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Started setting up my first (a J-45ish sitka/rosewood build) last night. This question is probably premature and the problem might work itself out as setup issues are resolved, but I figured this might help point me in the right direction during the process.

So, I have just strung the low and high E strings to check basic setup. The low E sounds pretty good IMO. Sustain is great and no unruly overtones. However, the high E has a terrible metallic overtone when driven moderately hard. I am fairly certain it is not caused by contact with frets as the action is still relatively high. The overtone goes away when the string is fretted (any fret, which might mean the problem is in the roughly cut nut). Fretted, the high E sounds pleasant without hint of the metallic overtone, even upon driving the string rather hard with a pick. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

By the way, I will post pics once it's finished, and "THANK YOU" to everyone that contributes here. I have learned a great deal from forum members, and I could not have completed this build without you.

Aaron Craig

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Aaron Craig

Aaron,
You have probably answered your own question, that is, the nut slot..
I'd also check and be sure the string ball is firmly seated on the bottom side of the soundboard, presuming it is a pinned style bridge..
Before I would make any adjustments though, I would string the guitar and tune it to pitch and let it have time to adjust to the tension... sometimes this can solve buzzing .
Best regards,
jack

Aaron: Make sure the back angle of the slots in the nut are at least 1/2 the angle of your headstock. This problem can happen at the saddle also if there is not a rounded edge for take off of the string.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Thanks guys. I was fairly confident it was a problem with the nut slot. I was in a rush to hear my Frankenstein make a sound. I will string it up, play with a capo for a while and then properly set her up before boring anyone else with questions. Thanks again.

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Aaron Craig

Aaron,

I've also found that until the guitar is properly set up, (and that takes me a couple of weeks after I've got strings on it - your results may vary) - the nut slots are clean, the action is right, and, most importantly, the guitar's had ample time to get accustomed to the string tension (weeks), the sounds coming out of the guitar aren't even close to what the guitar's capable of. Don't do anything rash until you've got it set up the way you like it, and you've played it for a month. I'm always amazed at how the sound improves after the guitar's gotten used to the tension.

I had that problem on my first at the saddle. Rounded it over and no more BWAZZZZ Now a month later, it's developed a bit of a ski-jump fingerboard extension... probably because I never got around to gluing it down, which on the other hand is fortunate that it's easy to fiddle with now. The joys of inexperience.