Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: horsehead on December 14, 2011, 11:13:58 PM

Title: rattling strings
Post by: horsehead on December 14, 2011, 11:13:58 PM

OK so I'm getting seriously into setting up my guitars properly and am enjoying the experience, but I've come across something that seems completely weird to me. I've setup one of my Tokai's perfectly for me, medium height, slight neck bow etc everything is spot on...except 1 thing! My low E is rattling behind where I fret the note on the lower frets, not higher up like I'd expect and not over several strings but just on the low E. I thought it might be the bridge height, but if I adjust that then the A,D & G at the  very least will be raised & I've got it perfect now...any idea of how to cure please? Am I missing something perfectly obvious?

Thanks

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: she.cries.wolf on December 15, 2011, 08:15:46 AM

There's a few things you should do:

1) Set up your bridge to your necks radius

2) Set up your Truss Rod different (Although I'd leave this to a proffesional if you're not fully sure of what you're doing. They can sometimes be bloody tricky, lol)

3) Make sure you don't have a warped neck

4) Check your frets are level and not worn

5) A new nut maybe a good idea. I had this problem and after a new set-up and a new nut, the problem was eliminated.

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: Twinfan on December 15, 2011, 09:13:40 AM

A low nut slot is what sprang to my mind?

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: Ratrod on December 15, 2011, 11:43:06 AM

Without having the guitar in my hands or on the bench it's a bit hard to diagnose.

I think it's just a matter of raising the bass side of the bridge a little. 2/1000 of an inch can make the difference .

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: she.cries.wolf on December 15, 2011, 01:31:49 PM

Quote from: Ratrod on December 15, 2011, 11:43:06 AM

Without having the guitar in my hands or on the bench it's a bit hard to diagnose.

I think it's just a matter of raising the bass side of the bridge a little. 2/1000 of an inch can make the difference .

I think that would work, but the only problem would be the strings would raise more towards the higher frets. A higher nut would be a good compromise

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: Transcend on December 15, 2011, 10:26:51 PM

In these cases ive found a very tiny adjustment on the truss rod can usually cure it.

If not a new nut as has already been mentioned

Title: Re: rattling strings
Post by: horsehead on December 17, 2011, 11:21:11 AM

Thanks guys, I'll give the bridge a tweak & if that doesn't work I'll sneak a bit on the truss rod...thanks :D