Ringing of string parts behind nut

[headcrash]

I think everybody knows what I am talking about. I've had this on nearly every guitar I have or had. When playing palm muted heavy riffs, the parts of the strings between nut and tuners ring in pauses. Due to HiGain sound, this ringing is amplified. Sometimes I put a piece of foam underneath the strings, but that doesn't look quite good, especially on such beautiful headstocks of a EBMM.
How do you get rid of this?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Try and make sure there are a few extra winds on the tuners which makes the break angle of the strings lower from the nut. This extra few mm should do the trick!

 

[Jimmyb]

Cut the strings between the nut and the tuners. That should cure it........

 

[Larry]

Try and make sure there are a few extra winds on the tuners which makes the break angle of the strings lower from the nut. This extra few mm should do the trick!

+1

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

The only time I have ever heard a ringing noise it was related to springs in the tremolo cavity. I stuck some foam under them and got rid of the problem.

Since you say the noise is coming from behind the nut, are you sure that the nut slots are cut to the appropriate size for your string gauge? Just a thought...

 

[tommyindelaware]

weave a small clear strip of soft plastic between the strings .......

 

[Lou]

I've had this happen. You can hear it a lot on acoustics. I've used a method similar to tommy's. I had a twist tie that was from a planet waves cable pack that is coated in soft plastic and weaved it between the strings.

As Pete said, it could be coming from your trem springs if your guitar has one. Foam/paper towel/ etc... will do the trick there.

 

[headcrash]

Thanks for the many answers.
Since I have a hardtail (please ignore the ambiguity ), the ringing definitely comes from from behind the nut.
I use .10 - .046 stringsets. I bought the guitar used, but I think the nut is original.
Maybe I am going to pick up some of the ideas. Since I search something, that is completely "cosmetically neutral", I have to think about it.

 

[tommyindelaware]

i'm amazed it's an issue !!!!

 

[emkey]

How do you roll the strings on the tuners? I think it'd be the best to follow Tim's lead. Bill is also right, using a hair-tie is well known trick to avoid unwanted sounds. The extreme is to use small towel tied at the nut (but it's actually in use only for the recording comfort) - you can notice that on the DVD added to the Limited edition if DT Systematic Chaos album.

 

[tommyindelaware]

a dew rag for yer balls ????

The extreme is to use small towel tied at the nut (but it's actually in use only for the recording comfort) - you can notice that on the DVD added to the Limited edition if DT Systematic Chaos album.

 

[PRCpower]

Sorry for offtopic guys but i have a similar problem.
The G string on my silo with tremolo is producing noise open or fretted.
The noise is similar to fret buzz but way louder. Metal to metal sound.
What could it be? I cant see or hear where is the problem? Does some parts resonate or what.

 

[tommyindelaware]

apply pressure down onto the string just behind the nut..... & at the same time.....play the string and see if it stops . if it does.....your nut slot is worn too loose.

Sorry for offtopic guys but i have a similar problem.
The G string on my silo with tremolo is producing noise open or fretted.
The noise is similar to fret buzz but way louder. Metal to metal sound.
What could it be? I cant see or hear where is the problem? Does some parts resonate or what.

 

[roburado]

I think everybody knows what I am talking about. I've had this on nearly every guitar I have or had. When playing palm muted heavy riffs, the parts of the strings between nut and tuners ring in pauses. Due to HiGain sound, this ringing is amplified. Sometimes I put a piece of foam underneath the strings, but that doesn't look quite good, especially on such beautiful headstocks of a EBMM.
How do you get rid of this?

The only time I have ever had this happen was if I didn't cut the strings at the tuners, but the sound then was actually coming from beyond the tuners.