Buzz n' Rattle

[thomashrn]

Hi, new around here and new to Rickenbacker.

That is, I now own one for the first time after years of wanting one but never taking the plunge.

So, I have this 360/6 string, made in about 2001 in seemingly good condition. However, I have a rattle problem and I'm unable to work out where it comes from. I thought it might be a screw but everything is tight, including the tuning heads and all screws and moving parts associated with the tuners. The one thing that is completely new to me is the double truss rod arrangement. Is it common for these to rattle? I mention this as I am pretty sure the rattle is coming from the head stock area and not the bridge.

The guitar has a tiny bit of fret buzz here and there but, pre being set up properly and post changing the strings from .10s to .011s, I am not too worried about that. This thing has been on a boat from the UK (I'm in Sweden) for a week or too so I wasn't to surprised to receive a less than perfect sounding guitar. Having said that, it plays fairly well and sounds just fine through an amp.

Any help would be appreciated!

[deaconblues]

Could definitely be the truss rod nuts. Check that they're snug and not loose on the threads.

Other places to check: Switch ring, jack nut, and bridge posts.

[Rickenroller]

Another place to check, is that the nuts are tight on the tuning machines. Sometimes they'll be loose enough that it'll be the washers between the nut and the face of the headstock rattling. Don't make 'em TOO tight, you'll crack the paint. Just tight enough to stop the washers from rattling. Occasionally, the bridge won't be fully seated on all four posts too. Sometimes one post will be danglin' in mid-air. Ya just gotta push down on the bridge to get it seated. There will always be a little residual rattly sound that's a natural byproduct of the string length that runs between the bridge and tailpiece. That's usually not too noticeable though...

Brian

[thomashrn]

Could definitely be the truss rod nuts. Check that they're snug and not loose on the threads.

Other places to check: Switch ring, jack nut, and bridge posts.

Hmm, I checked all of these. However, I'll take another look at the truss rod nuts. It's at home now but from memory it seemed that there was a block of some kind across both of the rods. I'll post a picture later if so.

Another place to check, is that the nuts are tight on the tuning machines. Sometimes they'll be loose enough that it'll be the washers between the nut and the face of the headstock rattling. Don't make 'em TOO tight, you'll crack the paint. Just tight enough to stop the washers from rattling. Occasionally, the bridge won't be fully seated on all four posts too. Sometimes one post will be danglin' in mid-air. Ya just gotta push down on the bridge to get it seated. There will always be a little residual rattly sound that's a natural byproduct of the string length that runs between the bridge and tailpiece. That's usually not too noticeable though...

Brian

I actually tightened the nuts on the tuning machines a little as I thought it might be those but, alas no. Will double check the bridge posts but as I said it really sounds as though the rattle is coming from the headstock area.

Thanks for the tips!

[Rickenroller]

Just to be thorough, check those tuning machine washers one more time. I've caught mine rattling there. Thought they were tight, but upon a second close inspection, found I could move the washers by pushing on them. If you can move them at all, that's where the rattle's comin' from. If that's not it, It'd almost have to be some truss rod related thing. Unless your truss rod cover is not down tight. Rics are really resonant guitars, they can make all kinds of things vibrate that other guitars won't...

Brian