The Steel Guitar Forum

Something really weird going on with my Gretsch Boxcar squareneck. I’m getting a loud buzz in either the bridge or the resonator (can’t tell for sure), but it only happens on certain notes. I’m tuned to open E, and it happens only on B notes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s "fretted" (with the bar) or an open string.

It’s a strong buzz that really rings out the note.

The strings are a couple months old, and that’s their only tuning I use.

Any thoughts?

Might be that the resonator cone isn’t seated right

Probably not this, but I actually sent my frypan back to Todd for a one-note buzz....and then finally realized it was a picture frame hanging loosely on the wall above my playing position...

Miles Lang wrote:Might be that the resonator cone isn’t seated right

It wasn’t doing it a few days ago. Is that something that shifts? Sorry I have little knowledge of the inner workings.

Steve Lipsey wrote:Probably not this, but I actually sent my frypan back to Todd for a one-note buzz....and then finally realized it was a picture frame hanging loosely on the wall above my playing position...

Ha! I play in multiple places in the house, so you’re right: Probably not.

Check the Machine Heads. I had a Fender Squire P=Bass which buzzed. It was one of the tuners!

Paul Spafford wrote:

Miles Lang wrote:Might be that the resonator cone isn’t seated right

It wasn’t doing it a few days ago. Is that something that shifts? Sorry I have little knowledge of the inner workings.

The humidity in the house can have some effect on this. If the temp outside is a lot lower then the furnace would run more. If this is the case, then you probably need a setup on the cone. Also, try slightly loosening the cone adjustment to see if it gets worse. If so, tighten it gently until the noise stops. If you have to go very far, you need a cone setup.

Rick Abbott wrote:The humidity in the house can have some effect on this. If the temp outside is a lot lower then the furnace would run more. If this is the case, then you probably need a setup on the cone. Also, try slightly loosening the cone adjustment to see if it gets worse. If so, tighten it gently until the noise stops. If you have to go very far, you need a cone setup.

Is the cone adjustment that hole in the middle of the metal that is over the bridge?

Steve Lipsey wrote:Probably not this, but I actually sent my frypan back to Todd for a one-note buzz....and then finally realized it was a picture frame hanging loosely on the wall above my playing position...

IN YOUR CASE BAD VIBRATIONS!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdt0SOqPJcg

When I sent mine back, Todd did find a couple of tuner buttons that were loose, and he said that can sometimes cause a buzz....it wasn't, on mine, but might be, on yours...

humidity can do that but on all of my guitars i use pencil lead on the nut and bridge. i also tighten all screws when changing strings.

play music!

Is the cone adjustment that hole in the middle of the metal that is over the bridge?

Yes...

Thanks, y'all. I'll lightly go at everything with a screwdriver and report back.

Took me a while to get past the basic fear of playing with that screw in the middle of the bridge. Finally tried it out, and that fixed everything. Thanks, y'all!