Build 4 - buzz from inside body?

Posted by Sean Murphy on December 1, 2018 at 9:45am

Howdy all, recently completed (-ish) my fourth build; it's a neck-through with a piezo-rod pickup right under the bridge. First time I've tried a finish - used Tung oil, and it came out really pretty, with a lovely feel to the neck!

I haven't done a proper setup pass yet, so need to do some final tweaking but I've noticed something odd:

When I pluck the top string, open or fretted, I'm getting a buzz from inside the body. It doesn't appear to be fret buzz but I'm guessing rather something resonating inside.

Is this a common occurrence? Any suggestions for where I should start looking first?

Also, things I'm going to be focusing on more on the next builds -

  • Getting tuners, fret markers, and string holes more in line. They're kinda sloppy and wandering
  • Not happy with my solution for string control at the head. I want to try some options with either the head cut at an angle or at least a tuner on the other side of the head.
  • More precision with my notching of the neck - it's kinda Wild West inside the body!

Thanks for all suggestions!

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Replies

  • Sean Murphy December 1, 2018 at 2:18pm
    It's definitely coming from inside the box - I can hear it quite clearly when I put my ear to the sound hole. I secured part of the piezo wire but not the whole thing - I'm guessing that either my internal bracing or the wiring is causing the buzz.

    Thanks for all the suggestions!
  • John Sawyer December 1, 2018 at 1:57pm
    You get good at tracking down buzz when building these things! :-) My first trick is a fingernail... get the buzz going, then push down on the string right at the nut edge, or the bridge edge. If it stops, you've found it... (to Gus's point). Then start pushing on the box in various places... see where it stops...

    It COULD be inside the box: Did you glue down the piezo wire? if it's laying gently on the box somewhere, it can buzz bad...
  • Gus K December 1, 2018 at 10:23am

    "pluck the top string, open or fretted, I'm getting a buzz from inside the body".  I'd try working that string slot just a tad. Maybe bevel it back a bit and make sure the sides aren't rubbing.  It's hard to tell from your pic how deep you have cut them.  Too deep can cause problems.

  • the anonymous pick December 1, 2018 at 10:04am

     By your pictures , first culprit i would look at is those strap buttons . make sure they are nice an tight . then see if the  bridge is  level or rocking on the  boxtop ,  then check break angle  of string at bridge . 

  • S Elgin December 1, 2018 at 9:55am

    At the beginning of the build I go through the entire box and run a line of super glue around every seam and joint... if it has the wooden inserts sound the inside I glue those also.... do it with every one. Can't say I never get a random buzz like what you are describing, but at least I know it isn't a seam or joint buzzing. If you look close at the picture you can see all the inside joints have a line of super glue

    CBG 1 inside.JPG

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