my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

[james_r_92]

hello, im new to playing a guitar and i have a 60s strat classic player. its had a setup from a guitar tech and new strings but, when i play the D or G string on all the frets i get this annoying rattle/ buzzing sound. this noise is both acoustically and through the amp. it made this noise before the setup and on the old strings. its only about 5 month old and the strings are about 3-4 weeks old. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

Welcome to the forum!

If you hear the buzz on open strings your nut might be too low.

If the buzz occurs when you play in the lower registers (1st to 12th fret) your neck is probably too straight and might need an adjustment. If the strings are buzzing higher up the neck, your action might be too low, then you'd have to raise your bridge.

EDIT:

First, check if you hear any buzz on open strings. If you hear buzz your nut is set too low and you might want to replace it.

Then ckeck the neck bow. Fret the first fret with your left hand and the 12th fret with the pinky of your right hand. Then tap with the forefinger on the 7th fret and check how much space there is between the fret and the string. There shouldn't be more space in between than about half the thickness of a credit card.

If everything's ok, raise the string action on the bridge until the buzz is gone.

 

[Diego]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

This one's a bit more unusual, but also the trem springs have some weird resonance under certain tensions... could be.

 

[james_r_92]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

its fine playing open strings, but if i fret from the 1 to 20, the note sounds then as its ringing theres a rattle / buzzing noise, ive checked the guitar for loose screws and everything is tight. its only on 2 strings (D & G) slightly louder on the G. it was fine brand new then after a month it started to make this sound. its unbearable and ive came so close on numerous occasions to putting a hammer through it.

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

This one's a bit more unusual, but also the trem springs have some weird resonance under certain tensions... could be.

+1

Trem springs or even trem saddles vibrate when you play and thus can produce pretty annoying noises from time to time. Check where the noise is coming from. If it's the saddles, grab that string and stretch it in all directions, then retune. That might help.

 

[james_r_92]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

tried that, it sounds like its coming from the pickups / saddles. i cant really tell. would something loose behind that scratch plate cause this noise on only 2 strings? i cant see it being anything to do with the saddles because its just had a set up.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

i've owned many strats over the years and some rattles have driven me nuts to find them... after many hours of banging my head on the wall here is the 3 that drove me crazy

1-Vintage style MIM reissue strat- the A string tuner had sloppy gears and the tuning peg's key rattled with the strings vibrations... louder on some notes over others... and believe it or not it sounded like the rattle was coming from the bridge area...!

2-MIM standard Strat... neck and middle Pickups can rattle with string vibrations... opened it up and found they had springs on the PU's, installed the rubber tubing and it stopped the rattles...

3-various strats... i've had the G-string ringing out above the nut when i played some notes... drove me crazy... added a 2nd string tree

and some strats i've had to stuff foam in the spring cavity to stop them from ringing

 

[james_r_92]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

WhoFan thanks for that im going to check for that now, starting with the least destructive

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

I don't even think twice about it now: if I have a strat, the springs get stuffed with foam. I use the foam that you usually get in pickup boxes. I run the foam through the springs by using a guitar string and then cut off the ends. This seems to cure any weird noises that are not setup or wiring related.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

The MIM Classic Player Strat has a modern 9.5" fingerboard radius. The saddles of its vintage lookalike bridge should also be set to this radius value. (Use a gauge to check.)

+1 for all the comments above about the vibrato tension springs making odd noises.

The lengths of string between the nut and each machinehead can resonate in sympathy with the notes that you are playing. Pick each of the strings beyond the nut. Check whether any of these pitches match the overtones that you are trying to eliminate.

IMO, vintage-style Stratocasters give a better ride with a medium-to-high action. Raise 'em up, boy.

 

[james_r_92]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

Right i stuffed a load foam behind the springs but no luck, this noise continues. It wouldn't bother me if it didnt sound through the amp. Ive just had abit more mess about and on the 3rd and 4th strings, and on the 21st fret the note sounds perfectly, however on the 20th fret there is that faint rattle/oscillating noise and as i move up the fret board it gets gradually louder. Could my strings be touching the 21st fret? I play will low action, but ive tried a stupidly high unplayable action which didnt cure it.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

Right i stuffed a load foam behind the springs but no luck, this noise continues. It wouldn't bother me if it didnt sound through the amp. Ive just had abit more mess about and on the 3rd and 4th strings, and on the 21st fret the note sounds perfectly, however on the 20th fret there is that faint rattle/oscillating noise and as i move up the fret board it gets gradually louder. Could my strings be touching the 21st fret? I play will low action, but ive tried a stupidly high unplayable action which didnt cure it.

when you hear this extra noise, reach with your picking hand and lightly touch the G string in the area above the nut... between the nut and the tuner the g string is just the right length to ring out on it's own when other notes are played on the guitar... it's quite common... and it can be quite loud thru an amp...

some players will stuff foam under the strings near the nut at the headstock to stop ringing out above the nut...

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

Strum the strings and hold the pickup covers. I had a buzzing issue with my SG and it ended up being that the neck pickup was loose.

 

[james_r_92]

Re: my strat rattles/buzzes when i play

Ive just strummed the D & G strings while fretting and holding above the nut and the noise is still there. ive also held the pickup covers and no luck, the noise is still there. I dont think its bridge or saddle related as it made this noise before and after a setup. its only on 2 strings aswell..... its fine open just does it while fretting. Could my truss rod be the cause? the neck looks pretty straight to me