Open B buzz

[gjtoth]

I replaced the nut on my Sigma to alleviate the high E sometimes sliding off the the fretboard. http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=366829 All went well, but I now have a tiny buzz in my B string when played open. I thought there might be some debris in the slot, so I brushed it out. But, the buzz in open B persists.

Any ideas to help me get rid of this annoyance?

[Silly Moustache]

A VERY common problem ! sometimes it just goes away. sometimes another string might help. I get the problem from time to time on some of my guitars - very common on Martins it seems.

Of course it is how the string passes over the nut - slot - point of contact etc.

[gjtoth]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

A VERY common problem ! sometimes it just goes away. sometimes another string might help. I get the problem from time to time on some of my guitars - very common on Martins it seems.

Of course it is how the string passes over the nut - slot - point of contact etc.

I reckon I'll see if it just goes away, then, before I drive myself to distraction trying to alleviate it.

Tah, Andy.

[Ned Milburn]

Did you cut the B string slot too low?

Did you cut the slot at the correct angle?

If the slot is flattish on the bottom, is the slot too wide?

Any of these issues can cause a buzz.

[gjtoth]

Originally Posted by Ned Milburn

Did you cut the B string slot too low?

Did you cut the slot at the correct angle?

If the slot is flattish on the bottom, is the slot too wide?

Any of these issues can cause a buzz.

The nut was pre-slotted and I didn't mess with it. The slots are rounded at the bottom, from what I can tell.

[news_watch]

That happened to my gsmini and someone here was helpful to point out a low nut slot will cause that and nut slots can wear over time.
They were spot on with the assessment.
I took it to a local shop (Richmond VA) and they proceeded to do a full set up and screwed up a good fingerstyle set up with a rookie set-up.

That's when I decided to learn basic work myself.

If you are comfortable with it, take off the nut, shim it with a simple adhesive backed paper label shim, then (if needed) reset the slot depth for the other strings. Bet they won't need it.
It only takes a couple thousands of an inch to make it right.


NW

[gjtoth]

Originally Posted by news_watch

That happened to my gsmini and someone here was helpful to point out a low nut slot will cause that and nut slots can wear over time.
They were spot on with the assessment.
I took it to a local shop (Richmond VA) and they proceeded to do a full set up and screwed up a good fingerstyle set up with a rookie set-up.

That's when I decided to learn basic work myself.

If you are comfortable with it, take off the nut, shim it with a simple adhesive backed paper label shim, then (if needed) reset the slot depth for the other strings. Bet they won't need it.
It only takes a couple thousands of an inch to make it right.


NW

Took care of it. I got a new pre-slotted bone nut (the other was Tusq) and the buzz it gone.

[Ned Milburn]

Originally Posted by gjtoth

The nut was pre-slotted and I didn't mess with it. The slots are rounded at the bottom, from what I can tell.

FWIW, pre slotted nuts are not finished and need proper touch up. As I mentioned in my earlier post in this thread, depth, angle, width, and bottom contour of the nut slots need to be optimized to get to fully ideal playing conditions.

I am glad the bone nut is working well for you, but I would be surprised if the slots are cut to their optimum.

[Frank Ford]

Originally Posted by gjtoth

Any ideas to help me get rid of this annoyance?

Here's a link to around three dozen ideas:

CHASING THE MYSTERY BUZZ

[John Arnold]

The bottom of the slot must be angled. If it is parallel with the plane of the fingerboard, it will buzz.