Greetings everyone :)
I have an issue concerning my banjo that I've been unable to solve for some time
The problem is that the 5th string spontaneously starts buzzing regardless the bridge position or string tension in general. The timespan is also unimportant - yesterday it was alright but now it's not. The height above the fingerboard is normal, as well as the temperature and humidity at home. What can be the source of the problem and what should I do to solve it?
Thanks in advance
I'd do two things to start with:
1. Capo the string at the fret above where it starts (as buzzing is random, some time when it does). If it the buzz stops, your problem is at the fret below, where the string starts, or its pip if you have that. Post close up pics for advice.
2. Change the string. If it's dented or distorted, that could cause buzz.
Lots to try next, but rule out the easy ones first!
My guess is Sympathetic vibration. I’m betting your head tension is very close to a g note, which excites the g string. Tighten the head 1/8 turn on each tension hook, and see if it goes away.
Edited by - Dean T on 12/08/2024 06:32:52
Tweaking the truss rod a little can remove an inherent buzz that may exist even w/o fretting any strings .
Edited by - heavy5 on 12/08/2024 06:44:41
If you have RR spikes for your 5th string sometimes a high spike is just close enough the vibrating string to buzz it. Starting at the pip, fret up until the buzzing stops and work from there to figure it out.
Edited by - Pick-A-Lick on 12/08/2024 07:05:41
It's really simple.
Check to se if the string is siting too low in the nut and buzzing on the next fret?. There are two schools of thought about where the string sits. 1. sits higher in the nut slot so it sits above the 5th fretwire. 2. the nut slot is cut deeper so the string sits on the fretwire and bends over it while being located in a deeper nut slot.
quote:
Originally posted by David CunninghamIt's really simple.
No doubt about that)
But being a non-professional and having no one experienced enough in the vicinity to give you a hint kinda complicates things.
Especially if you're the only banjo user in the city :) (no kidding)
Bluegrass is not really popular in my country
So, it's easier and more productive to ask some people who have experience and almost unlimited opportunities to practice the genre)
For what it's worth: A different place to look might be your tail piece. I had a buzz I couldn't find and kill. Checked frets for true height levelness, neck straightness, the nut slots, and the bridge slots. Nothing took care of it until I wrapped a bit of cloth around the buzzing string right at the tail piece where the string leaves the tail piece and goes up to the bridge. That took it out. Replaced the cloth with a bit of foam and haven't touched it since. Felt might work as well as the foam and look a bit better, but haven't felt the need to change at this point.
It's a process of elimination, like all buzzes. So take the suggestions above and try the easy ones first.
For example, if the string buzzes open, but not when fretted, then it's either (a) a problem where the string starts (its pip/nut, or the 5th fret), or (b) some sympathetic vibration, or (c) a problem or where it terminates (the bridge) - this last is uncommon, but I've seen it. Eliminate (b) by playing the same note on a different string. If not (b), eliminate (c) by putting a scrap of paper under the string where it crosses the bridge. That's 10 minutes effort.
If it's (b), then you need to play the string and touch everything which might vibrate in turn - there's lots on a banjo! Tailpiece, hooks, tuners, rods - work your way through them all. If it's (a), we need pictures of the 5th fret to see what it might be.
Edited by - Profchris on 12/09/2024 08:58:33
Its remotely possible for the 5th string notch in the bridge to generate a buzz (when all else fails). If you have another bridge, try it.
I agree with everything that has been said, but I would get down to loose metal to metal contact as a possiblity. Start with the screw in the 5th string tuner button. Is it loose? Check the screws holding every tuner. Also the truss rod cover. Resonator thumbscrews. Tailpiece hanger bolt. Even a loose tension hook or nut.
Changing the 5th string is easy and cheap. Change that before you change anything else.
Good luck! I've had experiences like this over 60 years of banjo playing. It's maddening, but you WILL be able to track it down if you are patient and unyielding!
Check the 4th string. Sometimes the winding is broken and it can buzz.
If a buzz happens intermittently and unpredictably, the first thing I look for is a loose bit of hardware that's rattling sympathetically. Resonator thumbscrews or a hinged tailpiece cover are very common causes. A bluegrass-style banjo with a plastic head that is adjusted anywhere near as tight as it should be is unlikely to have a tension hook get loose, but it's possible. The nut on the screw that's supposed to hold the tailpiece, however, can sometimes seem like it's actively trying to remove itself from the instrument! Most tailpieces have an additional screw (sometimes 2 or 3) to adjust its position and/or angle, which should be checked. If you use a strap, does it have any metal (or hard plastic) parts that contact the banjo?
This thread just reminded me that one of my banjos developed a buzz recently, that I'll have to start chasing down.
It took some time, but I managed to sort out the problem
Dean was right - the reason turned out to be sympathetic vibration, but a few tweaks with a truss rod eliminated the buzzing
Thanks everyone for the help :) God bless you, guys
