Fender USA stratocaster standard?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 12:10 pm
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the following is pasted from my reply on your other post "a few issues".

Maybe it's just me, but from the last photo you posted, the back of the bridge seemed awfully high from the body. That may account for your running out of room for the intonation adjustment.

Add: I read your other post about the "problem with the nut". It sounds like you tried nearly everything except adjusting the neck tilt "micro-tilt adjustment". Tilting the neck back a hair may eliminate the buzz at the 1st fret, but may then require saddle height and intonation readjustment after, as it will lower the strings at the heel as well.


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