G string buzz

[Wilky1406]

I have a Luke 111 that has a metallic buzz on mainly the G string.
I've had a guitar guy look at it and he says he can't solve it ?
He suggested swapping out the saddles, but as the guitar is only 2 years old I can't see that being the issue.
When the trem is pulled back it looks flat and the buzz is more noticeable on when the string is played open.
Any ideas ?

 

[DrKev]

Hiya Wilky! Welcome to the forum!

Bearing in mind that without the guitar in front of me, I can't give you a specific diagnosis, noises like this are usually due to either the nut (especially if it's only on the open string) or the saddle.

If it's the saddle, and it sounds like it probably is, the crown of the saddle may have a little burr, indentation, or slight flat top and the string is buzzing on that. Swapping the saddle to a different string will often fix the issue for good (I'd suggest swap the G and low E string saddles). If it doesn't and the buzz moves with the saddle, I've fixed it by gently re-shaping the crown of the saddle with an appropriately shaped needle file. (You may go through the chrome plating to the thin copper layer or steel underneath but that's not a problem. When finished smooth up with fret erasers or something similar.)

If it's the nut, usually the angle through the nut down toward the tuner is too shallow. As a result the string buzzes in it's string slot. The tricky is to adjust that without altering the string height at the front of the nut. It's the kind of thing that can be fixed by a single swipe of the nut file, or can drive you crazy trying to get rid of it (especially on G-strings where that angle is naturally very shallow). If a guitar tech can't fix that, go to a new tech.

Let us know how you get on.

K

 

[Wilky1406]

Hiya Wilky! Welcome to the forum!

Bearing in mind that without the guitar in front of me, I can't give you a specific diagnosis, noises like this are usually due to either the nut (especially if it's only on the open string) or the saddle.

If it's the saddle, and it sounds like it probably is, the crown of the saddle may have a little burr, indentation, or slight flat top and the string is buzzing on that. Swapping the saddle to a different string will often fix the issue for good (I'd suggest swap the G and low E string saddles). If it doesn't and the buzz moves with the saddle, I've fixed it by gently re-shaping the crown of the saddle with an appropriately shaped needle file. (You may go through the chrome plating to the thin copper layer or steel underneath but that's not a problem. When finished smooth up with fret erasers or something similar.)

If it's the nut, usually the angle through the nut down toward the tuner is too shallow. As a result the string buzzes in it's string slot. The tricky is to adjust that without altering the string height at the front of the nut. It's the kind of thing that can be fixed by a single swipe of the nut file, or can drive you crazy trying to get rid of it (especially on G-strings where that angle is naturally very shallow). If a guitar tech can't fix that, go to a new tech.

Let us know how you get on.

K

Cheers for this, as soon as I can, I'll try swapping the saddles around. If that doesn't work, I'll get a better tech guy.