Fender "String Rattle"... Why.??

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:16 pm

Oh yes - thanks BG I forgot - if you have the trem arm on the guitar that can get very loose in the threads and rattle when it hangs down. Hold onto the trem arm and strum and see if the rattle is still there - if not

3 possiblities - a) tighten up by rotating arm about - possibly may not work if thread is worn and if it does the arm is in an awkward position b) unscrew and leave off (sacrilidge) c) unscrew totally, coat thread on arm liberally with quick setting silicon rubber compound, screw back in and prop up in favourite playing position. Go away and have a 'quick one' (cup of tea that is!) then return and try out. You will still be able to unscrew/move the arm but it should cure the rattle if the arm is responsible.

Further to DrRog's hint with superglue on nut slots, I used to use an alternative for 12 strings that had annoying false tone due to wide slots (usually allways the B course pair) - simply used to slacken off string, slip a bit of thin paper under the string and in the nut slot, then retune and that got rid of weirdo noises quite well plus was very cheap.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:32 pm

> unscrew and leave off (sacrilidge)

LOl - that's the normal way for my Strat. I'm not even sure where the trem arm is. I have the trem locked all the time.

Champers · Post by **Champers** » Wed May 05, 2004 11:19 am

yep one of mines a hardtail the other dosnt have a trem arm that fits

Post by Bg » Wed May 05, 2004 12:57 pm

nah, you're taking part of the spice away - trems are to be used, try taking Dave Gilmours off, I don't think he'd be too happy!

Champers · Post by **Champers** » Wed May 05, 2004 1:50 pm

umm whos dave gilmour?

Post by Bg » Wed May 05, 2004 2:07 pm

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Wed May 05, 2004 2:20 pm

Champers wrote:umm whos dave gilmour?

I didn't see a wink at the end of your post ? So you might want to (a) add one or (b) Get a little album called "The Wall" to listen to ?

Champers · Post by **Champers** » Wed May 05, 2004 2:55 pm

ahh pink floyd, yeah i already got that album but had no idea who the bands members were. they were a bit before my time

Post by Bg » Wed May 05, 2004 4:31 pm

Stevo · Post by **Stevo** » Sun May 09, 2004 12:55 pm

Excellent post indeed from B45-12
couple of things. Fret levelling? neck twist?

I agree on all the nut stuff, and action height, truss rod stuff, excellent!
nothing on the above two things though.
That mechanics steel rule held along the fret should show if the frets are level, but try it along the high and low side of the neck as well. Just might be a slight twist in a particular area of the neck. Also check that gaps are consistent between the rule and consecutive frets. If the rule shows a bow in the neck (there should be a little as mentioned) check it is consistent low side, middle and high side of the neck.
Also, is the action height consistent for every string? Is the radius of the fretboard causing low action on those strings? ie, are the saddles too low on those strings? Is the bridge set flatter than the radius of the neck requires?
I find if a nut is OK you can have low action. I would be concerned about spending $300 for a luthier and not getting the problem solved! can't you take it back to him? we do have consumer legislation in NZ !

Good luck, and I will look forward to hearing the outcome. Cheers

Polar Bear · Post by **Polar Bear** » Sun May 09, 2004 1:11 pm

I just had my fender String rattle cured by buying a custom made Bone Nut, that was made for my gat then fitted. $10 and it was singing lik never before.

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Wed May 12, 2004 1:42 am

Stevo posted

'couple of things. Fret levelling? neck twist?'

Good points mate, although I've never seen a neck twist yet on a strat - strangely only on Gibsons! You can usually pick this up by sighting down the neck/fretboard from the head - all the frets don't look evenly spaced.

In fact I have one instrument that does this to what seems quite a large degree but it does not, strangely, seem to affect the action (but it's an accoustic).

Goes to show how weird these things can be.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed May 12, 2004 7:03 am

yes - acoustics are weird... LOL

audiozephyr · Post by **audiozephyr** » Mon May 24, 2004 4:56 pm

Treva wrote:Excuse my Ignorance Chaps, but can anyone give me any "Info" on Why!
Fender "Strat" guitars, "Rattle very Tinny", on the: *G & B* strings.??
especially when played "Softly" (Lead) and when played "Hard" Rythm..
I have other guitars that *DO NOT*..So, why just Fenders.????
Any "Positive" Info, greatly appreciated...

Hi mate ,guitar tech ''Audio Zephyr''at your service. please contact me for a'free' consultation and quote......my email is listed in the nzguitars info page...cheers warren

Post by **GrantB** » Fri May 28, 2004 1:34 pm

All of this is good advice and should help improve the issue. As a rule, a Fender scale neck will rattle slightly more than a Gibson scale neck when setup exactly the same. It's pure math re. string vibration frequencies. Maybe that's what your luthier was trying to say Treva? Doesn't mean you have to put up with huge amounts of rattle though, and as everyone say here, it can be improved for sure. Good luck.

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Fender "String Rattle"... Why.??

Re: Fender "String Rattle"... Why.??