wierd rattle from headstock end of tele

[dankomal]

hi all,
i'm getting this wierd rattle from the headstock end of my vintage style tele, it seems to be the g string, its really noticable unplugged especially if I play a d5 chord at the 7th fret.
I took all the tuners off to check and the bushings were tight.
the tele has one string tree for the B and E strings.
I took it to a luthier who said it could be a loose truss rod, and that the neck was very lively!!
he took the fret marker out at the the seventh fret and tried to get a bit of glue in there to stop the rattle but guess what...it's still there???
I'm sure its something at the headstock end though it beats me.
it could be the nut but the luthier didn't think so.
any ideas.....

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by dankomal

the tele has one string tree for the g and b strings.

any ideas.....

That's a New one on me ?

[dankomal]

sorry, mellecaster I meant b and e, i'll change the typo straight away...

[surfoverb]

what do you mean by rattle? Why would the G rattle? If you're getting like a harmonic note then its probably the nut. Try tying a piece of rubber band to the G between the nut and the tuner.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

what do you mean by rattle? Why would the G rattle? If you're getting like a harmonic note then its probably the nut. Try tying a piece of rubber band to the G between the nut and the tuner.

the rattle is like zinging aftersound, though it does also sound like something is loose at the headstock end, even though i've checked and can't find the problem.

is tying the rubber band on the g string to check the problem is with the nut??

cheers,

mal.

[Pierce]

had a tuner do that....previous owner thought it was a trussrod rattle.

it was the low E and it was kluson from wd

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by dankomal

the rattle is like zinging aftersound.

is tying the rubber band on the g string to check the problem is with the nut??

cheers,

mal.

I just installed a tusq nut on my partscaster, and I somehow crushed the nut where the G string sits.(I used a huge c clamp thats how I crushed it) So when I play I get a harmonic note ringing behind the nut (just like when you pluck the string behind the nut but it happens constantly during normal playing). I tried filing the slot deeper and wider but it still rings out. So using a trick I use to dampen my Tennis raquet strings (a trick I learned from Agassi) I tied a piece of rubber band on the G string behind the nut and this solved the problem.

I plan on replacing the nut but in the meantime this works fine.

Im not saying this is whats wrong with yours, Im just throwing it out there as an idea of something to check. If you can isolate where the problem is coming from then you can fix it.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

I just installed a tusq nut on my partscaster, and I somehow crushed the nut where the G string sits.(I used a huge c clamp thats how I crushed it) So when I play I get a harmonic note ringing behind the nut (just like when you pluck the string behind the nut but it happens constantly during normal playing). I tried filing the slot deeper and wider but it still rings out. So using a trick I use to dampen my Tennis raquet strings (a trick I learned from Agassi) I tied a piece of rubber band on the G string behind the nut and this solved the problem.

I plan on replacing the nut but in the meantime this works fine.

Im not saying this is whats wrong with yours, Im just throwing it out there as an idea of something to check. If you can isolate where the problem is coming from then you can fix it.

cheers, now all i've got to do is find that rubber band???

i'll let you know how I get on.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

I just installed a tusq nut on my partscaster, and I somehow crushed the nut where the G string sits.(I used a huge c clamp thats how I crushed it) So when I play I get a harmonic note ringing behind the nut (just like when you pluck the string behind the nut but it happens constantly during normal playing). I tried filing the slot deeper and wider but it still rings out. So using a trick I use to dampen my Tennis raquet strings (a trick I learned from Agassi) I tied a piece of rubber band on the G string behind the nut and this solved the problem.

I plan on replacing the nut but in the meantime this works fine.

Im not saying this is whats wrong with yours, Im just throwing it out there as an idea of something to check. If you can isolate where the problem is coming from then you can fix it.

It didn't work,

I thought I might have been onto a winner with that one.

thanks anyway.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by Pierce

had a tuner do that....previous owner thought it was a trussrod rattle.

it was the low E and it was kluson from wd

how did you locate which tuner was the offender?

cheers,

mal.

[lamprey999]

Don't know if it will help...and don't let yourself be photographed while doing it...

You might try using a small enough Phillips head screwdriver, as a stethoscope- handle to the ear! (I've seen mechnics use extension bars, screwdrivers, and such to isolate mystery noises in running engines. This is safer- no moving parts!)

Put the point carefully, but solidly on the headstock. generate the noise, and then move it around to different spots. You should get it louder as you near the source. If not it will make for interesting pics at your next party!

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by lamprey999

Don't know if it will help...and don't let yourself be photographed while doing it...

You might try using a small enough Phillips head screwdriver, as a stethoscope- handle to the ear! (I've seen mechnics use extension bars, screwdrivers, and such to isolate mystery noises in running engines. This is safer- no moving parts!)

Put the point carefully, but solidly on the headstock. generate the noise, and then move it around to different spots. You should get it louder as you near the source. If not it will make for interesting pics at your next party!

I tried the philips screwdriver but couldn't locate exactly where the rattle is coming from.

my hunch is its coming from one or more of the kluson deluxe tuners but I have no idea which one?

how could I find out? are they easy to open up and check if they are loose inside?

thanks,

mal...

[dbrun002]

My squier jazz bass does this when a d is played. From basic hand muting the tuners, I've figured out that it's the G tuner that buzzes, but I don't know how to fix it. I've tightened the middle screw and I've tightened the screws to hold it into the headstock

[ToasterJake]

I have a similar problem with a Memphis guitar: weird ting-ey rattle that comes from either the headstock or the first fret. I thought it was the truss rod, but it seems to be something else. I'm also eager for any info ya'll have to offer.

[newtwanger]

As the ADGB tuners are all the same, remove them and place them in different locations to see if the buzz jumps to another string. Magic happens and just the removal and reinstall might fix it.

[jwells393]

I took it to a luthier who said it could be a loose truss rod, and that the neck was very lively!!
he took the fret marker out at the the seventh fret and tried to get a bit of glue in there to stop the rattle but guess what...it's still there???

What was that all about? A Fender neck with the Bii-Flex truss rod has a screw under the 7th fret marker but a competent tech should know that a vintage style neck doesn't have the Bi-Flex truss rod.

[sacizob]

Just curious, how do you remove a fret marker?

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by jwells393

What was that all about? A Fender neck with the Bii-Flex truss rod has a screw under the 7th fret marker but a competent tech should know that a vintage style neck doesn't have the Bi-Flex truss rod.

he took the marker out to get some glue/gunk in there to stop the rattle,
he is very competent and does know his stuff though he couldn't get the glue past the truss rod and I needed the guitar that night, so the job didn't get done properly. which was ok at the time.

he said he could spend some quality time getting it fixed though , I just thought there may be another way...
cheers,
mal.

[jwells393]

dankomal.......... I'll ask you once again. What's that all about? How is putting glue/gunk under the 7th fret marker suppose stop a rattle? The 7th fret marker on a vintage neck covers only one thing ........... the hole drilled to accept the fret marker.

Did he remove the marker and drill a hole down to the truss rod? As you can see, there's a lot of wood between the 7th fret marker and the truss rod on a vintage style neck.



Compare that to a neck with the Bi-Flex truss rod that has a screw under the 7th fret marker.



Sounds to me like your guy doesn't know the difference. If you want it fixed, send it to mellecaster.

[dankomal]

Originally Posted by jwells393

dankomal.......... I'll ask you once again. What's that all about? How is putting glue/gunk under the 7th fret marker suppose stop a rattle? The 7th fret marker on a vintage neck covers only one thing ........... the hole drilled to accept the fret marker.

Did he remove the marker and drill a hole down to the truss rod? As you can see, there's a lot of wood between the 7th fret marker and the truss rod on a vintage style neck.



Compare that to a neck with the Bi-Flex truss rod that has a screw under the 7th fret marker.



Sounds to me like your guy doesn't know the difference. If you want it fixed, send it to mellecaster.

yes, he drilled down to the truss rod. my mistake in describing the job.
thanks for showing the pics though, it give me more of an idea how thr rod works.
mal.

[B Roberts]

Hi dankomal, just looking through the forum when i saw your query, a coiuple of year s ago i bought a Telecaster by Vintage which for the price was great apart from a weird buzz/rattle from the headstock. The tuners were Wilkinson 6 on a plate. What it turned out to be was that the button on the b string tuner was slightly loose on the shaft I mean SLIGHTLY. You couldn't see the movement but when tapped with a nail it made a slight click. I took the machines off and ran a bit of super glue down the shaft and under the button - instant cure. If you've not discovered this already, I hope its of some help. cheers.