Buzzing B string

lincolnblue · December 2020

So I bought a Taylor 710e on Tuesday from my local shop. Playing it today I notice that the open B string has quite a buzz to it - noticeable on single note and chords. What could be the cause of this? Is it worth taking it back for them to look at it?

Interestingly, it's worse when I do a downstroke rather than up.

Benm39 · December 2020

Probably something that can be solved by a setup... maybe a high fret , neck relief or the nut...

lincolnblue · December 2020

I've been in touch with the shop and their tech guy is in net Thursday so will pop it in for him to take away and look at. The B and top E are drifting out of tune a bit so I guess it's the nut.

DavidR · December 2020

I agree a new setup should sort most things out if it's a fretboard buzz from too low an action, strings which are too light, a loose or badly set fret or neck relief (often related to variations in humidity). But don't forget loose top braces can cause buzzes too and so can loose hardware such as wires, bolts, screws etc. Hint - such buzzes are often difficult to localise and can travel away from the point of origin at their resonant frequency. Once in a blue moon a buzz comes from a tuner too. Take the tuner off the headstock and hey presto!

lincolnblue · December 2020

DavidR said:

I agree a new setup should sort most things out if it's a fretboard buzz from too low an action, strings which are too light, a loose or badly set fret or neck relief (often related to variations in humidity). But don't forget loose top braces can cause buzzes too and so can loose hardware such as wires, bolts, screws etc. Hint - such buzzes are often difficult to localise and can travel away from the point of origin at their resonant frequency. Once in a blue moon a buzz comes from a tuner too. Take the tuner off the headstock and hey presto!

I imagine it is just the nut as it's only just that string. Interestingly, when I have the capo anywhere above fret 5 the buzz goes so could be relief too?

dannyboy82 · December 2020

lincolnblue said:

DavidR said:

I agree a new setup should sort most things out if it's a fretboard buzz from too low an action, strings which are too light, a loose or badly set fret or neck relief (often related to variations in humidity). But don't forget loose top braces can cause buzzes too and so can loose hardware such as wires, bolts, screws etc. Hint - such buzzes are often difficult to localise and can travel away from the point of origin at their resonant frequency. Once in a blue moon a buzz comes from a tuner too. Take the tuner off the headstock and hey presto!

I imagine it is just the nut as it's only just that string. Interestingly, when I have the capo anywhere above fret 5 the buzz goes so could be relief too?

The b string nut slot could be too low. Have you checked the nut action by fretting at the 3rd fret and checking for clearance above the first fret?

lincolnblue · December 2020

dannyboy82 said:

lincolnblue said:

DavidR said:

I agree a new setup should sort most things out if it's a fretboard buzz from too low an action, strings which are too light, a loose or badly set fret or neck relief (often related to variations in humidity). But don't forget loose top braces can cause buzzes too and so can loose hardware such as wires, bolts, screws etc. Hint - such buzzes are often difficult to localise and can travel away from the point of origin at their resonant frequency. Once in a blue moon a buzz comes from a tuner too. Take the tuner off the headstock and hey presto!

I imagine it is just the nut as it's only just that string. Interestingly, when I have the capo anywhere above fret 5 the buzz goes so could be relief too?

The b string nut slot could be too low. Have you checked the nut action by fretting at the 3rd fret and checking for clearance above the first fret?

There is a tiny bit of clearance - not much but about the same as on my other acoustics.

lincolnblue · December 2020

It is most noticeable when I pick the string with my thumb - much more prominent that when using a plectrum. Not sure why that might be

lincolnblue · January 2021

So I took the guitar back to the shop and their tech guy had a quick looks and made some truss rod adjustments. I needed it back for over `Christmas so left it as I’d see how it goes and would take it back for a full investigation and set up if needs be.

We’re now in tier 4 so I’m going to have to hold on for now but the other day I plucked the B string again and it was possibly a bit more buzzy. If I pressed down on the bridge pin though, it pretty much went away. Any ideas?

ICBM · January 2021

lincolnblue said:

So I took the guitar back to the shop and their tech guy had a quick looks and made some truss rod adjustments. I needed it back for over `Christmas so left it as I’d see how it goes and would take it back for a full investigation and set up if needs be.
We’re now in tier 4 so I’m going to have to hold on for now but the other day I plucked the B string again and it was possibly a bit more buzzy. If I pressed down on the bridge pin though, it pretty much went away. Any ideas?

Try changing the string.

DavidR · January 2021

This is getting annoying for you! Try some new bridge pins? Also perhaps some slightly heavier strings? Then have an experienced luthier look under the bridge at the bracing and construction and recheck the neck relief and setup again. Getting a bit expensive but worth it if you like this guitar. Happy NY.

lincolnblue · January 2021

DavidR said:

This is getting annoying for you! Try some new bridge pins? Also perhaps some slightly heavier strings? Then have an experienced luthier look under the bridge at the bracing and construction and recheck the neck relief and setup again. Getting a bit expensive but worth it if you like this guitar. Happy NY.

Thanks. The set up offered by the store won't cost me anything so just waiting for them to reopen. Will just have to wait and see. Will change strings too like @ICBM suggests and see if that helps

mdfire · January 2021

I had this last year on an electric where the e string was buzzing. It was the nut. If you press on the string between the nut and the machine head and then play the string, the buzzing should disappear. Reason some electrics have string trees.

TheMadMick · January 2021

mdfire said:

I had this last year on an electric where the e string was buzzing. It was the nut. If you press on the string between the nut and the machine head and then play the string, the buzzing should disappear. Reason some electrics have string trees.

If that works, look at how the string is wound onto the machine head post. It might simply need to be wound so the progress is down.

ICBM · January 2021

lincolnblue said:

Will change strings too like @ICBM suggests and see if that helps

Not all the strings, just the B.

lincolnblue · February 2021

It's been a long time as I've had lots on lately including a new son so I've only just come round to changing strings on this. The buzz on the B is still there when plucking with flesh part of thumb. I've tried to capture it on video- hopefully it comes across. It also buzzes when fretting the A (10th fret).
I have been in touch with Taylor who said it can go back to them under warranty when my local store open again but just curious if anyone gas any idea what the problem might be?

If it was a cheap guitar I'd not be bothered but when I spent almost £2k I want it right

ICBM · February 2021

That’s really bad, much worse than what I was expecting. I’d be bothered even on a cheap guitar...

It sounds like something loose to me, not like fret buzz or a nut groove problem. (Although these things can sometimes be deceptive.)

Check all the machinehead parts - keys, collars and washers under them. Take the truss rod cover off, and also check the truss rod isn’t loose.

If it’s not that and it’s got electronics, check the battery holder (take it out) - these are notorious for it. If it’s nothing you can get at from the outside, it may be something in the wiring.

lincolnblue · February 2021

ICBM said:

That’s really bad, much worse than what I was expecting. I’d be bothered even on a cheap guitar...

It sounds like something loose to me, not like fret buzz or a nut groove problem. (Although these things can sometimes be deceptive.)

Check all the machinehead parts - keys, collars and washers under them. Take the truss rod cover off, and also check the truss rod isn’t loose.

If it’s not that and it’s got electronics, check the battery holder (take it out) - these are notorious for it. If it’s nothing you can get at from the outside, it may be something in the wiring.

Glad it's not just me! Fortunately I've been in touch with Taylor who have agreed to look at it for me. It's strange that it only really occurs when using the flesh of my thumb.

I checked the battery holder and that seems ok - I'll look at the other things. If I press down on the bridge pin when plucking, it diminishes so I wonder if it is something to do with the pickup wiring maybe?

The good thing is that you could hear it (so I know I'm not mad!). Hopefully it'll be an easy fix by Taylor - if not then they can sort something for me - refund etc. It's one of those things that now I know it's there, I can't un-hear it.

ICBM · February 2021

lincolnblue said:

Glad it's not just me! Fortunately I've been in touch with Taylor who have agreed to look at it for me. It's strange that it only really occurs when using the flesh of my thumb.

I checked the battery holder and that seems ok - I'll look at the other things. If I press down on the bridge pin when plucking, it diminishes so I wonder if it is something to do with the pickup wiring maybe?

The good thing is that you could hear it (so I know I'm not mad!). Hopefully it'll be an easy fix by Taylor - if not then they can sort something for me - refund etc. It's one of those things that now I know it's there, I can't un-hear it.

It's not subtle

.

Yes, I think pressing on the bridge pin may be a clue that it's something to do with the pickup or wiring. It's odd that it only occurs when you play below the 5th fret, but sometimes this sort of resonance is quite odd and needs a very specific vibration to trigger it.

TrevinDevon · February 2021

I've only just read this thread, so perhaps I'm missing a point here, and I'm sorry for your troubles, but if I spend £2k on a mass-produced guitar and it's not perfect it's going straight back for a refund/exchange. It's not like Taylors are thin on the ground.

lincolnblue · February 2021

TrevinDevon said:

I've only just read this thread, so perhaps I'm missing a point here, and I'm sorry for your troubles, but if I spend £2k on a mass-produced guitar and it's not perfect it's going straight back for a refund/exchange. It's not like Taylors are thin on the ground.

I think I'm happy to give Taylor the chance to fix it. The thing is too, I spent £1,800 on it, but it's a discontinued model which was £1k more when they were on the market so I got a much better guitar for £1,800 than if I got a refund and bought something else. OTherwise I'd have asked for a refund straight away

TrevinDevon · February 2021

lincolnblue said:

TrevinDevon said:

I've only just read this thread, so perhaps I'm missing a point here, and I'm sorry for your troubles, but if I spend £2k on a mass-produced guitar and it's not perfect it's going straight back for a refund/exchange. It's not like Taylors are thin on the ground.

I think I'm happy to give Taylor the chance to fix it. The thing is too, I spent £1,800 on it, but it's a discontinued model which was £1k more when they were on the market so I got a much better guitar for £1,800 than if I got a refund and bought something else. OTherwise I'd have asked for a refund straight away

I think Taylor's customer service is pretty good, to be fair. I seem to recall hearing about no-quibble replacements in the past, so you might even end up with something better. Good luck, anyway; it's so disappointing when a dream purchase is flawed.

lincolnblue · February 2021

TrevinDevon said:

lincolnblue said:

TrevinDevon said:

I've only just read this thread, so perhaps I'm missing a point here, and I'm sorry for your troubles, but if I spend £2k on a mass-produced guitar and it's not perfect it's going straight back for a refund/exchange. It's not like Taylors are thin on the ground.

I think I'm happy to give Taylor the chance to fix it. The thing is too, I spent £1,800 on it, but it's a discontinued model which was £1k more when they were on the market so I got a much better guitar for £1,800 than if I got a refund and bought something else. OTherwise I'd have asked for a refund straight away

I think Taylor's customer service is pretty good, to be fair. I seem to recall hearing about no-quibble replacements in the past, so you might even end up with something better. Good luck, anyway; it's so disappointing when a dream purchase is flawed.

My ideal is they fix the issue...if not that's reassuring. I had a call on my mobile the other week from their head of repairs in Netherlands (I think) which I thought was a really good touch - felt like I actually mattered

TrevinDevon · February 2021

Fair play, that's impressive.

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