New guitar help!!?

Question

I bought a guitar about a month ago. Whenever I pluck the strings with a slight bit of force, it makes a vibrating metallic noise (it's hard to describe). I tried changing one of the strings but it didn't make any difference. Can anybody diagnose this problem, and if you can, give me a solution? Much appreciated.

Answer 1

It seems one of the strings is buzzing on a fret somewhere. This could be a manufacturing defect so rule that out first. Pick up your guitar and look down the neck from the bridge end of the guitar. Check if the neck is warped. If it is, return it. Fixing a warped neck is almost impossible.

If not, you have to adjust the action (meaning raising or lowering the strings). Press the buzzing string at the first and last frets and see if there is contact between the string and the frets anywhere along the string. If there is, you need to raise the action a little.

Another way to check is to use a rule at the 12th fret. The clearance between the fret and string there should be about 3/32 of an inch.

There are two ways to adjust the action. raising the bridge or bwing the neck a little more by using the truss rod adjustment. Raising the bridge entails either a new bridge or a small shim underneath the existing bridge. To adjust the truss rod, remove the truss rod cover near the tuning pegs (some guitar have the adjustment nut through the sound hole). Mark the current location of the truss rod by making a mark with a marker. Turn the truss rod adjustment about 1/4 turn either way and check if the buzz is better or worse. If worse, turn the nut in the other direction.

If the guitar is only a month old, and from a reputable retailer, you may want to take it in and ask them to do the strup for free.

Note also that changing string gauge from heavier to lighter strings will usually mean there is less tension on the neck and will engender some buzz, requiring an adjustment.

Good luck!

Answer 2

um...the string could be too close to the pickup...there are adjusters on how high the string is set...that could be the problem..i play bass guitar and had that problem before

good luck

Answer 3

it may just be the string hitting the neck. if it's acoustic, just keep going, im not sure it's actually a problem.

if it's electric, make sure it's plugged in well and again, it may not be a problem. sometimes, that's just how a guitar sounds