Nut question...

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this, but here goes...

I have been playing my Martin OM-1 a lot lately. I've noticed that the D string buzzes when I play it open, and when I play notes up to the third fret. Higher up the neck it's fine. Unfortunately any time I aggressively strum or play G chords I can hear it buzzing, which sucks.

In looking at the nut, it appears the D string sits lower in the nut than the A and G strings. I think it just needs to be raised up a little. At some point I will probably upgrade to a bone nut, but until then how can I raise the D string? I'm thinking of trying a little superglue in the D string groove. What do you guys think?

I've used superglue before and it works well. If you're going have it replaced anyway they I'd say go for it.

Since you say it buzzes up to the 3rd fret I don't feel the nut is the issue. A truss rod adjustment may be in order. Also is there a lot of fret wear?

First thing,

Pop the string out of the slot. Fill the slot with pencil lead. Pop the string back in.

See if that fixes the problem. If it fixes the problem, the slot may be cut wrong or too low. If it doesn't help, it is most likely a setup or fret issue.

Well... I only had a couple minutes to spend before work so I put a small piece of paper in the D string slot, raising it to approximately the same height as the A and G strings. This eliminated the buzzing when I play the string open, but it's still there when I play individual notes on the first three frets. None of the other strings do this. More info to come...

Here's a link to a good place to start. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/nutaction.html I really like this because it doesn't involve tools like micrometers that go to .0000000000000000000001 and will tell you what you need to know. Meanwhile, you are looking at system of things that are interacting with each other and you need to evaluate it as that. so go to the index page at frets.com and learn how to check the neck, frets, saddle, etc.

Also, someone tell him about the CA glue baking soda thing.

since you had already planned on it anyway, bring it to a good tech and have him put a bone nut on it ... the labor will include a proper set-up for the guitar, and your problem should be solved ... remember ... i said a good tech !!!

since you had already planned on it anyway, bring it to a good tech and have him put a bone nut on it ... the labor will include a proper set-up for the guitar, and your problem should be solved ... remember ... i said a good tech !!!

+1, (wearing my Tech hat)

The superglue solution will work. (Wearing my cheapskate hat.)

You may want to sprinkle a SMALL amount of baking soda in the slot..apply ONE drop of thin super glue..give it an hour, then re-file the slot. The baking soda makes the super glue very hard.

If raising the nut helped the open string buzz but not the fretted note buzz you still have a neck/fret situation. But again a good tech can fix that no problem.

since you had already planned on it anyway, bring it to a good tech and have him put a bone nut on it ... the labor will include a proper set-up for the guitar, and your problem should be solved ... remember ... i said a good tech !!!

Yeah, that makes sense. The only thing is, we have ONE good tech in our area and he's always busy. If I take the guitar to him I'll be without it for weeks. I can probably get by with it the way it is for awhile, or at least until I find out how busy he is.