em.20 - 9-29-2011 at 11:39 AM
Hello,
before I changed the strings of my oud, there was a very slight buzzing with the original strings. Nothing really big and it didn't disturb.
A few days ago I changed the strings and now I have got very disturbing buzzing. Definately it comes from the fingerboard, because I have no buzzing
on open strings. The nylon strings doesn't make any problems, only the wounded strings.
I've tried to push the string loops a bit higher and the buzzing gets lesser, but doesn't disappear. Also the sound is not that nice when the strings
are that high.
What can I do? Could it be because of the neck. I uploaded a picture and a sound file for that.
Pictures: http://imageshack.us/g/194/img1351el.jpg/
Sound: http://www18.zippyshare.com/v/46491652/file.html
SamirCanada - 9-29-2011 at 12:43 PM
Look at the condition of your fingerboard under the buzzing. Do you see any groves created by the strings? they must be sanded down
Brian Prunka - 9-29-2011 at 03:28 PM
The way you're holding the ruler in the photos doesn't tell much; the important thing is whether the fingerboard is level, not necessarily the angle
of the face to the fingerboard.
It's generally pretty difficult to tell from a visual inspection whether there are imperfections in the fingerboard, though Samir's advice is
right--sometimes you can see some grooves that have been worn into the fingerboard.
I'm not a luthier, but maybe some of the luthiers here may have some suggestions about how to best fix this.
Matthias - 9-29-2011 at 11:36 PM
[rquote=84109&tid=12340
&author=em.20]
What can I do? Could it be because of the neck. I uploaded a picture and a sound file for that.
Pictures: http://imageshack.us/g/194/img1351el.jpg/
[/ rquote]
Hello,
theese two pictures does not help in any way. Please give us pictures like those you can see in this thread:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=12335
specifically the picture: 2011_08_08_2270_red.jpg
It is important to have the light behind the ruler and this should be from metal.
Best regards
Matthias
dkhoury35 - 9-30-2011 at 05:11 PM
HI IM NO EXPERT I KNOW WHEN THE STRINGS ARE NEW THEY WILL BUZZ A BIT MORE LET THE STRINGS SETTLE A BIT BEFORE U DO ANYTHING THEN FOLLOW THE STEPS
OTHER MEMBERS HAVE SAID
em.20 - 10-2-2011 at 09:35 AM
If you wanted to check wether the fingerboard is even, I can say it is. It's quiet hard for me to make a picture, also because I don't have a metal
ruler, so I took a look at myself.
But it seems to be like dkhoury35 wrote. The buzzing gets lesser the more I play. However I've sanded the fingerboard with a piece of fine sandpaper
because I could feel slight grooves with my finger.
Nevertheless the buzzing isn't really disappeared so if you have any advices I am open to that with exception of bringing the oud to a luthier,
because I wouldn't invest more money than it's purchase price(140€).
Ararat66 - 10-2-2011 at 12:34 PM
Hi Em
Just listened to this - thanks for posting. I had a similar problem with one of my acoustic guitars, almost a sympathetic overtone occuring like on a
sitar ... although I wasn't too sympathetic towards it in this context. A luthier friend of mine looked at it and discovered that it was because the
treble E string (top) was being pinched in the string groove as it crossed the nut. He very carefully filed it a tiny bit at a time and the 'buzz'
went.
I'd been using a slightly heavier guage string and it was pinching. It may be a contributing factor, but it sounds distinctly similar.
General advice I would give is to go really easy on any adjustments - these are fine tunings.
Hope it helps.
Leon
Brian Prunka - 10-3-2011 at 10:46 AM
Leon's thought is a good one, this happens pretty commonly with the tight crowding in an oud pegbox. Sometimes a little piece of cloth or something
similar can deaden the vibrations in the pegbox, just wedge it between the offending strings.
Ararat66 - 10-3-2011 at 11:29 AM
Hi Brian
That's an interesting point, my observation was the point of contact between the string and the nut slot - but given the small space for so many
strings in the pegbox it could easily exacerbate this.
They do sound like unwanted overtones - could this also occur if the string slot is slightly too wide (and deep) causing the string to buzz against
the sides ? I know the slot shape and depth is critical.
Leon
SamirCanada - 10-3-2011 at 12:26 PM
I hate it when that happens. But I always take extra care to wind my strings in a way that does not interfere with eachother. I found that when
strings cross in the pegbox and then barelly touch eachother they can vibrate sympatheticaly. I remember Mavrothis told me once that some people use
little tube electrical wire sheaths to in the pegbox to prevent this but it seems like a lot of work for nothing.
I used to string the oud in the traditional manner. Now I string much like a guitar, The first 3 courses (treble) on the right side of the pegbox and
the other 3 courses on the left side (bass side).
em.20 - 10-5-2011 at 08:45 AM
Hello guys,
I made some photos and a 1:39 min long sample with wonderful buzzing. I assume you're keen to listen to it.
)
Only the 3 highest strings are crossing in the pegbox. Curiously these strings don't have any problems and none of them is buzzing. The problem is
only on the E- and B-strings. When I play on open strings, there isn't any buzzing. Only if I press a string on the fingerboard.
I checked the suggestion of Brian but it didn't help.
Sample:
http://www64.zippyshare.com/v/58703988/file.html
Pictures:
http://imageshack.us/g/97/img1363z.jpg/
SamirCanada - 10-5-2011 at 03:20 PM
Sourds like you have a worn fingerboard IMO...