Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey-

I bought a PRS Soapbar II off ebay in nice shape and finally got the chance to play it today. The high E sounds like a sitar string and during the last 2-3 seconds of the note, there is an added (very) high pitched tone. I replaced the tuner and restrung it - same problem. I have tried muting every string in front and behind the nut and behind the bridge. I can play all 22 frets on the E - same thing as when hit open. I have tightened all hardware down and checked that all frets are solid.

The only thing I can think of is the trussrod - either it is broken or vibrating sympathetically inside the neck. The neck vibrates a bunch when this string is hit - especially when the added high pitch tone comes in. The neck doesn't do this for the other strings. I tried to adjust the truss rod - the nut moved smoothly, but the neck didn't adjust. I have the nut back in it's original position. These PRS truss rod nuts are a bit different - there isn't a flat washer the nut tightens against. The nut just hangs out in space attached to 1/2" of threaded rod that disappears into the neck shaft. I guess this is a dual acting design. I've never messed with one.

Is there anything that you can think of that I haven't yet? I don't have the knowledge or capability to fix this. I don't want to fix what should have been the original owners problem. I haven't been able to contact the ebay seller yet. The original warranty card was included but is worthless since I'm not the original owner - I'm sure the cost of having this fixed would be more than the original money spent ($$305.00). I am going to the music store down the road to have them check it out. I'm hoping it's something simple but if not, I hope the seller will take it back.

Thanks guys and gals-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Try raising the action slightly,it will change the break angle over the saddle possibly quieting the buzz.
As for the truss rod ,it may need a bit of help when moved. Sometimes they can get a bit sticky.Try gently flexing the neck in the desired direction after an adjustment has been made.

Good luck

Hi-

It doesn't really have saddles. It has a one-piece non-adjustable wraparound style bridge and raising the action didn't stop the noise. It's not really a buzz or rattle, it's this weird discordant sound like I have sympathetic strings running through the neck. I also tried putting a short piece of string under the E string at the nut and same problem.

I'll try adjusting the trussrod again. Thanks for the help.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I'd bet money it's the bridge. Filing and polishing the slot where the string lies should give at least temporary relief. Inspect the last point the string touches. If the chrome is worn through, it's time to replace the bridge.

I am assuming this is only happening on the open string, if so the nut slot is cut too deep and the open string is hitting on the 1st fret. I would put a small drop of thin CA in the slot and sand the top of the nut with some fine sandpaper letting the dust get into the slot. You will probably be too high with the slot and have to lower it a little but the sitar sound will be gone. I have had this happen and have cured many other peoples guitars this way.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I just tried this and no relief. Thanks though.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Nah, this sound happens with the high E string when fretting all 22 frets - weird ain't it. I have already got the strings sitting where they need to in the nut slots, no difference. Thanks for the help.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I've had the same thing happen on a brass nut (open string only, obviously) when the slot was a little too wide. Seemed like the string would rattle inside the nut slot. Perhaps your high-E is rattling against the stopbar tailpiece where it rests against it....???? Try putting a small bit of yarn (or similar) underneath the string at its registration point on the bridge and see if that helps.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

i had this problem on a mandolin and it was the nut. So my suggestion is the nut. The back of the nut closest to the headstock needed to be sloped more down on an angle.

I still think that Sheldon is on the right track, the way you get that sitar sound is by having the saddle slope downwards after the string exits, allowing the string to buzz against it when exited. Those PRS one piece bridges get kind of rounded after the string breaks over, if you can get a nice clean break over the saddle it may help. The gibson LP specials and juniors that the PRS is getting its inspiration from are also notorious for developing "sitar" like sounds, it either adds to the "mojo" or drives you insane depending on your personality.

Have you changed the string? Sometimes you just get a "rotten string".

Looked inside the electronics cavities?

Does the annoying sound come through when played through an amp at a reasonable volume? If it sounds clean and nice amplified, i personally wouldn't care about it.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

John ,I have an idea for testing if it is the bridge.
Try stopping the string with a slide just in front of the bridge ,giving you a"new " saddle/break point. Maybe you can get one clean note.
If the buzz is pitch related try the same pitch fingered on a different string.
This way you can see if the nut or the saddle slot is the culprit,or perhaps something else entirely.
good luck

Hi John,

You've eliminated the nut. Try putting a very tiny piece of paper under the string at the saddle. Put the paper so that none of it sticks out onto the vibrating length of the string, just so it lifts the string a few thousandths. The trailing edge of the tiny piece of paper should eliminate or muffle any weird sound caused from the string from saddle to tailpiece, and by lifting the string a few thousandths and providing a new "bed" for the string, you'll eliminate or muffle any sound caused by a ragged leading edge on the saddle.

If you still hear the sound, it aint from the nut or saddle. Eliminate anything else on the guitar that can vibrate: tighten tuning machines, tailpiece mounts, knobs, wiring, pickups... You suspect the trussrod, and it may well be the trussrod. Knock on the neck like you're knocking on a door and listen for a rattle. If it rattles, then, hopefully the neck is stiff enough to work properly without the trussrod, which will give you more room to play around with the trussrod. (I know you have already tried this but...) try tightening the trussrod. Now knock on the neck. Rattle? If it is a 2-way, try tightening the trussrod slightly in the wrong direction - creating a very slight forward bow. Now knock on the neck. Rattle?

If the trussrod rattles even when tightened, and if you decide you want to keep the guitar, consider drilling out the position marker dot at the 9th fret, and injecting a tiny bit of some silicone caulk.

Good luck, and let us know what your conclusion is.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Hi guys-

Thanks for all the help. It was the bridge - I bought a new wraparound bridge and it works great now. It took a little while but I found that the exit point for the high E had a miniscule flake in the chrome. It can't be seen but I can barely feel it scratching my fingernail. I forget who suggested this might be the problem but thanks a bunch dude. I'm glad this is over now.

This is a great thread for me because it will help the next time I come up with a buzz and for general setup. There are lots of great tips here for finding problems.

Thanks again everyone-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Enjoy your new guitar.