Time to swap out the strings on my acoustic?

brillocaster · June 28th, 2006, 12:43 AM

I've been playing & taking lessons since March & bought a new steel-string dreadnought for the enterprise. I play it about an hour a day. Some days more, some days less.

When I got it I thought it was set up pretty well (as much as a beginner can tell) with no buzzing. Had a little trouble keeping it in tune for a couple weeks, but it settled in and just requires a little tweak when I am getting ready to practice.

However, even though my left hand is a good bit stronger and my fretting is much better, the E and A strings buzz like crazy at the top couple of frets. Is it time to replace the strings already? It would seem to make sense, I probably hit the EAD strings far more than GBe between single note stuff and power chords.

WallyArms · June 28th, 2006, 12:53 AM

You are ready for a new set of strings, but that may not be the cause of your new problem... could be the change in seasons caused some changes to the neck.

weelie · June 28th, 2006, 06:21 AM

Well, I think strings lose their punch in about 3 weeks. Not that I change them that often, mind you! :D Many pros change them about every day, which is very understandable. I think mine sound the best 1 day old through to about 2 weeks old.

The buzzing can be the way you play or the setup. Acoustic guitars can be affected by the seasons a lot. Stable humidity (around 45-60%) is the key.

By top frets do you mean near the nut or near the bridge?

brillocaster · June 28th, 2006, 09:32 AM

Up by the nut...for example if you were to play the opening riff to "The One I Love" the 'call' bit on EAD buzzes a good bit, but the 'response' part on GBe does not. Likewise, an open D chord rings true but I get some buzzing in open E and barred chords up near the nut.

Come to think of it, it has rained at least every other day here for almost three weeks. I've only taken it out of the house once in that period, but I don't live in a climate controlled data storage facility, so humidity is probably a factor.

It could easily be the way I play. It is standing out because when I started, buzzing was the rule, then it became an exception, now it's back. Maybe I am getting lazy.

Think what I'll do is get my teacher or another experienced player to play it and see if it manifests itself, then take it to the shop for a string swap and, if it's not me, maybe a little tweak.

charlie cash · July 2nd, 2006, 12:22 PM

Brillocaster,
Test it by fretting the E at the first fret (no chord, just fret that string with one finger) and see if it rings cleanly or buzzes. Move down to the next fret, then the next, etc.;do the same thing. Do the same with the A string. If they ring clean, then the buss is caused by your left hand when fretting chords. If not, you have the action a little too low or a high fret.

June 28th, 2006, 12:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
brillocaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 749	Time to swap out the strings on my acoustic? I've been playing & taking lessons since March & bought a new steel-string dreadnought for the enterprise. I play it about an hour a day. Some days more, some days less. When I got it I thought it was set up pretty well (as much as a beginner can tell) with no buzzing. Had a little trouble keeping it in tune for a couple weeks, but it settled in and just requires a little tweak when I am getting ready to practice. However, even though my left hand is a good bit stronger and my fretting is much better, the E and A strings buzz like crazy at the top couple of frets. Is it time to replace the strings already? It would seem to make sense, I probably hit the EAD strings far more than GBe between single note stuff and power chords.

June 28th, 2006, 12:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
WallyArms Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TN Posts: 938	You are ready for a new set of strings, but that may not be the cause of your new problem... could be the change in seasons caused some changes to the neck. __________________ Save The Hymnals!

June 28th, 2006, 06:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
weelie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland, Yer-up Age: 34 Posts: 1,957 12 Photos	Well, I think strings lose their punch in about 3 weeks. Not that I change them that often, mind you! :D Many pros change them about every day, which is very understandable. I think mine sound the best 1 day old through to about 2 weeks old. The buzzing can be the way you play or the setup. Acoustic guitars can be affected by the seasons a lot. Stable humidity (around 45-60%) is the key. By top frets do you mean near the nut or near the bridge? __________________ <- I don't need smileys, I'm smiling already.

June 28th, 2006, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
brillocaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 749	Up by the nut...for example if you were to play the opening riff to "The One I Love" the 'call' bit on EAD buzzes a good bit, but the 'response' part on GBe does not. Likewise, an open D chord rings true but I get some buzzing in open E and barred chords up near the nut. Come to think of it, it has rained at least every other day here for almost three weeks. I've only taken it out of the house once in that period, but I don't live in a climate controlled data storage facility, so humidity is probably a factor. It could easily be the way I play. It is standing out because when I started, buzzing was the rule, then it became an exception, now it's back. Maybe I am getting lazy. Think what I'll do is get my teacher or another experienced player to play it and see if it manifests itself, then take it to the shop for a string swap and, if it's not me, maybe a little tweak.

July 2nd, 2006, 12:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
charlie cash Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 337	Brillocaster, Test it by fretting the E at the first fret (no chord, just fret that string with one finger) and see if it rings cleanly or buzzes. Move down to the next fret, then the next, etc.;do the same thing. Do the same with the A string. If they ring clean, then the buss is caused by your left hand when fretting chords. If not, you have the action a little too low or a high fret.