Strange noise on A String

[Rocheforte]

Whenever I play my A String, there is a strange buzzing/vibrating sound that comes from near the headstock. I'm positive it's not fret buzz, and if I apply pressure to the string between the tuner and the nut, the noise goes away. I believe it may be something up with the nut, since I just had it replaced at a local shop and it had never made the noise until after the repair when I replaced the strings. I was wondering if anyone had ever come across this and could offer any advice as to what it may be. Any help from you guys would be much appreciated

 

[GianGian]

You have to attach the string to the tuning pegs in a way that it sits in a different angle. This is happening because the vibration is not being completely cut at the nut.

 

[Slowgypsy]

Whenever I play my A String, there is a strange buzzing/vibrating sound that comes from near the headstock. I'm positive it's not fret buzz, and if I apply pressure to the string between the tuner and the nut, the noise goes away. I believe it may be something up with the nut, since I just had it replaced at a local shop and it had never made the noise until after the repair when I replaced the strings. I was wondering if anyone had ever come across this and could offer any advice as to what it may be. Any help from you guys would be much appreciated

If this is a Fender style headstock, check that the windings on the A string tuner are wound correctly... giving good downward pressure on the nut.

 

[Skitch it!]

How many winds of string do you have on the A tuner capstan?
The nut may have been cut a little low so the break angle (where the string angles over the nut) is a bit too shallow, allowing the A to vibrate through the nut and over to the headstock side.

If you can get the A string capstan filled with at least 3+ windings this will help increase the break angle, cutting off the vibration headstock side, I try to aim for at least 4 windings on all if I can.

 

[Unrepresented]

+1 to wrapping the windings lower to have a sharper angle of the string against the nut. I've experienced the same issue and that solved it for me.

 

[Rocheforte]

How many winds of string do you have on the A tuner capstan?
The nut may have been cut a little low so the break angle (where the string angles over the nut) is a bit too shallow, allowing the A to vibrate through the nut and over to the headstock side.

If you can get the A string capstan filled with at least 3+ windings this will help increase the break angle, cutting off the vibration headstock side, I try to aim for at least 4 windings on all if I can.

I will definitely try this next time I get some new strings. I have always heard 2-2 and 1/2 windings would be more than sufficient, so that's usually what I aim for. Thankfully, the noise is negligible when I play through an amp.

 

[Slowgypsy]

Yes, # of windings is important... but where they sit on the tuning post is of equal importance. Ideally, the last winding, where the string leaves the tuning post and heads to the nut should be as low as possible... as close to the headstock as possible. That makes the break angle over the nut as steep as possible which is a good thing.

 

[Skitch it!]

I will definitely try this next time I get some new strings. I have always heard 2-2 and 1/2 windings would be more than sufficient, so that's usually what I aim for. Thankfully, the noise is negligible when I play through an amp.

3+ will do it for a good break angle, strings are expensive enough, might as well use a little bit more of them ; )

 

[GL797]

obviously angled headstocks such as those found on most Gibsons do not have this issue.

 

[Rocheforte]

Yes, # of windings is important... but where they sit on the tuning post is of equal importance. Ideally, the last winding, where the string leaves the tuning post and heads to the nut should be as low as possible... as close to the headstock as possible. That makes the break angle over the nut as steep as possible which is a good thing.

I tried doing that as well, since I had always strung the guitar with each wind going further up the tuning post instead of further down. It cut some of the noise, so I think another wind further down would definitely take care of the issue. Thanks!