Pinging High E String

[Cagey]

That's what you get for using a Floyd w/ a locking nut. I hope you're happy. See if you can convince your friends. In the mean time, don't play any open string notes.

Now, go back through the thread and PAY ATTENTION! You have to make that front breakover point square.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

That's what you get for using a Floyd w/ a locking nut. I hope you're happy. See if you can convince your friends. In the mean time, don't play any open string notes.

Now, go back through the thread and PAY ATTENTION! You have to make that front breakover point square.

I'm very happy with all the guitars I own, which have Floyds, except for this one.  This is the only one I have problems with.  I'm not understanding what you're telling me to adjust here.  I AM PAYING ATTENTION!" 

Are you saying to remove the shims from under the nut because the nut is leaning forward, or what?  As you can see, the nut is curved in the back towards the neck, there's nowhere left for it to go.  If I move that, I'll have a gap between the neck and the nut, or the nut will hang over the headstock.  :icon_scratch:

 

[Cagey]

I didn't talk about shims; that was GuitarTom's suggestion. Sort of a "Hail Mary" move you could try if you don't have proper files. By shimming the nut on the fretboard side but not the tuner side, the nut would sit slightly rocked back, which might make the transition point at the exit end of the nut more abrupt.

Past that, I don't know what else to tell you. It seems Tom and I can't make our points clear enough even with pictures that include circles and arrows. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and take the thing to a pro.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I didn't talk about shims; that was GuitarTom's suggestion. Sort of a "Hail Mary" move you could try if you don't have proper files. By shimming the nut on the fretboard side but not the tuner side, the nut would sit slightly rocked back, which might make the transition point at the exit end of the nut more abrupt.

Past that, I don't know what else to tell you. It seems Tom and I can't make our points clear enough even with pictures that include circles and arrows. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and take the thing to a pro.

Okay, looking at the photo of my guitar, the nut is tipped TOWARDS the headstock.  I removed the shim, making it flush with the wood on the neck.  Are you telling me the nut needs to be tipped backwards TOWARDS the neck instead of the headstock?  All I'm seeing in the photo is a photo of a nut and an arrow, pointing at a string.

Your explanation is unclear.  In one post you're telling me things need to be square, so I remove a shim, making it flush with the wood instead of tipped as in the photo, and now you're telling me it needs to be "rocking back."  So which is it?  The nut was clearly rocking backwards (towards the tuners) in the photo I provided.  Are you saying I need to raise the side of the  nut closest to the fretboard?

 

[Cagey]

I'm not advocating tipping the nut at all. I was just trying to put GuitarTom's suggestion in different words. To make me happy, I'd want the thing mounted flat/tight to the neck meat. Then, I'd want the exit end of the nut - the fretboard side - to be perfectly perpendicular to the fretboard and have a sharp transition to the string, like it shows in the diagram back at post 14. Then at post 17, Tom has a list of things you could check/do. It's all pretty well-covered. The string isn't coming off that nut properly, so you have to see that it does.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I'm not advocating tipping the nut at all. I was just trying to put GuitarTom's suggestion in different words. To make me happy, I'd want the thing mounted flat/tight to the neck meat. Then, I'd want the exit end of the nut - the fretboard side - to be perfectly perpendicular to the fretboard and have a sharp transition to the string, like it shows in the diagram back at post 14. Then at post 17, Tom has a list of things you could check/do. It's all pretty well-covered. The string isn't coming off that nut properly, so you have to see that it does.

Okay, here are some photos from today, and here's what I've done between last evening and this morning:

- removed all shims
- re-added all shims
- put on new strings
- tightened string tree
- loosened string tree
- applied sandpaper to the nut
- removed/reinstalled nut
- checked saddle for burrs
- make sure nut is flush with the wood and/or shims

I don't know what else I can do, other than take it somewhere.  Anyway, here are some pics of the current state of the guitar.  Before you comment on the "gap" at the top of the neck, that's the way the neck was cut, the nut is flush with the "cutout" for the nut at the fretboard.

 

[guitartom]

Ok.  Are you getting a sitar sound with the nut locking pad off?  Also, take a breath.  This is part of the coolness about assembling your own guitar.  Once you figure this out you will have learned a bunch. Once you get back to me we can try 2 other things.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Ok.  Are you getting a sitar sound with the nut locking pad off?  Also, take a breath.  This is part of the coolness about assembling your own guitar.  Once you figure this out you will have learned a bunch. Once you get back to me we can try 2 other things.

Yes, still sounds like a sitar.  It just rings out loud 'n clear! :sad1: 

I'm obviously no luthier, but given everything I've tried, I don't know how it could be anything but the nut or a fret. :tard:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

With the locks off, play a bar chord but an E.  What I mean is lay your first finger in the slot where the locks are and play and E chord.  Is it still making sitar noises?
Patrick

 

[guitartom]

Ok.  Are you getting a sitar sound with the nut locking pad off?  Also, take a breath.  This is part of the coolness about assembling your own guitar.  Once you figure this out you will have learned a bunch. Once you get back to me we can try 2 other things.

Yes, still sounds like a sitar.  It just rings out loud 'n clear! :sad1: 

I'm obviously no luthier, but given everything I've tried, I don't know how it could be anything but the nut or a fret. :tard:

OK - so its not the locking pad pushing the string against the V.  Look by your pictures - your high E looks really close to the 1st fret.  It could be the picture angle.  You may need to shim only the treble side (I would use a .25 half shim) and not the whole nut.

If shimming the treble side only does not work - then I would look at swapping the nut.  If you are really adventurous you can try swapping one from a guitar that does not buzz.  Just make sure the size (RX) and radius is the same.

The reason I say not a high fret is because you are only getting the sitar effect on your E string and not the B and E strings.

One last thing - check out Rich Harris's site ibanezrules for setup info.  It is the best resource for setting up a floyd based guitar.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

With the locks off, play a bar chord but an E.  What I mean is lay your first finger in the slot where the locks are and play and E chord.  Is it still making sitar noises?
Patrick

Patrick, I'm not sure.  I just gave up and took it to the shop.  He looked it over and told me the nut looked like it had an "overspray" of finish on the nut and it needed to be filed off.  I left it with him, as in case that doesn't work, I don't have to make an extra trip.  He's hoping that fixes the problem, but if not, it's probably just a bad nut.

Ok.  Are you getting a sitar sound with the nut locking pad off?  Also, take a breath.  This is part of the coolness about assembling your own guitar.  Once you figure this out you will have learned a bunch. Once you get back to me we can try 2 other things.

Yes, still sounds like a sitar.  It just rings out loud 'n clear! :sad1: 

I'm obviously no luthier, but given everything I've tried, I don't know how it could be anything but the nut or a fret. :tard:

OK - so its not the locking pad pushing the string against the V.  Look by your pictures - your high E looks really close to the 1st fret.  It could be the picture angle.  You may need to shim only the treble side (I would use a .25 half shim) and not the whole nut.

If shimming the treble side only does not work - then I would look at swapping the nut.  If you are really adventurous you can try swapping one from a guitar that does not buzz.  Just make sure the size (RX) and radius is the same.

The reason I say not a high fret is because you are only getting the sitar effect on your E string and not the B and E strings.

One last thing - check out Rich Harris's site ibanezrules for setup info.  It is the best resource for setting up a floyd based guitar.

Tom, I pretty much tried everything, but as I quoted above in Patrick's post, I just gave up on it and brought it to the shop.  I've had the guy at the shop work on a few different guitars and he's always done a very good job.  He also fixed my amp head, which got "killed" a few weeks back.  He seems to really know his stuff.

 

[guitartom]

Good luck.  Let us know what the fix was.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Good luck.  Let us know what the fix was.

Definitely, Tom!  Thanks for the help and suggestions!  ccasion14: