Weird Tones

[fatfrets]

Great site! Got question for you guitar guru's. I've got a "parts-o-caster" that makes some weird sounds when I get on the higher frets. Mainly on the B and G strings about 14 frets and higher. I'm pretty sure it's not some kind of fret buzz. I've raised the saddles to high levels with little effect. I've lowered the pickups as low as they'll go to make sure they aren't imposing some weird overtones. The sound is still there when unplugged.

It kinda sounds like your playing two out of tune notes at one time and naturally gets worse with distortion.

I just changed pickups to Fender 69's and installed a Tremelno when it started.

Any ideas?

[cynical1]

fatfrets -

Welcome to the party.

Does your Tremolo-No look like this:



or this:



First off, let me answer your question...with a few more questions...

1.) If you take the Tremolo-No out of the guitar does the fret buzzing go away?

2.) What find of shape is the neck in? (Any worn or high frets? Warped or bowed...etc...?)

3.) Have you made and neck adjustments prior to or after installing the Tremolo-No?

4.) Have you changed string gauges since the install of the Tremolo-No? (Gone from wound to unwound G or visa versa?)

5.) Did the install of the Tremolo-No change the resting position of the tailpiece?

6.) Is your tailpiece a pin or clamp type? (makes a difference which Tremolo-No you install)

That should be enough for now...

I did find a thread on a Tremolo-No forum that describes a similar problem.

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[ChrisK]

Hmmm, maybe it's because the Tremo'Leo-No is actually a Vibrato-No.


If it is as described in the forum that Cyn linked to, maybe you should just block the vibrato and return the Tremol-No or wait for the functioning version thereof.

[cynical1]

...and if you feel really ambitious. you can do a Trem to Hard Tail Conversion

I'm doing this on a project I have in the works. Most good lumber yards or custom cabinet makers can knock you out wood pieces planed and cut to size for cheap. I picked up 3 pieces of alder, cut PRECISELY to size for $15.00. All I did was sand the corners to match the radius or the router bit and I was home free.

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[ChrisK]

StewMac makes a wood block for this.

Trilogy vibrato cavity filler block

To find this on their web site one has to know EXACTLY where it is (after stumbling across it).

I don't know whose cavity it fits exactly (and neither do they).

[fatfrets]

Thanks for all the ideas. You guys zeroed in on the problem. It was the Tremel-no. I have the pin type. Here is what I found was going on. I think when there is pressure on the tremel-no it seems to "ring" and as you get close to what it is ringing at it starts to interfere with the note your playing. That is why it only happened at the higher end like it did. I couldn't quite nail it down because depending on (I guess temperature) the stings would stretch and put pressure on the tremel-no. I guess the same thing happened as the new strings just stretched too. So every time I unlocked the trem and later relocked it it would be just fine... So here's the fix, if you start to hear the "weird tones" I need to just unlock and re-lock the trem and the weird notes would go away.

I'm not sure if I will continue to deal with it or not. I may just block the trem again, but it is nice to have a trem for a few songs.

Thanks for all the help!