Buzz/rattle in Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V

[shadewind]

I just got my Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V and I just love the sound of it and the feel of playing it. I immediately replaced the strings with a set of D'Addario roundwounds and Schaller strap locks, which are the only mods I've done.

The only problem is that I hear some kind of buzzing from the bass somewhere between the neck and head when playing the B- and the E-strings. I am quite sure it is not fret buzz, but what could it be then?

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by shadewind

The only problem is that I hear some kind of buzzing from the bass somewhere between the neck and head when playing the B- and the E-strings. I am quite sure it is not fret buzz, but what could it be then?

way too vague....

[shadewind]

Okay... like this then:

I can hear the sound from the headstock but also from the strings itself so I suppose it's generated somewhere and the resonates in the strings which makes it hard to tell where it is. But it seems weird that it would be the tuners or something like that.

Can truss rods cause buzzing somehow?

[BobKos]

First thing to check - did you wind the strings so that they are progressing DOWN the tuning post? Do they drop below the nut when they leave the post? You may simply need to rewind those strings on the tuning posts correctly.

If that's not it, loosen up the B & E strings. Place a small sliver of paperboard under each string at the nut. Tune back up. See if the noise is gone. You only want enough paperboard to lift the string a little bit. It's possible that the nut is worn or defective. I've had a similar problem on a couple of basses. New nuts fixed those basses.

[shadewind]

Thank you, exactly the kind of tips I needed, common sources of rattling, You can obviously not know what is wrong in my particular case, but at least give me pointers in possible directions.

The strings do progress down the tuning post and leaves the tuning post below the nut. And it does buzz even when I fret those strings so I doubt that's the problem.

I've heard the truss rod can be the problem?

[Bobster]

Other possible causes are truss rod rattling (try slight movements in either direction), or more likely a bridge saddle spring (put light pressure on the springs and if that's the issue, replace the buzzing one with a higher tension spring)

Bob

[shadewind]

Okay so I found the problem(s). Most of the rattling came from the bridge, the saddles were rattling against each other so I nudged them away from each other which solved the problem. What do people usually do about this problem since on many Fender style bridges, there's nothing preventing the saddles from touching each other...

Anyway... there is still some rattling on open strings, a very faint one but I suppose that is the nut being plastic crap. Replacing it would solve the problem, right? What's a good replacement?