Hi. I've got a new (to me) banjo. It sounds great, except when I've got the 4th string tuned down to a C, and then it buzzes like crazy. Any suggestions, other than "don't tune it down to C" ? I thought about putting a piece of folded-in-half paper under the 4th-string where it crosses the nut. The nut has only a very shallow slot, so there is not much to fill in.
Note: It occurred to me that maybe the neck could be slightly out of horizontal alignment, but as far as I can tell with my eye, it's level.
Thanks!
-Brett
Edited by - bretterb on 11/06/2024 18:47:46
--A neck should not be absolutely flat. A flat neck will buzz. There needs to be a slight upward relief. Loosening a string can cause a back bow or just a flat neck with no relief due to slightly less string tension --leading to a buzz. Particularly true if the banjo already has low action and optimally low string height at the nut. There could also be a slightly high fret which creates a buzz only after lowering string tension. Read about using a "fret rocker" on the internet to identify high frets. (A fret can be high in just one section of its length--hence only a buzz on the fourth string).
Certainly putting a piece of fine single layer of tissue/toilet paper under the 4th string at the nut would help eliminate a buzz coming from the nut, or eliminate it as the cause of the buzz and send you back to trouble shooting frets.
Can you tension up the head a bit without making the tone different from what you like? A sagging head due to insufficient tension will allow the bridge to sink in a bit, lower the strings, and cause a buzz. Or it might.
Bobby
Thanks for the replies! As it's a new banjo for me, I'm not sure about the head tension, but I'll give that a try and also check frets.
-Brett
Edited by - bretterb on 11/07/2024 14:12:30
It's worth taking a few measurements.
1. Relief - capo at fret 1 and hold down your D/C string at a fret where neck meets heel. Measure the gap between the D/C string and the top of a fret around halfway between capo and finger. If you don't have feeler gauges, a scrap of printer paper is around 4 thousandths thick. For a tuned down string I'd say you want around 8 thousandths, maybe even a fraction more. You change relief by adjusting the truss rod a small amount, work in 1/8 turn increments (clockwise to increase).
2. Action at the 12th fret, measured to the bottom of the string. Others will know better than me what you're looking for here, but I think 1/16 inch would be probably too low unless you have perfect frets. 1/8 inch wouldn't be silly if you have a heavy right hand.
My guess is that you have too little relief, if it doesn't buzz tuned to D but does when tuned down to C.
