If playing a stringed acoustic instrument and you notice that a note is buzzing, then you need to address the source before you can address the problem. String buzz problems can have several different causes, so don't waste your time on something that can make the problem worse. If the action on your neck is too low, a fret is loose or raised, or if a guitar's neck becomes warped, these things can cause string buzz to occur. Low action can be treated with a fresh set of strings that are heavier, which usually solves the problem. If you can isolate the buzz to a particular fret range then you can tap a loose fret back into place or glue a fret back into place to repair it.

If the problem with your acoustic guitar is related to neck warping, you may need to change the balance of the strings and the neck by adjusting the truss rod. The truss rod runs down along the length of the neck of the guitar under the fret board. Tightening this truss rod will allow you to pull the neck back, and loosening it will allow you to pull the neck forward.

Any adjustment to the truss rod should be a gradual adjustment, because only a little bit of tightening or loosening is all that is needed to change the natural curvature of the instrument's neck. A quarter of a turn is all that is usually needed to make a significant change in the action. Acoustic guitars with nylon strings may use something other than a truss rod which would require professional assistance if you are attempting to change the warping in the neck of the guitar.

The fret board on a guitar should be close to perfectly straight. Warped necks are going to create action that is too high, and may cause problems paying notes above mid neck. If pressing the strings down is taking too much effort to be remotely tolerable, you may have a serious warping problem to address. Another problem relating to the neck of the guitar may be a bowed neck, where the neck of the acoustic guitar is bending so far back that you can never get the strings to generate a sound. Bowing of the neck to such an extent is rare, but still possible and requires assistance from a professional in order to repair it.

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Originally posted 2008-12-19 05:33:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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