Valentine. Behind the nut sitar? Tips?

[TheoDog]

Hello. First post on this forum.

Just got a Valentine. Fantastic guitar.

I spend the afternoon yesterday playing acoustically just getting familiar with the fretboard.
I noticed the open G has a sympathetic sitar-like ring happening behind the nut. I narrowed it down to that because I can place a finger on the string between nut and tuner and pluck the string and not hear it. When I pluck the g behind the nut it is the same pitch that is ringing.
I threw on a fresh set of NYXL 11's just in case (no change). The neck is currently adjusted with no relief.

Any clues on things to remedy this? Probably isn't any issue when playing amplified.

 

[MJM]

fwiw, I get that ring on almost all of my guitars that don't have a locking nut... its not bad, but it is present. Its up to you if it bothers you. My solution is just putting a thin hair tie around the headstock with very little pressure to mute the strings behind the nut. Some people put velcro or other dampening materials. You just need to dampen the strings from vibrations.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Sounds like a nut issue. If you haven't slotted your own nuts in the past, take it right to a GOOD tech who has and have them take a look at it. Not an issue for a novice to tackle, IMO.

Was the string from the first set also from a set of 11s? If so, my guess would be the nut slot needs to widened ever so slightly. And if that is the case, do as I suggested above. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200.

Good luck!

And welcome to the forum!

Oh and forum rules state that unless you post a pic of your guitar, it doesn't really exist.

 

[DrKev]

First, remember you are under warranty, so get in contact the store you bought from, or EBMM customer service directly for advice before you do anything else that might invalidate the warranty.

This is usually a nut slot issue, usually only a problem on G-strings (and sometimes D-strings) because of the shallow downward angle from the nut to the tuner. It shouldn't be noticeable when plugged in (though you will hear it acoustically when playing at low volumes). As MJM says, it can be successfully damped with velcro, or hair scrunchies, or lead fishing weights.

As the pressure from the strings wear the nut slots, it is an issue that may fix itself over time, or a good guitar tech with the appropriate nut files should be able to fix this without difficulty. Just remember that if you try to fix it yourself and mess it up, the compensated nuts can only be bought from EBMM.

 

[RichieZ]

Did you ever get this figured out. I have a similar sound on my Valentine, but just assumed that it's normal(pretty sure I've heard on other electrics I've tried unplugged but this is the only one I own). I know that unwound G string can be pretty flaky. If it turned out to be a nut or other issue that needed to be resolved, I'd like to know.

Any info you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks... and congrats on the Valentine!

Hello. First post on this forum.

Just got a Valentine. Fantastic guitar.

I spend the afternoon yesterday playing acoustically just getting familiar with the fretboard.
I noticed the open G has a sympathetic sitar-like ring happening behind the nut. I narrowed it down to that because I can place a finger on the string between nut and tuner and pluck the string and not hear it. When I pluck the g behind the nut it is the same pitch that is ringing.
I threw on a fresh set of NYXL 11's just in case (no change). The neck is currently adjusted with no relief.

Any clues on things to remedy this? Probably isn't any issue when playing amplified.

 

[TheoDog]

Did you ever get this figured out. I have a similar sound on my Valentine, but just assumed that it's normal(pretty sure I've heard on other electrics I've tried unplugged but this is the only one I own). I know that unwound G string can be pretty flaky. If it turned out to be a nut or other issue that needed to be resolved, I'd like to know.

Any info you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks... and congrats on the Valentine!

I'm not sure how it was strung when I received it. The story was that a Guitar Center employee ordered it in and never took possession of it, so it was sold as used. If that is true, would suspect it had factory .011's installed.
I noticed the sitar-ing and decided to try a set of NYXL 11's and still heard it. Lived with it for a couple weeks. I restrung with my typical Curt Mangan 11-50 nickel wound and haven't even thought about it. I have also touched up the truss rod for a bit more relief than when I got it (it was very flat then).

I played it unplugged for a few hours last weekend and I didn't really sense it. But I wasn't critically listening for it. Also humidity has risen locally, not sure if that's a factor.

 

[RichieZ]

Thanks.Yeah, I only hear it when unplugged, pick hard and I'm listening for it. So not really and issue. Just was curious.

Thanks!