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Doaah! i thought I'd solved most of my build problems but when I stringed up my latest, there is some kind of nasty buzz when I play the open D string. Must be a rattling truss rod! Has anyone ever solved this problem? I think I made a touch too much clearance when I installed my fretboard over the rod (or not). Hope I don't have to completely remove it now.

What usually causes this anyhow? Seems like I did everything as before with my other 8 guitars. Why now?

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

If it only buzzes on the open D, I would first check that the nut slot is OK. Fret the D at the first fret. If you don't get the buzz there then I would suspect the nut slot. I chased the same buzz all over the shop on #1 until I figured it out. If it turns out to be the TRod, the more experienced fellas here can tell you how to fix it. Pals, Vic.

I once had a rattling D string, and it turned out to be the nut on its tuner was loose, allowing the washer to rattle.

You can inject rubber cement too. I've done that twice. It works.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

also CHECK THE TUNER
that one drove me nuts a few times

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

thanks for the responses. I'm pretty sure just by the sound of it that it wasn't a nut buzz, but I hope it is. Right now I have the strings off again and I'm doing a little fret levelling and bridge adjustment first. I removed the nut to see if anything obvious was underneath it. This is where patience and perseverance are golden.

I also tightened the machines a bit more. Does anyone have negative opinions of Ping tuners. I got them from Fat Dog at Subway guitars, who says they work fine. My budget's been very tight of late I'm afraid.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Aha! Fixed! It was nothing thank god. I had broken the High E string and not replaced it. The empty tuner was simply rattling.

I finished the guitar and it came out great. Maybe some pics soon.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Well you sort of answered your own question about the Ping tuners

It can happen to any tuner and it has happened to me too and it's enough to make you crazy especially when you'd swear that the sound was coming from the tail block and it's really a loose tuner.