I've made a few guitars and stick dulcimers and I'm having a problem. It seems the lowest (thickest) string sounds fine unfretted, but when I fret it, it sounds dead. As I fret towards the neck it gets worse. What have I done wrong and how do I correct it?
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Replies
I'm no expert, but I wonder if your frets might be a little low for the heavy string? Or perhaps your bridge is a little low on that end?
I just bought the string today and I have provided compensation.
Thank you for your input.
Funny, I have been something similar on my guitars. Maybe it is just the nature of the beast? Strings getting old? One thing to check is to make sure the bridge has "compensation" . The bridge should not be perpandicular to the strings. The thicker strings should have a slightly longer scale length than the thinner strings. That is to compensate for the larger diameter. I always set my scale length on the thinnest string. I am not sure that is correct, but that's how I have been doing it.
It should be interesting to see what suggestions other people have.