Rattle on G string frets 3-7 only

Downsman

Downsman

Jan 30, 2016
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#1
I've been setting up the 15 year old beat up Squier Affinity P-Bass I was given recently and all going really well except I have an annoying rattling when I fret the G string. It's only between frets 3 and 7. Sounds different to the kind of buzzing I'm used to when action is too low, but hitting a fret is the only thing I can think of that could be happening with just one string. I've added neck relief, raised the saddle, put some tape in the nut to raise that, tightened every screw I can find, and can't seem to get rid of it. Any thoughts on what else it could be? It was missing the G-string when I got it and don't know how long it was like that if that's a factor. Neck doesn't look twisted to me, though.
 
#3
I thought the tape in the nut slot not making a difference would rule out the nut slot being cut too low. Just levelled the frets, which were pretty worn, polished them, tuned back up and... no difference. I'm completely stumped here.
 
#4
Since the problem is only between the 3rd and 7th frets, you can rule out the nut as a problem area. I would look for uneven frets, unseated frets or a bump in the neck. Check the relief on both sides of the neck by fretting at the first fret and where the neck meeds the body and check for relief at the 6th fret. If these all check out OK, try replacing the G string.
 
#5
Turnaround said:
Since the problem is only between the 3rd and 7th frets, you can rule out the nut as a problem area. I would look for uneven frets, unseated frets or a bump in the neck. Check the relief on both sides of the neck by fretting at the first fret and where the neck meeds the body and check for relief at the 6th fret. If these all check out OK, try replacing the G string.
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The relief is the same on both sides of the neck at the 6th fret. Fret levelling didn't change anything and I can't see any obvious bumps and frets all seem to be seated.

One possibly interesting thing. Using the same force, plucking down with my thumb causes the rattle, plucking up with my fingers doesn't. I tried slapping straight down on the string with my thumb and that didn't rattle either. Not sure what to make of that though. The strings are new, could there be a flaw with the strings that would cause a problem in that area only?
 
#6
Try fretting in the problem area (3 to 7) and pluck the string behind where you are fretting (between your fretting position and the nut). If you get the same rattle, it's back buzz. You may have a high first fret, a low nut, or uneveness in the fretboard in that area.
 
#7
Tried that and no rattling plucking behind the fretted string.

I just put a capo on and tried pressing down everywhere I could think of that might rattle. Bizarrely it stopped when I touched the tuning keys for the E or A strings, but not when I held the D and G tuners. Took off the capo and same thing when I placed those keys against a cushion. That's slightly doing my head in. Does that make any sense? Why one or the other of just those tuners? Why just those notes on that string?
 
#8
Well, there we go. It was the tuners. I took them off, took them apart and there was a load of metal shavings in one of them, not sure where they came from as none of the parts looked worn. Anyway, cleaned them both, put them back on, restrung, and problem solved. Some scientist who understands resonant frequencies can probably explain it. I can't :)
 
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#10
Slater said:
Sometimes those buzzes and rattles can drive you crazy. After you eliminate all the usual suspects, you have to look everywhere.
Click to expand...
I was obsessed with figuring it out. Even when I found it I still couldn't believe it. Still makes no sense to me that the tuner on the A string would rattle when I play 4 specific frets on the G string, but not when I play any notes on the A string.

Anyway, at least the frets are level now, and the action lower as a result, and I straightened the bent key on one of the tuners while it was apart which had been bugging me a bit. So something useful came out of it :)
 
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