Rickenbacker 4003 String rattle issue

[Kevorargh]

Hi Everyone!

I’m attaching a video to weird problem I’m having with my 2003 Ric 4003. In a very specific area of the neck, when I play a very specific chord, the strings rattle against the neck, and cause a lot of buzzing. The rattle occurs behind the chord that I’m playing. The video should show what I mean - when I play a root and a third on my A and D strings at the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th frets or so, the A string seems to rattle on the frets behind those frets, like around the 9th fret or so - honestly I can’t be sure which frets are rattling, but I can mute the string behind the chord I’m playing and the buzz goes away while the chord still rings.

I made an attempt to raise the action and it offered no relief. I have not adjusted the neck. I have made every attempt to keep the neck straight and it does not appear to be a back bow, but I’m terrible at sighting a neck and can’t be sure of that either. I have adjusted to pickup cover so the strings are not rattling against that.

video link:

Any ideas? I appreciate your help!

 

[gwangi]

Just a guess but could the strings be buzzing on the chrome treble pickup surround?

 

[gwangi]

Another guess I just thought of is making sure the neck is straight with a straight edge while you adjust both truss rods and if you are not comfortable doing that I take it to a reputable luither and not Guitar Center, I think they are idiots but if the buzzing is still going on after you have adjusted the truss rod and adjusted the string height it could be high frets, maybe some other folks on here have some more insight.

 

[Kevorargh]

Just a guess but could the strings be buzzing on the chrome treble pickup surround?

No, the rattling is on the other end on the neck. If you can see where I mute the strings, that’s where the rattling seems to be.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Hi Everyone!

I’m attaching a video to weird problem I’m having with my 2003 Ric 4003. In a very specific area of the neck, when I play a very specific chord, the strings rattle against the neck, and cause a lot of buzzing. The rattle occurs behind the chord that I’m playing. The video should show what I mean - when I play a root and a third on my A and D strings at the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th frets or so, the A string seems to rattle on the frets behind those frets, like around the 9th fret or so - honestly I can’t be sure which frets are rattling, but I can mute the string behind the chord I’m playing and the buzz goes away while the chord still rings.

Is this a new issue, or one that's developed suddenly?

 

[Garret Graves]

Just played what you played in the video on my Rick 4003- had the same buzz, but less intense in volume.

 

[Garret Graves]

It is not amplified noise, it’s acoustic. It seems to be a small amount of vibration translates to the neck and vibrates against the strings, when fingering up above the 12th fret especially. I could see how if you were to practice unamplified, it would be a distracting sound.

 

[Whale]

I believe your Ric has “back buzz”. This occurs mostly on guitars but can also happen to basses. Attach a capo at various places on your neck to verify/identify the issue. If you still have “back buzz” the most common fix is by raising the nut slightly. If the buzz is only happening on one string you can use the super glue and baking soda trick to bring the string up.

If you’re hesitant to do the job yourself good luthier can quickly solve the problem.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I couldn't pick up on the video's audio very well, but I think it is a neck that it too straight, causing sympathetic vibrations from the strings between the one fingered and the nut, as they are hitting the frets in between. Try increasing the relief a bit more so the strings are not closer to the frets and/or even laying on the frets.

 

[C Stone]

Yep as mentioned above sounds like "back buzz" either your nut is cut too deep or you need a little more relief in your neck (forward bow). You could check the nut by putting a piece of paper in the slots of the offending strings (matchbook/business card) could also need a fret level, start with the easiest and go from there. That buzz would drive me nuts.

 

[Kevorargh]

Is this a new issue, or one that's developed suddenly?

It's been that way for a long time, but since it only happens when I play that type of chord at that specific part of the neck, I forget about it. I only started noticing it again trying to play the middle part of Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and it was really distracting as the rattle gets picked up by the pickups and you can hear its through the amp.

 

[Koshchei]

Hi Everyone!

I’m attaching a video to weird problem I’m having with my 2003 Ric 4003. In a very specific area of the neck, when I play a very specific chord, the strings rattle against the neck, and cause a lot of buzzing. The rattle occurs behind the chord that I’m playing. The video should show what I mean - when I play a root and a third on my A and D strings at the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th frets or so, the A string seems to rattle on the frets behind those frets, like around the 9th fret or so - honestly I can’t be sure which frets are rattling, but I can mute the string behind the chord I’m playing and the buzz goes away while the chord still rings.

I made an attempt to raise the action and it offered no relief. I have not adjusted the neck. I have made every attempt to keep the neck straight and it does not appear to be a back bow, but I’m terrible at sighting a neck and can’t be sure of that either. I have adjusted to pickup cover so the strings are not rattling against that.

video link:

Any ideas? I appreciate your help!

I know this one well. It's caused by the change in air temperature and humidity as we settle into Autumn. The neck is contracting a little, causing the rods to pull the neck too straight (or give it a little backbow).

The solution is to add a bit of relief to the neck. Because the neck and the two truss rods act as a system to counteract the string tension, you'll have to futz around with the balance between the rods to find a point of equilibrium where there's no back-buzz or dead spots.

I'm guessing you have a newer instrument, as it'll settle down after 5 or so years.

 

[Spidey2112]

I would have never guessed the string(s) would vibrate behind (fret to nut) the fretted note(s).

 

[Scarysharkface]

A hair tie between the nut and first fret might solve it.

John

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi Everyone!

I’m attaching a video to weird problem I’m having with my 2003 Ric 4003. In a very specific area of the neck, when I play a very specific chord, the strings rattle against the neck, and cause a lot of buzzing. The rattle occurs behind the chord that I’m playing. The video should show what I mean - when I play a root and a third on my A and D strings at the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th frets or so, the A string seems to rattle on the frets behind those frets, like around the 9th fret or so - honestly I can’t be sure which frets are rattling, but I can mute the string behind the chord I’m playing and the buzz goes away while the chord still rings.

I made an attempt to raise the action and it offered no relief. I have not adjusted the neck. I have made every attempt to keep the neck straight and it does not appear to be a back bow, but I’m terrible at sighting a neck and can’t be sure of that either. I have adjusted to pickup cover so the strings are not rattling against that.

video link:

Any ideas? I appreciate your help!

What strings are you using. On an odd occasion or so, I’ve had the same issue with DR-Low Riders (hex core) when they are really new. I’ve not noticed that sound being picked up by the pick up, but it is really annoying when not using an amp or at low volume.

 

[electracoyote]

I’ve had truss rods vibrate and make this noise.

 

[themickster]

Buzz on the higher frets is low action. On the higher frets, it's too little neck relief. Check out YouTubes on how to set up a bass.

 

[Fernando Costa]

Backbuzz, it's normal, the pickups don't amplify this sound, it's the string touching the first or second fret behind the one that's playing, it's behind your fingers. If it bothers you, lift the nut a little.

 

[rashrader]

Make certain that your truss rods are at even tension.

 

[mikecd1]

I agree its likely either not enough relief or the nut is too low and rattle behind the fretted note would bug me too. Check the relief first and if that's the new bridge you can also make sure your string radius is correct - I think the newer Rics have 10 inch neck radius. At this time of year its possible the neck needs a slight truss rod adjustment.