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hapuna
Lokahi
USA
159 Posts |
 Posted - 05/07/2008 : 06:48:24 AM
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I recently returned from Kauai and noticed that a tenor uke followed me home. I checked this uke out but I must admit I did not really play the strings loudly. Now as I was getting the tuning just right I noticed that the E string appears to buzz. What is the easiest way to fix that? Whats causing it? Would changing to different strings help? Just looking for ideas. Thanks
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hapuna
Seattle |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2008 : 11:19:30 AM
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Check to see if the tuners are adjustable. Sometimes a loose tuner makes the sound when the individual string is vibrating (usually a small phillips head at the end of the tuner). Then buzzing sound comes from the headstock not the string slapping a fret.
Use a business card (thin) or a credit card (thicker) to see if the string is closer to the first few frets than the other strings. The string slot at the nut may have been filed down too much and the string sits too low. You'd have to find a way to raise the string up (like a small (trimmed) piece of tape at the bottom of the offending nut slot. Better yet have a luthier fix it.
My tenor ukulele has a pickup inside the body. Sometimes one of the wires gets loose and creates a sympathetic vibration with one of the ukulele strings when I strum. This causes a "buzz". Moving the pickup wire or using a small piece of scotch tape to change the amount of play, or securing it, fixes the unintended sounds.
Sight down the neck (from the right side AND from the left side) over the nut and focus on the bridge. Are the nut and the bridge exactly parallel? Are all the frets the same height? Are the strings in alignment and evenly spaced? The neck may have been glued on slightly off the perpendicular or a fret not tacked all the way into the fretboard -- this would be harder to fix.
Since the strings are each of different thickness (or guage) and different tension when tuned, they will have more or less "swing" or amplified motion when they are vibrated. Sometimes one string will buzz when the others don't. Ensure you have a good set of strings -- all in their right places (G where the G goes, C where the C goes, E where the E goes, and A where the A goes)
Lastly, ensure the instrument has had a drink -- is properly hydrated. Wood absorbs moisture from the air or dries out if the relative humidity is low. Wood instruments like to live in the 40-60% humidity range. When wood is too dry, or too wet it will change shape from the manufactured and inspected specs. I have seen many problems solved with a drilled out surgical tube filled with wet sponge material stuck in the sound hole and socked away in the case for a few days. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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hapuna
Lokahi
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2008 : 4:11:57 PM
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MIka OK that's interesting cause my tenor has a pickup in it also. I hadn't really gotten the source of the issue but with all your advice I will give it another look
John!!! I hope that wasn't one of your more helpful posts. |
hapuna
Seattle |
Edited by - hapuna on 05/07/2008 4:12:33 PM |
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Baritone
Lokahi
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2008 : 6:20:26 PM
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I go with Mika, Russ. My 2004 Po Mahina baritone developed a buzz this March 08 on the second smallest string. K, den, da strings all where replaced in 2006. Now, I pluck it about 3 times every two weeks (liddle bit, in udda words) so I leave it in the room on a ukulele stand. This has been a cold winter so the gas-heating system has been working overtime. Yup! Dried out the koa, diminished the angle of string from peg to saddle (the bridge shrank) and that string started to buzz.
Solution: I changed that string (to cancel the effect of a worn-out string) and stuffed a puka-baggie w/ enclosed wet-sponge (hint Uncle George Kahumoku gave me)in the box, putting the Baritone into its case for two weeks. Prog: buzz gone; string angle back to normal. AND, the tone is warmer now that the koa is 'dampened' (when the box was drier I noticed the tone 'brittle').
Moral? Keep koa box ma'u so you can play sweetly!
Herb |
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hapuna
Lokahi
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2008 : 7:05:49 PM
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Herb haven't had a chance to check into exactly what the issue is. I haven't had problems with humidity as yet but will definitely check it out.
Eh dats a nice pic of you in your profile!!!! Looks professional. |
hapuna
Seattle |
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hapuna
Lokahi
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2008 : 07:06:23 AM
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OK now I'm completely stumped. I took out the uke to give it the thorough inspection it needed and low and behold there is no buzzing now. Huhhhhh? NO idea but it seem fine now. |
hapuna
Seattle |
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Baritone
Lokahi
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2008 : 11:52:22 AM
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Hmmmmmmmm. Pau, da buzz... You, know, Russ, Kauai still get the best'est menehune around. BEt you wen forget da Ti Leaf.......
Herb |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2008 : 1:17:35 PM
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Becha it was the humidity -- less need for the heater to be on in the house this time of year (in Seattle) so the relative humidity inside goes up.
Herb,
I really like the wet sponge in the puka baggie idea -- anybody can do dat. Cheaper than the store bought contraptions and just as effective. The secret is to make sure you squeeze all the water out of the sponge that you can so the water doesn't drip from the sponge and make a nasty water stain on your nice koa . If you put the squeezed-out, wet sponge, puka baggie in the uke-hole, put the uke in the case for two days, take it out, and the sponge is rock hard -- you just gave your ukulele a nice drink and it is asking for more . Keep it up until the sponge stay squishy! Watch out for mold or mushrooms though -- NOT GOOD. 
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E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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hapuna
Lokahi
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2008 : 08:05:23 AM
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OK so even thought I'm not completely buying in to the humidity as the culprit in this case I have put 3 of my less expensive ukes out on my porch in the fog. 55degrees and 81% humidity. They been out for over an hour with the cases so the cases may retain some moisture.
2hours later....oh oh da sun coming out. Gotta run and get da buggas before dry out. |
hapuna
Seattle |
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