Sitar effect on D string

[Dougie]

Good everyone, I had a luthier build me a Classical Guitar with Brazilian Rosewood and Alpine Spruce top. It is absolutely amazing with one quirky exception. The D string if played anywhere other than directly on the fret has a sitar effect. I’ve changed the that string to no avail. I took it back to him and he replaced the strings, nut, bridge, frets, and has checked all the bracing without any improvement. Any thoughts on what else may cause this? It does this from first fret down to the bottom. Open and on the fret no issues. Thanks

[Simon Fay]

I didn't quite follow your description

What notes are effected? Is it related to a specific pitch? A specific string?

If it is one note, can you duplicate the same effect on a different string at the same pitch?

I will be around for a few more hours ... feel free to give me a call (got to fayguitars.com ... bottom of the page for my number).

[Dougie]

It is the D string only fingering each note from 1st fret to the last if not directly on the fret. All notes on other strings are fine.

[nacluth]

Does it happen if you fret the d string on two frets? Put one finger on the 2nd fret and another on the third fret at the same time.

[Cocobolo Kid]

I had a similar thing happen with a steel string acoustic guitar, except on the B string. It turned out the nut slots were filed too low. I placed a very thin plastic shim under the nut and the problem went away.

A good local guitar tech or repair person should be able to look at your guitar and give you a better diagnosis.

[Simon Fay]

Well, you can deduce a couple things:

It's not a wolf tone or brace issue or anything like that. Playing the same note on a different string would result in the same problem.

It's either a fret issue, tuner issue, bridge/saddle issue, or nut issue. If it is happening on the open string -- then most likely nut or tuning machine problem.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Dougie

Good everyone, I had a luthier build me a Classical Guitar with Brazilian Rosewood and Alpine Spruce top. It is absolutely amazing with one quirky exception. The D string if played anywhere other than directly on the fret has a sitar effect. I’ve changed the that string to no avail. I took it back to him and he replaced the strings, nut, bridge, frets, and has checked all the bracing without any improvement. Any thoughts on what else may cause this? It does this from first fret down to the bottom. Open and on the fret no issues. Thanks

If an open (non fretted) string does not have that buzz than the rest of your discription eliminates a number of possibilities. You can get string buzzes originating right on the fret
crown (though usually more pronounced on strings 5 and 6) which would be less or absent pressing right on the fret or a bit behind it using more fretting pressure. What is the fret
material? (nickle silver, stainless steel, EVO gold). I posted about this type of buzz on a thread I started ("Fret crown shape buzz") a few years back.