Buzz when doing acute angle slants?

Gerald Menke · From: Stormville NY, USA

Hello non-pedal friends. I have been playing a lot of dobro on sessions and making a real effort to get my act together on my new C6 Super Slide 10 string. When I do slants on adjacent strings on the SS-10 with very acute angles (down near the nut for example) I seem to get a sitar-like buzz that is not very happening sounding. Is this because I am using a bar that is too big (or heavy) on the SS-10 (a BJS 1" or 15/16") or just a factor of how small the angles are when playing slants on adjacent strings low down? Or a factor of the tighter string spacing on an instrument with 10 strings? Anything I can do to remedy this? Thanks for reading my post and sharing your wisdom.

Gerald

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

A 7/8" bar will help a little but the best thing you can do is find other places to play the combinations in question.On a 10 stringer that should be quite achievable.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I've had similar problems with certain guitars and attributed it to the string gauges. Down near the nut if adjacent string gauges are too far apart you have to use a little more pressure on the bar to get the strings to sound properly. Because of the wide difference in gauges some strings might sit lower or higher than others.

[This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 01 February 2006 at 03:09 PM.]

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Andy is right on !
I have the same problem by the nut !
Its due to the string gage not matching
the grove that is cut in the nut . More
pressure should correct the problem .

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

When playing with the bar almost, or exactly, parallel to the strings you defintely get a 'sitar' like sound,- Bob Brozman is one player who sometimes use this as an effect.
Could this be the sound Gerald is referring to? I have noticed this too when doing "wide" slants.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Do you suppose the THICKER WOUND bass strings have an adverse affect on said slants? I'd think so.........

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

Use a round bar, not a stevens type dobro bar.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

It's definately adversely affected by larger bars - think about the physics of it, if you used a 1/8" bar for example, no buzz. I usually use homemade 1.25" or 1.375" acrylic or delrin bars and this is my biggest dislike, slants below the 8th fret or so get pretty sketchy.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

The grooves in the Nut should be adjusted so that the top of each string is level with the strings on either side of it, for the most desireable results, plus you must use sligtly more pressure as the bar is moved closer to the Nut. The more level the “playing~field”, the less ‘additional-pressure’ is required.

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

David Yannuzzi · From: Pomona , New York, USA

Like Stiener said some people do it on purpose to get that sound .Bob Brozman is the one that showed me that effect and Jeff Lange uses it in a cool way also.

I assumd you were talking about the slant on the top 2 strings and the sitar sound happening on the 1st string but this will also help on bass strings or any 2 sting slant with unwanted indian flavor.

When your doing slants and you get that sitar sound your going a little to far or like you said the slant is at a vey acute angle to get it in tune.

Try backing off a little so its not at such an angle don't push down on the bar so much.push down lightly behind the bar on the strings to create more tension on the string .

- damping and alittle pressure on the strings behind the bar. I think this is really important and helps stop string vibrations you don't want in there.

Does this make sense? I am not quite sure how to descibe it but I tried.

I found that helped me clear up that issue.

The smaller bar might help. I use a Broz-o-phonic for lap stuff . it 's smaller than the pedal steel Bar. Not sure the measurements.
It's easier to feel slants in tune with a smaller bar .

Hope this helps. Give me a buzz sometime -Dave

[This message was edited by David Yannuzzi on 02 February 2006 at 03:00 PM.]

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