Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I need some help. I lowered the action on the 360. It's great, except I noticed an annoying buzz on D and A string.
Here's what I tried to do to correct it:

I tried adjusting truss rod - the bass side's completely loose and neck is still almost straight! No effect on the buzz.
I tried to tighten it just a little so to eliminate it is something on the guitar buzzing.
Plugged into the amp. Okay, buzz is definitely there on D and A. Low e-string doesn't seem to be affected.

Next step was putting the bridge higher again. To my surprise I did not notice any difference in buzz.

The buzzing is driving me crazy - what I do wrong, or should try or do different?

Werner: I would tighten the bass side ever so slightly so that it is not completely loose. Is the buzz still there? Also does the buzz occur when the A and D strings are played all the way up the neck on all frets? When hold down the E string at the first and 17th fret how much space do you see between the string and the fretboard?

Peter, yes, I did tighten the bass side truss rod nut so it's not loose.

It buzzed at least up to fret 5, I didn't check any further... to complicate things, the buzz has gone as mysteriously as it came.
Is the trussrod faulty maybe? This is so weird!

In adjusting the truss-rods, it takes some time for the neck to adjust, which may have happened in the passing time. How is the intonation now? Perhaps Paul will chime-in here.

Werner in addition to the remedies tried and mentioned also check that the one of the screws on the bridge and/or the screws on the saddles are not vibrating. If they are a drop of Locktite will do the job on them.

There are not many things that can rattle on your guitar.

Peter, I first adjusted the neck because of the sound. That was on Tuesday, and had no effect on the buzz.

Brian, I already tightened everything down as there's a little chime on the b-string, all along the neck, but most on 2nd fret - I guess the sound at that fret affects the part at the bridge which makes the sound most. Not sure where it comes from, but it doesn't sound over the amp at all. And one has to really pick a string hard to get it to do the chime. As for the buzz... it was coming from up the neck, picking a fret closer to a fret lower made the sound worse, picking it closer to the higher fret removed it almost completely.

I'll play the 360 later again. As I said, I couldn't remember any weird buzzing before. I'm easily "upset" by weird extra noises!

Thanks for all the advice/tips though

Wildberry wrote:I'm easily "upset" by weird extra noises!

Then, make sure you never live across the street from a zoo. I speak from much experience.

Ah, no problem there, Jeffrey!

I live across from pastures with cows, sheep, geese, ducks, swans, cormorans etc. I love the sound of animals. I'll miss it once I've moved to my new apartment close to work but in the middle of the city!

It's washing machines, and guitars that make unexpected sounds that make me go mental!

jps wrote:

Wildberry wrote:I'm easily "upset" by weird extra noises!

Then, make sure you never live across the street from a zoo. I speak from much experience.

Not the "zoo" with all of the wild animals that got out a few days ago I hope...

Wildberry wrote:Ah, no problem there, Jeffrey!

I live across from pastures with cows, sheep, geese, ducks, swans, cormorans etc. I love the sound of animals. I'll miss it once I've moved to my new apartment close to work but in the middle of the city!

It's washing machines, and guitars that make unexpected sounds that make me go mental!

Try monkees and elephants!

cjj wrote:

jps wrote:

Wildberry wrote:I'm easily "upset" by weird extra noises!

Then, make sure you never live across the street from a zoo. I speak from much experience.

Not the "zoo" with all of the wild animals that got out a few days ago I hope...

No, not that one, but it wasn't too far really (sort of, geographically speaking), this one.

Those zoos are all too far away for me to commit to a case study of weird sounds

In the meantime the buzz has appeared. I pinned it down to being the worst on A string 2nd fret, and D string 3rd.

Is the neck nice and straight Werner?

It was nice and straight, Brian, but that is when the buzzing started. Raising the bridge to a ridiculous height is another way to get the buzz out, but that's a silly road I tested but won't go. Bass side trussrod was released to get the neck slightly bend, but now the bass side is just tightened so it's not loose. Neck barely bends at bass side even with the trussrod loose!

The buzzing is driving me nuts!

I could suggest a couple of tests to determine if you have a fret that is causing the problem, but first let's see if Paul notices this thread and gives you some sage advice.