Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: _tom_ on April 05, 2007, 12:03:28 PM

Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: _tom_ on April 05, 2007, 12:03:28 PM
I think this is the same problem I had beforehand (see the Mule thread somewhere here), kinda sounds like feedback and the sound it makes when you pick behind the nut:

http://download.yousendit.com/210FB8CF63CA4F70

It only seems to happen when I play a D chord, but its so irritating :x Any ideas?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: Twinfan on April 05, 2007, 12:11:49 PM
Sounds like something vibrating.  Loose locking nut string tree?  Lose machine head?  Internal wires somewhere vibrating?

Where's the noise coming from acoustically??
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: _tom_ on April 05, 2007, 12:21:18 PM
I cant really tell where its coming from, its hard to hear unless I'm plugged in.

I'll have to stuff the springs with kitchen towel, tighten everything and try again I guess. Someone on HC said it could be a badly cut nut, is that possibly the problem?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: Twinfan on April 05, 2007, 12:28:38 PM
Scum on the nut saddle might do it, yep.
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: _tom_ on April 05, 2007, 12:43:37 PM
I have been using graphite from a pencil in the slots to make it all smoother, just cleaned it out and there was no difference. Very annoying, I might have to take it to a tech if stuffing the springs wont work :?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: Twinfan on April 05, 2007, 01:05:20 PM
Have you cleaned the bridge saddles too?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: gingataff on April 05, 2007, 02:02:26 PM
Tremolo springs I reckon.
Jam some cotton wool and toilet paper between them and see if that helps.

EDIT: Oops, looks like you've already mentioned it twice above! That'll teach me for not reading the full thread.
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: Philly Q on April 05, 2007, 02:35:22 PM
Don't know if it would work as well on a Strat trem, but I greased the springs on my Kahler years ago and it totally cured the creaking.

Could be messy if you're a no-backplate kinda guy, of course.  :?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: gingataff on April 05, 2007, 04:09:31 PM
Trem springs often vibrate just like a spring reverb and sometimes they have more of a ring to them. I think the springs on my Schaller bridge are less 'ringy' than some of the Japanese (Gotoh?) bridges I have so maybe try some of those. Another thing I've done is put duct/duck/gaffa tape across the springs, it seems to absorb the vibrations without altering tone and doesn't stop you using the bridge but does someimes get unstuck ;)
Even guitar heroes suffer from this: http://www.vai.com/Machines/guitars1.html click on All about Evo and then click on Body (Back)
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: _tom_ on April 06, 2007, 12:16:21 PM
Sounds like I've sorted it! Stuffed the springs with kitchen towel then held it all together with duct tape.. course its pretty much impossible to use the trem now, but I never used it beforehand anyway ;) I might try some Schaller springs if I can find any (any idea where to get em from?), then see if I can get the bridge set up to fuction as a proper trem with no squeaks! It all seems to stay in tune now for some reason, before I stuffed it I was having problems keeping it in!

Thanks for the replies :)
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: gingataff on April 06, 2007, 01:11:21 PM
I think Feline may be able to help you out with Schaller springs but don't quote me on that.
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on April 07, 2007, 04:11:07 PM
Yep - we have some Schaller springs
About £9 for 3 of them

I favour them over all others myself
They may need to be stretched out a bit more than ssome of the other brands but that is a good thing as they are under tension even when the whole system is balanced (not in dive bomb mode)

I recommend 2 springs for 9-42 (sometimes will work for 9-46)
The claw will need to be screwed almost all the way back but it works!
3 for 10-46 (or 9-46 as well)

I also angle the two outer springs - wide at the sustain block (holes 1 & 5) and narrow at the claw (hooks 2 & 4)
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: Mavet on April 07, 2007, 04:12:41 PM
I used to have the same problem. It came from behind the nut (I have a locking nut).
Try to pick the strings behind the nut while plugged in to see if its that.
I used a very thick piece of felt under the strings there to sort it.
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: _tom_ on April 07, 2007, 04:33:50 PM
Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
Yep - we have some Schaller springs
About £9 for 3 of them

I favour them over all others myself
They may need to be stretched out a bit more than ssome of the other brands but that is a good thing as they are under tension even when the whole system is balanced (not in dive bomb mode)

I recommend 2 springs for 9-42 (sometimes will work for 9-46)
The claw will need to be screwed almost all the way back but it works!
3 for 10-46 (or 9-46 as well)

I also angle the two outer springs - wide at the sustain block (holes 1 & 5) and narrow at the claw (hooks 2 & 4)


Cheers Jonathan, I did email you but seems like you've answered my question here - how do I go about ordering a set of 3?
Title: wtf is making this noise on my guitar?!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on April 08, 2007, 12:34:58 PM
Gimme a shout in the workshop on Tuesday
Sorry for the delay with the email
Been so up to my neck with LGS preperation