Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: dannobasso on September 16, 2007, 06:31:42 AM

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 16, 2007, 06:31:42 AM

Before I bother the folks at the mothership, do any of you find folks have an idea about this one.
My Excel 5 (not Kay she's fine) has a recurring buzz on the 5th fret on the g string. I've adjusted the neck numerous ways, nut and bridge, changed strings and all of the things I could thing of but the problem persists. It has been minimized but the action is not ideal for home playing. (Live I usually have a slightly higher action 'cause I play very aggressively) Perhaps ther is something I have overlooked.
Thanks.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: keith_h on September 16, 2007, 06:59:41 AM

Have you taken a fret height gauge to see if it might be caused by a raised fret?  
 
Keith

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 16, 2007, 07:30:46 AM

Not yet. Funny that I don't have one. I'll try and pick up one today.
Sound very likely though.
Thanks Keith,
Keep em' coming please.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: David Houck on September 16, 2007, 06:21:22 PM

Excuse the question, but what does recurring mean in this context?
 
Fret height gauge.  I need to order one of those.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 16, 2007, 07:38:31 PM

left out the O. Meaning that when I get the action to a desired, to die for, low but no buzz. That blessed 5th fret on the g string makes its entrance yet again. Possibly like a cur crashing the party repeatedly?
 cur |k?r| noun an aggressive dog or one that is in poor condition, esp. a mongrel. ?  
informal a contemptible man.  
ORIGIN Middle English (in the general sense [dog] ): probably originally in cur-dog, perhaps from Old Norse kurr ?grumbling.?
 
Pretend it is a post from our Erasmus friends.  
Sup? Jeet? Jawanna? Youse knows, likes it sounds.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: bsee on September 16, 2007, 09:16:55 PM

Might it be a loose fret that is vibrating?  I would think that it would either bet the 5th fret is loose or the 6th fret is a bit high on the treble side.  I'm not sure what the factory would dictate, but I might try laying a softish piece of pine across the frets and giving it a few taps with a rubber mallet just to make sure they are fully pressed in.  I'd be very gentle...

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: jacko on September 17, 2007, 04:53:01 AM

Danno, I don't think Dave was commenting on your spelling. In fact there is no such word as reOccuring - this is a frequent and easily made mistake. The correct word (as you already knew) is an extension of recur - to occur again.
 
Graeme
 
p.s. I have no idea why your 5th fret is buzzing - probably just needs tapping down a touch.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: crgaston on September 17, 2007, 05:43:08 AM

...and the precise etymological origin, from the Latin, currere, meaning to run.  Literally, to run again.
 
Related words:
 
Current, cursive, concur, cursor, etc.
 
English being a mongrel language, often words that sound very similar have no relation to each other in origin or meaning. It can be a real curse for those trying to learn the language. :-)
 
P.S.  Crank that action up so you can get some good string excursion!
 
Charles

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: georgie_boy on September 17, 2007, 09:32:01 AM

GULP!!

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: terryc on September 17, 2007, 09:37:08 AM

I agree with bsee..soft pine and a wood mallet but check fret/string clearance..you can use a standard set of feeler guages as a reference.
As for the other maybe a course in definitive grammar and syntax..I just love they way threads take numerous paths here in this club

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 17, 2007, 10:14:18 AM

The fret is not buzzing but the string is. No surprise GC had no gauges. An act of the purest optimism to suggest it in the first place! I'll call the office today to get their take which will mirror all your suggestions.  
Rest assured that all responses are of the humor as dry toast variety. Life is too short to get wrapped up in negativity.  
For interesting takes on language try www.adultswim.com/video/index.html (http://www.adultswim.com/video/index.html) and look at Squidbillies.  
Warning: not very pc.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on September 17, 2007, 12:07:25 PM

Gee, and the thing first I thought when I saw this thread was Unusual buzz?  Sure, thanks!  So call me a reprobate (which does not mean you have register my will again).
 
Peter

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 17, 2007, 04:32:08 PM

You mean like Norml? Never crossed my mind. Sometimes I forget how many DH's there are here. Mica gave me the low down which included all the above input of the luthier variety. On a high note (not the controlled substance kind), all the black is applied to my new fretless and refinished Essence. She also told me they made a bunch of black Spoilers in da 80's.  
Thank for all your suggestions and I will try to incorporate some of them into my special ed English class. We are currently moving through Animal Farm. Then on to Hamlet. Snowball, Hamlet, good segue. Porcine humor. Always wear clean shirts.... da da de dum dum.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: David Houck on September 17, 2007, 06:58:58 PM

Animal Farm!  Cool!

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: jacko on September 18, 2007, 01:10:33 AM

Danno.
For me, one of the nicest black spoilers they made in the 80's is the exploiter/spoiler Stanley is wearing on the cover of his '85 album 'find out'.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/44107.jpg)
 
Sorry for the poor quality pic.
 
Back on topic, you say it's the string that's buzzing, not the fret. I had something similar that turned out to be something loose in the controls. tightening all the pots down properly cured the issue.
 
graeme

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 18, 2007, 09:55:45 AM

Some fashion statements are just timeless! I'll check out all the hardware and electronics as well. Thanks

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: terryc on September 18, 2007, 10:48:43 AM

Jacko - you got this album..I think it is deleted now even from CD..it was very 80's but there is some great playing on it.

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: hieronymous on September 18, 2007, 04:00:08 PM

That's actually the best quality pic I've seen of that album cover - I was looking a while ago. I used to have all his albums on LP...

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: jacko on September 19, 2007, 02:30:24 AM

Yep I have the album - LP naturally. Best version of born in the USA I've heard.
 
Graeme

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: bigbadbill on September 19, 2007, 02:55:14 AM

Some great playing on that album, I have it too....

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: 811952 on September 25, 2007, 07:28:53 AM

I hope I never have a problem with my buzz.  My language skills wouldn't be up to the test!

Title: Unusual buzz
Post by: dannobasso on September 25, 2007, 02:43:49 PM

Its a tough crowd here at da club!