Good thinking Buco, but I think I'm pretty sure it's originating from the bridge. My luthier set it up when I bought it used from Reverb back in January & he said the frets were in good shape. Thanks for your insight though, it's always appreciated.
Chris--mine seems to have the adjustable tune-o-matic bridge you spoke of. I'm thinking you're onto the culprit, and that the groove is not smooth in the bridge on those 2 strings. I may try to correct it. If I cant get it right, I'll hand it off to my luthier.
In which case before he tells you the bridge needs replacing just try looking at the respective string slots, preferably through a magnifying glass or jeweller's loupe to see for yourself if there is any roughness. You may be able to polish it smooth with some very fine wet&dry sandpaper. The string needs to have a clean break at the edge of the slot with no chance it can vibrate against anything. Check also the bridge itself is sat squarely on the adjusting wheels and they in turn are flat on the wooden bridge as any interference there could cause your symptoms too. So basically, next time you have the strings off, give it a thorough inspection and clean up, that may be all it needs. Failing that, a new bridge; these tune-o-matics should be a precision made piece of kit, possibly some are made less than perfect.
Thanks Chris. I'm going to try the suggestions presented here and if I cant get those strings to ring clear, I'll take it to my luthier. I really appreciate everyone's good advice. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Good call, Bones. It had freakishly light strings on it when I bought it early this year. Now, as I mentioned, it's got 13's. So if anything, the grooves in the bridge may be too small, since I went way up on string gauge. Either way, I hope to get it resolved soon. Thanks to all who offered input.
I'm pretty sure you can disassemble the parts of the bridge, just take a piece from the string that doesn't have a problem and put it on the problematic string.
Not sure that would work if you are talking about swapping the saddles around as the groove would be a different size; as Bones said above, it should not be too wide or too tight, or even too deep.
Whatever, it sounds like Mike K knows what to look for and now we are all interested hopefully he will report back if and when it is fixed.
Comments
Good thinking Buco, but I think I'm pretty sure it's originating from the bridge. My luthier set it up when I bought it used from Reverb back in January & he said the frets were in good shape. Thanks for your insight though, it's always appreciated.
Chris--mine seems to have the adjustable tune-o-matic bridge you spoke of. I'm thinking you're onto the culprit, and that the groove is not smooth in the bridge on those 2 strings. I may try to correct it. If I cant get it right, I'll hand it off to my luthier.
In which case before he tells you the bridge needs replacing just try looking at the respective string slots, preferably through a magnifying glass or jeweller's loupe to see for yourself if there is any roughness. You may be able to polish it smooth with some very fine wet&dry sandpaper. The string needs to have a clean break at the edge of the slot with no chance it can vibrate against anything. Check also the bridge itself is sat squarely on the adjusting wheels and they in turn are flat on the wooden bridge as any interference there could cause your symptoms too. So basically, next time you have the strings off, give it a thorough inspection and clean up, that may be all it needs. Failing that, a new bridge; these tune-o-matics should be a precision made piece of kit, possibly some are made less than perfect.
MikeK the grooves in the bridge should not be too wide either.
Thanks Chris. I'm going to try the suggestions presented here and if I cant get those strings to ring clear, I'll take it to my luthier. I really appreciate everyone's good advice. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Good call, Bones. It had freakishly light strings on it when I bought it early this year. Now, as I mentioned, it's got 13's. So if anything, the grooves in the bridge may be too small, since I went way up on string gauge. Either way, I hope to get it resolved soon. Thanks to all who offered input.
Oh that too. There are precision slotting files in different widths from Stew Mac. the grooves should not be too deep either
Good to know, thanks brother Bones.
I'm pretty sure you can disassemble the parts of the bridge, just take a piece from the string that doesn't have a problem and put it on the problematic string.
Not sure that would work if you are talking about swapping the saddles around as the groove would be a different size; as Bones said above, it should not be too wide or too tight, or even too deep.
Whatever, it sounds like Mike K knows what to look for and now we are all interested hopefully he will report back if and when it is fixed.