The Steel Guitar Forum

i seem to have a buzzing effect under my bar in some positions is this normal? maybe making too much of it. thought it could be my volume pedal. plugged in direct still hear it. hope its not my hearing!.im playing on a new almost gfi. ultra. amp is peavy nashville. set to suggested settings.

The likeliest explanation could be that the bar is not down on all the strings evenly - that the pressure is uneven on individual strings. Also, make sure that the fingers of your left hand is muting the strings behind the bar.

Two likely causes:
1: inadequate bar hand pressure. You don't need to press hard, but you need a little for clean tone.
2: Not putting your trailing fingers to use damping on the back side of the bar. You'll get sympathetic vibrations from the back side at frets 4,5,7,9 ,12, and some more.

Less likely? Nicks on the bar, even small ones.

U need to have a thickness shim gauge to see which strings make contact, and how many thousandths clearance there is on the ones that don't . I did mine on around the 2nd fret, and then changed nut roller sizes to accomodate--it made a huge difference in tuning and buzzing. amazing

I'm thinking that a change of strings might be a cure for this, as I had noticed this before my last string change and now it's gone!

Using the tip of the bar only, on strings that are to be played is by far the greatest acheivement to your tone and keeping down unwanted string noise. I had the bad habit of using the entire bar when I first began playing. But I've learned better and glad for it.

Using the tip of the bar only, on strings that are to be played . . .

A little difficult when the strings to be played
are a 3, 5 & 8 or a 4, 6 & 10 string grip?

~Rw

If I were playing 3 and 5 I would put the tip on 3 and cover 5, I would not extend to 1and 2 and cover them and etc. Most instructions I've used have taught this and on bar technique. Works for me. Thought I would pass it along.

Is this problem only on the first or second fret from the Nut Rollers?? You talk the steel is nearly new. Are you the original owner or bought it used??? Could someone before you removed the Nut Rollers for cleaning or service? Have you had the Nut Rollers off for cleaning or service? If the guitar has a set of Matched Rollers to the strings, Some how they may have gotten mixed up and now some of the strings are on the wrong rollers and they are high, Others on the wrong rollers are low and that is your wierd sounding strings. Check the bar for dings as advised before. Good Luck in finding the problem and getting it solved.

If I were playing 3 and 5 I would put the tip on 3 and cover 5, I would not extend to 1and 2 and cover them and etc.

So you're still covering strings
that are not being played:
string 4 and no doubt 6, 7
and on down . . .
Gotcha . . .
~Rw

Try a new set first, like Pete said. Then if buzz persists, try more exotic solutions.

I had this problem. I went through every possible solution search and finally found that it was me. I have had surgery on right wrist twice and I believe that is where the problem really is. Sometimes it is there when I start a gig and it clears in 20-30 minutes. Angle and attack of the pick seems to be the answer.