Sympathetic vibration?

aragorn35016 · Post by **aragorn35016** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:07 am

Started learning a tune on my ric that requires you to play a B on the E string and the minor third or D on the G string at the same time. When I do this I get this wierd rattle off of the E string. You dont even have to play both notes at the same time, the E string will vibrate when you fret the B and play the fretted D note on the g string. The rattle or vibration occurs between the nut and the fretted note. I thought maybe I didnt have the string wound down enough on the post but Im not so sure that is it, its got 3 wraps on the post, could it be just a bad string causing this? Or is it possible that the nut is cut to wide? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

John

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:02 am

John, I think you've got the problem defined pretty well...seems to be the nut; slot either cut too wide, or possibly with a curved bottom so the string can rattle about in there. It needs a clean break and a fairly tight fit. In my brief experience, this is more common with the high E and B strings, probably because of their tiny diameters and the difficulty of cutting accurate and crisp slots this small.

aragorn35016 · Post by **aragorn35016** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:06 am

Thanks Paul, may try sticking some paper around it to try to tighten it up. I also read somewhere that you can build a nut up with superglue. Or of course get a heavier gauge E string!

aragorn35016 · Post by **aragorn35016** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:29 am

Tried the paper thing and it worked, I think if I switched to a 105 E string the problem might be solved. Sure wish Daddario made a 45-65-80-105 set. Rotosound does, but I dont think they make a nickel version. Not to keen on changing my gauges, I just got the bass tweeked to how I like it!

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:47 am

You could try DR strings - there are nickel Lo-Riders and the Sunbeams...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:11 am

Elmers glue also works, let it dry first. You can then shape it, it is a better temporary cure though than permanent.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:11 pm

Wow. I forgot this was a bass...assumed it was a sixer (what could have been on my mind???). Anyway, this applies across the board.

Elmer's is way soft, but if it works for you, Bob...

It's possible to build up nut slots with super-glue. It's easier to buy a new Rick nut and fit it. More attractive and permanent, too.

aragorn35016 · Post by **aragorn35016** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:40 pm

Ive been looking for an excuse to put flats on my Ric anyway, got them on my P and love them! Been holding back because I don't know how bad it will effect the Ric's versatility. Maybe a flat in the same gauge will cure the prob.

aragorn35016 · Post by **aragorn35016** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:02 pm

You know I thought the paper thing had solved it but I was wrong, it just dampened the whole string. Ive never experienced anything like this on a bass. It only occurs on that one set of intervals and no where else. You can plays those two intervals one fret up or down and the length of the string is dead quiet, but play that 7th fret and it rings like crazy. Luckily you can't really hear it through the amp, but I can feel it and hear it if Im not turned up loud enough. I would think that if it was the nut slot that the string would buzz when played open, but it plays just fine. Oh well Im not gonna get too bent up about it, its not like Im gonna play that interval shape all the time, and there are other places to play it I guess, not to mention that with a little extra effort I can mute the ringing string with another finger.

John

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:29 pm

...its not like Im gonna play that interval shape all the time...

I wrote a song where I play Bm to Dm, back to Bm and then to B flat Major where it is all done just like that, these are minor and major 10ths of the root motion.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:43 pm

Could I use Sympathetic Vibrations as a song title?

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:51 pm

No!

Sympathetic Vibrations (tm) JPS!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:56 pm

Curses, foiled again!

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:10 pm

John you may have what's know as behind the fret buzzing. To see if this is the problem you will need a 3rd hand to dampen the notes you are playing behind the frets by lightly placing a finger on the strings to stop the vibration. If you find this is the problem, then you may have a high fret that the string is vibrating off of, it can be fixed by leveling that fret ever so slightly. Other times I've found that one of the tuners may have a rattle or vibration that appears at certain frequencies. You can check this in the same manner by having someone hold on to and dampen each tuner one at a time. Also a trick to fix a top nut with a slot to wide or deep: on a white nut use instant glue and baking soda, on a black nut use instant glue and ground up charcoal. Apply glue 1st then the charcoal or baking soda. Dries almost instantly and files like bone material.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:23 pm

It just might also be a loose truss rod.