String rattle on first pluck after fretting.

[JimBurn]

Hi kind reader, I have a five string custom Schecter, not a year old, much loved.

After fretting B or C on the A string, 2nd or 3rd frets, the A string gives a short little tinny vibration sound, enough to be annoying when doodling quietly acoustically.

On the second and subsequent plucks the rattle is gone.

Was using rolled flat strings and suspected the string core may be loose around those frets ... but nice new flatwounds do just the same thing.

My best thought is that the fret metal can just touch the truss rod ... but that seems improbable! There is no looseness evident in the frets.

Thanks for the loan of your brain cells ...

 

[202dy]

The truss rod is buried closer to the back of the neck than the front. Frets tangs do not penetrate the fingerboard.

More likely that there is a high fret. But it is just as likely that the string is being struck hard at first and the second strike is more controlled. We all tend to pull harder (so we can hear) when unplugged.

Ultimately, an electric guitar is one half of a musical instrument. If it doesn't buzz through the amp, it doesn't buzz.

 

[JimBurn]

Thanks for clearing that up about the truss rod, and yep, it's no major issue, unless you have OCD or something, but, bedeviled by the noise, so I might have it, I have done some very measured plucking, in the quietness of the night, and the fret/s seem perfectly solid and seated, and the rattle is most definitely only there for the first pluck on the open A after playing a C.

When I spend £399 on £500 guitar I expect it to be perfect!

 

[202dy]

For three times the money perfection is unlikely.

In that price range, assume the fret work to be cursory. With luck, you get something good. Your description sounds like you got something good.

 

[JimBurn]

If this odd little problem is worth anyone's time ... thank you ...

It must be that I've bought two consecutive loose cored A strings...

or ...
Might flatwound strings be prone to having their cores come loose?
Might super/extra long strings be so prone?
Might a 'string through' bridge cause a loose core due to the bend necessary for the string to go through the body?
Might A strings be more prone to the core becoming loose?
Is it even possible for a core to come loose?

Thanks....

 

[ddnidd1]

First - don't be overly concerned with what you hear acoustically. Most of that noise will not translate and/or be noticeable when amplified.

Second - be certain you've got your neck relief optimized.

 

[Gaebrial]

Have you checked near the bridge? Do you know where the noise is coming from? I know it is difficult for me to pinpoint a noise like that 'cause you can hear it all along the string.

Take a look at it from the side when you pluck and see if you can see the string hitting a fret. Also, putting a capo on the problem fret(s) might help, that way you can put pressure behind the bridge or behind the nut to see if maybe the string is rattling around in there, or maybe the nut hasn't been glues or some saddles might not be tightened all the way or something. It might also be a loose piece on your bass somewhere that responds to those frequencies. Is the truss rod tightened at all? Perhaps the truss rod is completely loose and rattling against the fret board (for double action rods, I think). If it is a 5 string, how is the string spacing? I have no idea if this is even a thing that hapens, but maybe the string is vibrating and hitting another string.

I am not sure what it is, but there are some ideas of things to check if you are out of ideas.

 

[megafiddle]

...
the rattle is most definitely only there for the first pluck on the open A after playing a C.
...

From the description, something is changing (or shifting) in the open string after releasing a fretted note on that string.

Possibly the string is being pinched in a not slot that is not quite wide enough. When the string is fretted, it gets stuck momentarily at a lower angle coming off the nut. Then the first open note shakes it loose.

After playing a fretted note, and before playing an open note, does the noise stop if you lift up on the string first at around the 1st fret?
And can you cause the problem by pressing down on the string right at the nut right before playing an open note?

If so, loosen the string and make sure it is not being pinched. You should be able to set the string into, and lift it out of, the nut slot easily and freely.

-

 

[JimBurn]

Very many thanks guys, lots of thoughts there, most already had and looked at alas. Neck relief, truss rod, bridges, possible loose bits ... all examined for the wretched rattle! ... but megafiddle's pinching nut seems a distinct possibily, thank you. Not near my bass right now, will report back.

 

[Lobster11]

Here's another somewhat-related thought: The string doesn't have a sharp-enough break angle at the nut. Does that string wrap around its tuning peg multiple times, such that the part of the string going to the nut is at the very bottom of the peg?

 

[JimBurn]

Thanks Lobster11 it was the nut.

Megafiddle, brilliant, thank you. Dared to take a file to the nut, just to follow and smooth the A string groove. Didn't appear to be pinching, must've been catching somehow though. Took a pic to show you but can't upload it with my tablet, grrr ... There's a very slight turn in the A string after it leaves the nut for the peg (only two winds Lobster11). The peg side edge of the nut on the inside of the slight turn is where I did a second very tiny bit of filing and all's well.

Great joy!

What I thought might've been a loud version of the same rattle could be made by plucking hard right at the bride end. This sound gone now too.

Very happy, more thanks all, Megafiddle, Jim.

 

[JimBurn]

A quick doddle about and I find that my gratitude has not been fully expressed. I might've bought more new strings and then visited a luthier... that's possibly over £100 saved ... not to mention the time and angst.

May your karmic rewards be great Megafiddle, Om Ah Hum, that f'ing rattle's gone.

: )

 

[megafiddle]

Qute welcome - glad to hear it helped!

-

 

[JimBurn]