String Buzzing on 380L

Setup, repair and restoration of Rickenbacker Instruments

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firstbassman
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String Buzzing on 380L

Post by firstbassman »

I thought my 380 was ok and I know I tend to strum a little hard but the 5th and 6th strings started buzzing.
I raised the saddle height on both of them about four full turns. The buzzing stopped on the A string but it is still buzzing on the E.
Should I just keep turning and turning?
Will the E string wind up way too high compaired to the other strings?

A better solution?

PS: The neck appears to be dead straight right now.

Thanks!
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doctorwho
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Re: String Buzzing on 380L

Post by doctorwho »

Mark, have you checked whether the buzzing is fret- or bridge-related?
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
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jdogric12
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Re: String Buzzing on 380L

Post by jdogric12 »

If you are using the standard stock strings and the neck is straight you should be ok. Go ahead and raise that E some more if needed, as you point out. The great thing is you can raise each string separately on the 380 bridge. If it's ridiculously high once it stops buzzing, it might just be a style problem. My 380 is best for light, precision playing, as opposed to cranking out big rock chords. But that's just my setup.
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firstbassman
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Re: String Buzzing on 380L

Post by firstbassman »

doctorwho wrote:Mark, have you checked whether the buzzing is fret- or bridge-related?
Gary,

Well, funny you should ask.
I am horrible usually at locating the exact place and source of buzzing.
And with me, sometimes I'll do the same thing twice and one time a guitar will buzz and the next it won't.
But anyway, I thought the buzzing was at the bridge. I placed my finger right on top of where the string wraps around the saddle and I thought that stopped the buzzing.
But I thought the action might be a little low (and I don't mind if it's high) so I did what I described above.

Also, when I looked very closely I thought I saw that a couple of the strings were not sitting right on the "wheel" so I unwound a little for some slack and made sure the string was right into the groove. So, that should be ok.

If it is bridge related, then what?
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doctorwho
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Re: String Buzzing on 380L

Post by doctorwho »

Probably what Jdog says. I had my 380L PZ for so short a time that I didn't experience any problems, so I can't guide you further.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
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