Low E “thud”. Why do some guitars have it and what is the cause ?
- Thread starter moonman2
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Steve Holt
Friend of Leo's
Is the nut slot for the low E string cut wide enough?
I've had this; and it's alarming, isn't it? Sorry though, I can't remember how I fixed it. 
Try the guitar through a different amp, the problem may be there. Try tweaking the bridge back and forth and up and down, see what happens there. Make sure your nutslot is ship-shape.
Try the guitar through a different amp, the problem may be there. Try tweaking the bridge back and forth and up and down, see what happens there. Make sure your nutslot is ship-shape.
birdawesome
Tele-Meister
Do the guitars that exhibit this “resonate” or vibrate physically (the body) a lot by comparison to one that doesn’t sound thuddy? I do find *some* correlation between the body taking energy from the string and the thuddiness of the sound, however, I have a guitar that resonates like crazy but doesn’t really sound all that thuddy, so it’s not a law by any means.
It’s really probably down to physics more than anything so long as you do have proper contact at the nut and saddles. At least going off of feel, and the energy transfer between the string and guitar. This could effect the sound plugged in only because if the body is taking away a lot of energy and not giving it back then the string is going to sound more dull due to it not being able to do its thing as it should.
That’s my two cents. Some people call bs, but that’s why and how the wood can actually affect tone. Engineering physics has taught me that everything effects everything.
rand z
Poster Extraordinaire
"It’s really probably down to physics more than anything so long as you do have proper contact at the nut and saddles. At least going off of feel, and the energy transfer between the string and guitar. This could effect the sound plugged in only because if the body is taking away a lot of energy and not giving it back then the string is going to sound more dull due to it not being able to do its thing as it should."
THIS... from the above post.
imo.
THIS... from the above post.
imo.
kuch
Poster Extraordinaire
+1 on check your nut and saddle
SixStringSlinger
Poster Extraordinaire
My first suspect would be the nut. The nut itself, the slot, the strings break angle over the nut…
Then probably similar concerns re. tje bridge/saddle
Then probably similar concerns re. tje bridge/saddle
Wound_Up
Tele-Afflicted
You should go back to school. The sound of the string has zero effect on solid body electric guitar pickups.
PomPomPudding
Tele-Holic
You might be able to find a crack in the slot of the nut. It happened to me once.
tubedude
Friend of Leo's
Neck/body joint nice and tight?
JIMMY JAZZMAN
Friend of Leo's
The nut underneath the low "E", is not firmly down into the slot. I had this problem on 3 guitars in 50 years. Hence the dull or thump sound.
Re-position the nut or a new nut (properly re-set) will take care of
the problem. Doesn't happen to often, but you'll know it in an instant.
BTW, this could happen on any guitar, regardless of make, model
or high-end, low end.
Re-position the nut or a new nut (properly re-set) will take care of
the problem. Doesn't happen to often, but you'll know it in an instant.
BTW, this could happen on any guitar, regardless of make, model
or high-end, low end.
archtop_fjk
Tele-Afflicted
I agree, check the nut and saddle both. If the thud goes away when you fret a note, then suspect the nut. At the saddle, check that the saddle height adjustment screws are contacting the bridge plate.
All I can tell you is that it’s now only my two Squier Bullet Teles.
One is still stock, but the other has a Hosco neck and steel saddles yet still has the same “thuddy” low E as the stock one.
My other parts casters have now been relieved of it since I changed the bridges.
However, the Bullets seem to conflict with the notion of changing the bridges / saddles.
(I’m still at a loss)
birdawesome
Tele-Meister
I’m currently an engineering student, thank you.
It’s the exact same principle why a bone nut is better than plastic, or why saddle material matters. Do either of those things directly interact with the pickup? Of course not. Do they effect the string, which does? Of course they do. It’s all about transfer of energy. You could think of it like a car tire being under inflated, requiring more work from the engine, or a bicycle with under inflated tires requiring more effort from your legs to go an equal distance. If a piece of wood is taking energy from the strings, the strings are going to vibrate differently, and that is translated by the pickups as a varied electrical signal I.e. different sound.
Aside from all that, I think you should have a little more tact on these forums. It’s a good community, so let’s keep it that way.
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If that's the case, try playing one without any strings on it then and please report back!
Adding to the above :
If it's open string only, or mainly, it's the probably the nut.
If it's open and fretted, saddles
In any case, play with the bass side of the pickup(s)
It may be, and it is with me, the way you attack the strings. I play very percussively; mostly without a pick ( Wilko devotee ) I can get some right thump and thud rhythms going deliberately by muting the string from the side and bringing the strum in angled and hard. A lot easier to do than explain.
Never discount the way you play as possibly being a reason, then make a feature from it.
If it's open string only, or mainly, it's the probably the nut.
If it's open and fretted, saddles
In any case, play with the bass side of the pickup(s)
It may be, and it is with me, the way you attack the strings. I play very percussively; mostly without a pick ( Wilko devotee ) I can get some right thump and thud rhythms going deliberately by muting the string from the side and bringing the strum in angled and hard. A lot easier to do than explain.
Never discount the way you play as possibly being a reason, then make a feature from it.
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