Tech: Buzz From Hell

Subject: Tech: Banjo Buzz From Hell
From: Dewey
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 05:34 AM

No I'm not talking about drugs.

My 5-string Bluegrass banjo has buzz from hell! Replaced the buzzing ist D string with a fresh one, banjo still buzzes...

tighted head, and tightened all lugs, still buzzez. replaced nut, still buzzez. replaced bridge, still buzzes,replaced tailpiece, still buzzes,put graphite in nut slot still buzzes, adjusted truss rod, still buzzes,adjusted coordinating rods, both upper and lower to change action, still buzzes, tried different bridge sizes, and a comepenstated bridge saddle, still buzzes.


filled the truss with rubber cement, just in case truss might be loose still buzzes, replaced tuning pegs and tightened all bolts, still buzzes,

tighetened every screw in the banjo that I could find both big and small, plucked the top D-sting, and the bottom D-still both buzz now, Also now it occasionally sounds like someone put chewing gum on all the strings to deadened them.

Changed the all the strings, still buzzes, neck is as straight as a arrow, set action to specifications of frets.com's recommendations, still buzzes,

CATCH THIS: Held sting in the air 6 inches above the banjo, strentch it as hard as I could and gave it a pluck against the pot, still buzzes, full length from the beginning of the string to the end. Put the string on the banjo, fretted every fret, and it still buzzes on all frets, whether on the neck in the correct active posistion, or out of the neck as described above.

Went the though the frets.com, big buzz check list, but I am running out of things to try.

Anybody see anything I may have missed in torment to track the buzz from hell.

BTW! I even replaced the NECK, with a new one: guess what! problem. STILL BUZZES!

This thing shouldn't buzz, when it is not making contact with any frets, has absolutely nothing loose or rattling, and is at proper action height, with a new neck.


Help me end the mystery of the buzz from hell.

Thanks!

Dewey!

Subject: RE: Tech: Buzz From Hell
From: GUEST,Zen
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 06:13 AM

(Un)Sympathetic buzz? Coming from perhaps an insufficiently tighted piece of hardware on the pot?

Just a thought.

Zen

Subject: RE: Tech: Buzz From Hell
From: Melissa
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 06:23 AM

Is it the tailpiece cover thing, Dewey?

Subject: RE: Tech: Buzz From Hell
From: Dewey
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 06:44 AM

I've used/tried the open faced Waverly tailpiece, the presto, and the closed face waverly. You are right right that sometimes the top piece is flip-floppy and can rattle, but after close inspection and several replacement attempts this does not seem to be the problem.


I'm thinking it may be a crack somewhere in the body. Is this a possibility?

Thanks for responding, and for everyone's help,

BTW just put together another banjo from scratch and it is having this same idenctical problem too! Took the previous banjo in and it was returned to me with the same buzz. Luthier's in my neck of the woods, don't seem to be able to pin point this problem. Would like to go to some expert for advice, because I live too far north to have anyone knowledgable to turn to.

Would welcome recommedations of where the go, as I will be playing at some Bluegrass festivals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Tennessee and would like to drop the instrument off for inspections.

Dewey

Subject: RE: Tech: Buzz From Hell
From: Dewey
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 06:47 AM

Zen, I'm going to check the bottom fastening section of the tailpiece/flange area, as that did slip my mind. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tech: Buzz From Hell
From: banjoman
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 07:30 AM

does this help? One of the banjos I built a while back had a similar problem which I eventually traced to the planetary tuner on the first string which seemed to have something loose inside when removed from the banjo and shaken. As these aren't normally openable I replaced it and the buzz was gone. Also - check the neck alignment especially where it joins the pot as it is possible for the first or fifth string to catch on the edge of the tension ring if its not put on exactly in the right position. Good hunting. I would appreciate it if you do find the cause as I am always looking for problem solvers
keep picking

Pete