Original Floyd Rose locking nut- is this correct?

[Sun King]

I just bought a new Jackson Soloist, which came with an Original Floyd Rose tremolo. Nice guitar! I hadn't noticed any unusual sounds from it initially, but after giving it a little TLC, the high E now has this horrible buzzing/ringing sound, mostly if the string is played open. I've heard it described elsewhere as a "sitar" type of sound. Sounds about right.

I'd read that this can be because of issues with the locking nut. I've never owned a guitar with a Floyd Rose before, so the whole thing is kind of intimidating, but I thought I'd give it a whirl. Nothing to lose but my sanity... nder:

So I see these three, slightly raised areas which would sit under the G, B, and E strings- are they supposed to be that way? If so, it looks like the area under the E doesn't even line up right, anyway.

Funny thing, this Jackson has a 12"-16" compound radius fretboard, but this R-3 nut is a 10" radius. I'd read that the Gotoh GLH-2 locking nut is "a direct replacement," although that one is a 14" radius! (How big of a difference does having the wrong radius, either way, matter?) I was wondering if a new Gotoh nut would help?

One other thing that I noticed though, was the the high E had about 5 or 6 wraps of string around the tuning post, which kind of "unspooled," making them loose. I tried to get them snug and tight when re-tuning the guitar, but I wonder if something like that could be the cause of the buzzing sound?

Any ideas? I've tried to research this but I'm a total noob when it comes to Floyd Rose trems. Thanks!

 

[ICTGoober]

Those bumps should not be there. And lots of wraps around the post is not called for. I wouldn't think it is causing your buzzing. Of course, I'd need to know more about how the whole guitar is set up to determine the problem.

 

[Etienne]

Are you sure this sitar-like sound doesn't come from the FR bridge saddle (high e-string)? Once my B string cut through the metal and generated that buzzing.

 

[Sun King]

I'm used to locking tuners on most of my other guitars, which of course don't need a lot of extra wrap on the posts. But I wasn't sure about the (apparently non-locking) Jackson-branded tuners on this guitar. Locking tuners on a double-locking tremolo system would be redundant anyway, right? That's the way this guitar came from the factory.

It's a "Concept Series" Jackson Soloist, neck-through, humbucker/single with an ebony fretboard, mahogany body, and natural walnut top. The guitar has 9-42 strings tuned to E standard. Neck relief and and action height are at the spec recommended by Jackson on their website, and in the owner's manual. There is no string buzz on any of the strings, all the way up and down all 24 frets, although the action is remarkably low!

I'm thinking those bumps shouldn't be there either, and I've seen a few photos of other locking nuts that did not have those. So I was thinking that if they were the culprit, I could try filing them down.

A new Floyd Rose locking nut, to replace the one that's on the guitar, will cost me $55 plus there's apparently no guarantee that the new one will be any better (from what I've read.) That's why I was considering the Gotoh version. Not sure how having the flatter radius nut would affect things though.

So, this guitar has a warranty- do you think this situation would be covered? (Before I start filing on stuff, that is...)

 

[Sun King]

Are you sure this sitar-like sound doesn't come from the FR bridge saddle (high e-string)? Once my B string cut through the metal and generated that buzzing.

Well, it's a brand-new guitar, so that kind of wear shouldn't have happened (yet). No those saddles are fine.

Actually, I did get a tiny bit of the sitar noise from the B string, as well, but it's hardly as noticeable as the high E.

Edit: Ok I just saw a tip on a video, testing with a screwdriver tip lightly pressed against the string at the forward edge of the nut (by "forward" I mean the edge closest to the bridge.) If the sitar noise goes away, then it's supposed to be the nut slot cut too low at that forward edge and the string has enough room to vibrate against the edges of the V.

Time to reassemble and give it a try.
But even if that IS the problem, what to do about it?

 

[ICTGoober]

If the string is hitting the fret, shimming the nut is standard practice.
And don't even try to file that locking nut. The metal is harder than the hubs of hell for a reason.

 

[Sun King]

Also, one additional note regarding the set-up of the guitar: Whether it makes any difference, it has three trem springs, arranged in the "triangle" pattern. /l\

 

[Sun King]

If the string is hitting the fret, shimming the nut is standard practice.
And don't even try to file that locking nut. The metal is harder than the hubs of hell for a reason.

Nope, not hitting the fret. Yea I've seen the shim kits at Stew-Mac. Still need to try that "screwdriver test" but now I'm having other issues.
I always thought it would be nice to have a guitar with a Floyd, always had hard-tails. Damn. Well I'm sure many a noob has been here before me...

 

[ICTGoober]

Also, one additional note regarding the set-up of the guitar: Whether it makes any difference, it has three trem springs, arranged in the "triangle" pattern. /l\

For 10's or lighter, 2 springs will be sufficient.

 

[Sun King]

For 10's or lighter, 2 springs will be sufficient.

Thanks, I'll try that.
So, in reinstalling the nut, I was trying to get it back in tune to do that testing, but now the high E was laying right on the first fret, no clearance whatsoever. :banghead:
It seemed like it HAD a shim that was now missing. I didn't remember seeing one, but just to be sure, I checked the floor. Sure enough, there on the floor lay two tiny little pieces of sheet metal, each one about 1/2" by 1/8." They look like someone snipped them from the can of beer they probably downed for lunch. Now, I'll need to break out the digital micrometer to make sure they're both the same thickness, before I reinstall them.

This is getting to be fun! (Not!)

 

[ICTGoober]

Just use one to start. Still buzzing? Use them both.

 

[Sun King]

Just use one to start. Still buzzing? Use them both.

Just got everything back together and in tune, so I missed your recommendation about trying just one. Thank you for the help though!
Well, these two stupid little shims are so ridiculously small, that I think they may have been out position although technically still under the nut.

The shims measured out to 0.30 mm, so I'm going to order some proper shims in that size, plus maybe a couple more. Meanwhile, I made sure these pieces of beer can were tight against the edge of the fretboard before I fastened down the locking nut on top of them. Everything is good, no more buzz! Thanks again.

 

[ICTGoober]

Ibanez uses stainless shims, I think. Floyds might be stainless, too.

 

[jeremy]

glad you got it all sorted out!

 

[Sun King]

LOL, I guess old dogs can learn new tricks!

 

[ICTGoober]

Even at 66, I try to learn something new every day. Keeps life interesting.