When I pluck my low E or A string from the 2nd to 8th fret fairly hard, i hear a rattling sound coming from the string. It almost sounds like a loose piece of string steel hanging from the string.  Now I know there is nothing loose..but is there a problem or is it just something that happens if you pluck to hard? Larry is a L-03R with stock strings about 4 weeks old.

Thanks..chris

I'd check your strings where they are attached by the bridge pins. Make sure they are seated fully.

jeff

The strings look attached normal but then again..I am a fairly new to guitars so I have no frame of reference. When put my finger on the A pin and apply medium pressure I am able to move the pin  back and forth a bit. Is that normal?

chris

I think I know what it might be......put a piece of thick paper or cardboard between where the A string passes the tuner for the E string......I've seen a lot of Larrys' in the last few months that have been cut very slightly too close and when the string is wrapped just so, it vibrates against the A string....

It sounds like you are getting fret buzz on the strings in question.  Since the guitar is fairly new it may be settling in to its new environment, thus becoming acclamated to your area, ie where you live such as warm and dry in Arizona verses damp and cold in Minnesota.  Once the guitar has acclamated to your area it may need a truss rod adjustment for example.  Since you are new to guitars, I would recommend taking it to a reputable luthier  or guitar teck for the adjustment. 

PWE

I tried taking a regular piece of paper and folding till it was 8X thickness and putting it between the E and A strings in the headstock where the 2 strings pass each other...it didn't help. They are close though.

The rattling I hear is definatley different than the buzz you get when you fret and lightly pull off the string. Fret buzz is high frequency..this sound is  much lower..just as if there is a piece of metal rattling against the string.

chris

Sounds like you might be experiencing some fret buzz due to your guitar changing as it gets use to a new environment.  Has it been properly humidfied? If not the frets can "pop up" a little and cause this.  They will go back down with proper moisture content. Also, it may just need some relief put back into the neck based on cilmate/environment change...minor adjustment.

This is meant only as a suggestion and no intentional insult to your technique.  But since you are talking about the bass strings and at this location on your fret board,  this may be the problem. Holding your pick at anything other than a 90 degree angle  will cause the strings to vibrate up and down into the neck rather than back and forth across the neck.  Change the angle of your pick and watch the strings and listen you will hear and see a difference. Combine the wrong angle with low action and it is almost impossible to not get fret buzz when playing the low strings with any forceful attack.   

I have a favorite beater. It is a 1975 Alvarez Yairi (D28 knock-off). It had to be refretted last year. Every since then when ever I drop the low E string and play on the seventh fret there is a strange high pitch rattle/buzz.  It is unlike normal fret buzz and I can't  locate it.  It is very metallic sounding. A guitar responded with,  Ah, the phantom rattle."  He couldn't find it either and apparently had experienced the phenomenon before.  So, it could be worse!  I think you will find an easy solution to your problem.

Michael 

I'm also going to suggest checking your humidity. These are things to consider: Whas the guitar on display in a humidified shop, or in a stockroom that was a bit dry. Or did it come from a humidified shop and has now been in your house, unintentionally exposed to the dry air of your home?

My LS 09 Custom changes string pitch by nearly a half tone between parts of the country. I always travel with a humidifier that fits between the strings now, after Matthew Larrivee looked across the top when I was visiting at the plant in Oxnard and said "WHEW! Climate Changes!" I can be in a dry state 12 hours and can now "feel the moisture level in the wood when I play. Most of us can't manage to overhydrate a guitar (no doubt someone will jump on that statement) but it's sure easy to get one dry, and as someoelse has said, it changes the way things work.
A good guitar tech can fix it, but do look into the humidity. If you look across the top from the side and you can see the grain raised, your new baby need a a drink.

Hey Michael

Thanks for all the advice. 

Whether I hold the pick at 90 or pluck from underneith (straight up)..the same sound happens. This sound only happens when I fret, never open. I think I will let Larry get used to the humidity change for a week and if it is still happening I will take it over to The 12th Fret in Toronto where I got it.

Thanks

CW,

I had a "mystery buzz" on my L that was traced down to a wound string vibrating against a fret between the fretted position and the nut.  This doesn't jive with a 2nd fret buzz, but it sure happened up the neck.  This can be tested by finding a fretted spot on the offending string that buzzes, then muting that string between the nut and the fretted position, either with your right hand or with a capo (kleenex, credit card, duct tape :-),  this will at least prove or rule out a source of buzz.  mine only occured at a resonant frequency that this particular guitar has.  A tweak of relief is all she needed.  good luck.

- jim

Hey Cowgirl

Here's my humidity story in a nutshell. I got the guitar about 4 weeks ago. It was sitting in the basement of The 12th Fret in Toronto for several monthes i beleive in a case.  3 days ago i bought a Planet Waves humidity sensor and it showed 31%..although not sure how accurate that is.  I bought a humidifier and before I could get it to settle at 40-45%...it did read 60% for about 3-4 hours. It's been at 40-45 for the last 24 though.  I have also noticed in the last 2 days that 2 brown faint streaks have shown up on the lower bout running with the grain. I have a feeling that is too much mositure...anyone.

Cheers..chris

Hey Jim

Did the sound come from the location of the fret where is was hitting or from the soundhole.  Mine actually sounds like its the string right above the soundhole...as if there is a peice if wound steel hanging loose...or something in the body right below the soundhole that iis vibrating.

I tried putting a Capo on the string above the fretter position and the nut...no luck..still happens. I went all the way to capo on 6 and fretting on 8..still happens.

thanks..chris

To go back to what Jeff (fstpicker) said...

These strings may not be well-seated against the underside of the saddle on the inside of the guitar.  If this is the case, then you would get a similarly-described buzz due to the ball-end of the string rattling against the pin or bridge.  Try loosening the strings enough to slip your hand in the soundhole and check it out.

If all this fails, then take it to your friendly neighborhood tech.

CW,

sounds like you've ruled out what mine was doing.  Other things to check for are any loose preamp wires/hardware if applicable, a loose brace is possible but wouldn't sound metallic, a small piece of shrapnel caught in the truss rod channel might do this.  Trying further isolation of cause by damping all strings with kleenex from the nut to the tuners, then damping one string at a time using kleenex between the string and fretboard, until you have only one string left that can ring.  Be scientific.  Rule out as much as you can so that whatever possibilities remain, however unlikely, will be the answer.  As long as you can re-create the sound you will eventually find it.

Does the guitar have a pickup installed? Sometimes the wire from the pickup to the endjack is loose and rattles against the inside of the guitar.

wacko, my 6 month L-03r has the same buzz, same area. Never found the reason. I now have the L set up with medium strings and down a half step. Some buzz at times but does not bother me. It sounds like the string hitting a fret. A setup by a professional is worth it.

I'm having a similiar problem on one of my guitars, it buzzes from the 8-11th fret on the treble side (E&B). I believe the problem is humidity. From what I understand, if the guitar buzzes on the upper frets only, you need to see if the problem goes away after the fretboard joins the body (above the 13th or 15th fret depending the neck type). If it does, then it has to do with the top needing more humidity. Once I upped my humidity above 55%, the problem went away. It did however, almost imediately come back once I let the humidity drop below 50%. Try the low tech approach with upping the humidity, before you try adjusting anything and see if it helps.

Andy

Hey Everyone

Jerry,  I loosened the strings and did the feel test...nothing. They all seem tight under there.

Six,  no preamp on the L-03r.  I try your isolation method.

Doug, no preamp.

Spinrider, glad to hear I'm not alone!  It was setup by 12th Fret in Toronto...a very well known shop..but I think it's almost time to head back for some professional help.

Andy, the sound starts at Fret 2 and stops after 8. I recently added a bunch of humidity. I believe it was way too low (30-35%). My Planet Waves is now readinig 45%..but not sure how accurate that is. It may be higher that the readout because the top now has 2 slight brown stains on the lower bout which I think is a sign of too much humidity. Can anyone confirm that?

Thanks guys for all the suggestions...what a team!

Did I miss something?   Have you tried a new set of strings?

Phil

Lots of things could cause the buzz you describe. I'd guess you might need a bit of neck relief or that you have a high fret or two but no one can be sure without seeing the instrument. The 12th fret has a great reputation. I'm sure they will help you get this squared away. In the meantime I think you might enjoy Frank Ford's web site-  frets.com-. He has an excellent section on buzz diagnosis which can step you through some tests. Chances are your problem is a small one.

Well, I took a visit to Fret.com and with the info there it sounds like my neck needs releif.

"
Buzz in low frets only:

If there is terrible buzzing only in the lower portions of the neck, from the nut to the fifth or seventh frets, then I can presume there isn't enough relief, or that there's a "backbow" to the neck and fingerboard. The cure is to loosen the rod to allow more relief."

Although I can't see any bowing when I look straingt down the neck..who knows.  I'll stop in at 12th Fret tomorrow and get their opinion.  Will also consider new strings also.

Thanks guys

Final Resolution:

Stopped in at 12th Fret in Toronto and they agreed it just needed a neck adjustment. 1/4+  turn counter clockwise has given the 11th - 12th fret a little more room and problem has just about dissappeared. I might give it one more adjustment in a few days.

Always look for the simple things first! ..but thanks everyone for all the great suggestions...cheers

:GRN>  chris