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Question on Staghorn string height

From gotvim72 on 3/19/2020 12:02:49 PM

Hi all, First, sorry for the long thread.  purchased a Staghorn about three years ago now. It's a 97'.

First off, Her name is Delores and my wife is not as much of a fan of her as I am, Sometimes she tries to get into bed with us.

Enough of my personal life...

I have noticed for a while and it's possible since i received it, but I didn't notice until after about a year, but there is a fret buzz, mainly on the 1st D string, it's there open, slightly and maybe even a little more prominent when I fret it at the 1st fret. Seems to get better higher up the next. I recently went through the field manual did a fresh setup. I know my head is tightened (I like 93 on the drum dial for this banjo/head combo, so should be plenty tight enough.

I have my action set higher than what Geoff recommends, i like digging in on the higher frets, allows me to really pluck that sucker. So I know string height is plenty high. I double-checked the neck is level/parallel to the pot mount and snug. So next step was the truss rod. It was relatively tight already (almost no bow), I decided to relieve it some, 1/4 turn didn't mae any difference, did another 1/4, same, basically i had to finally loosen it entirely (it's so loose you can start seeing threads on the coming out with the nut. I read that sometimes these need time to add bow back, so I put fresh strings on, tune them all 1/2 step sharp and let sit for a few days. I noticed the buzz was gone at the first fret and and now there's a good amount of bow. However, I'm now getting a little buzz higher up. So I started slowly to straighten the neck to get rid of that, however, my buzz is back up top. I can't seem to get it to not buzz somewhere.

Two questions for the group:

First,, does anyone know the amount of space the strings should have, ideally over the first fret of the fingerboard when it's not fretted? I wasn't able find anything on Stelling's site, but I did find some on Deering and they recommend 1/16th" between the string height and the first fret fingerboard.

I noticed one thing, my 1st D string is visibly closer to the fingerboard than the other 3 strings, by about 1/3rd. Is that by design? Or is it possible it's a worn nut?

Second part of my question is, does anyone know if Geoff sells those compensated nuts? I didn't see them on his site. I could remount it with a shim, but ideally, i'd prefer getting a new one.

Thanks in advance all.

Steve

9 Comments
	banjoman56 says: 3/19/2020 1:24:39 PM I'm thinking your problem is the nut. I don't think Jeff sells them unless he has started lately. Since that string is not compensated, you could build the slot up. Try putting a piece of paper in it to see if it stops the buzz. If so, you can do a permanent fix.
	Ybanjo says: 3/19/2020 2:35:54 PM If it's buzzing with it fretted anywhere, it likely isn't the nut, but maybe the bridge.
	1happypicker says: 3/19/2020 5:56:43 PM If you're sure that it's fret buzz and you know that string is measurably lower than the others I would have to agree with banjoman56. The nut slots can definitely get worn down especially without of string bending or multiple tunings being a norm. You can actually repair a worn slot. I believe I saw a video on this on the Stew-Mac website. Just be sure to be careful when recutting the slot.
	1happypicker says: 3/19/2020 6:00:49 PM That's actually " with alot" not "without". Spelling correction strikes again.
	monstertone says: 3/20/2020 8:40:09 AM If it only buzzes open & 1st or second fret, I would bet on the nut slot being the culprit. Greg Deering repairs nut slots by filling the worn slot with superglue & then re cutting it. See if you can find a vid of it either on his site or you tube.
	Ybanjo says: 3/20/2020 8:44:10 AM If it buzzes when pressing on a fret, how can it be the nut?? That end of the string is not doing anything?
	gotvim72 says: 3/21/2020 4:28:38 PM Thanks all, I have some info to go on. Unfortunately its buzzing open, and fretted (on the first couple frets). So that tells me maybe it's more of a neck mount/placement issue? If I loosen the truss-rod almost completely loose (big bow in it) the buzz goes away, but then buzzes higher up (around fret 10 and beyond). It's weird and seems like it's buzzing somewhere no matter how I adjust it my 1st D string buzzes somewhere. Either I leave a massive amount of bow and the buzzing moves to higher frets, or I remove the bow and it buzzes at lower frets. I may have to take it in to a Luthier to have a look as this is out of my wheelhouse.
	Geoff Stelling says: 3/27/2020 10:50:27 AM Steve, I answered this in a personal email to you. I believe the nut has to be replaced and probably the neck needs some heat-treating both of which I can do in my shop. Geoff
	gotvim72 says: 4/2/2020 9:11:03 AM Geoff, thanks so much, I will definitely take you up on this in the near future. Unfortunately, it's my only banjo right now and the idea of being quarantined without a banjo is way worse than the string buzz :) I'll reach out in the near future. I'm hoping to to purchase a backup banjo once we can go back to normal life and I can go shop around. Hope all is healthy and well.
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