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Guitar strings rattle - can't cure it.?

I have a considerable collection of guitars, electric and acoustic. Like most guitarists, I favour a select few for their playability, tone and aesthetic appeal. One in particular, a Schecter PT (a telecaster copy) stands out head and shoulders above the rest, but I recently swapped the strings for 'skinny top/heavy bottom'.

What was previously perfection has now been replaced with the bottom E and A rattling at every fret. I have adjusted the saddles, messed with the trussrod, but no change - any ideas?

Update:

Perhaps I haven't been clear enough. I changed all the strings for a complete set of skinny 'top/heavy bottom', not just the bottom two strings. Prior to this the action was perfect - but now the bottom two strings rattle when played at every fret.

Tune it an octave higher? Every string 12 semitones higher than the neck is designed for?

5 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You may need a set up.

    When you change strings to a heavier gauge you may find that:

    The bridge needs to be raised as the heavier strings make more contact with the fret wire.

    The extra tension bows the neck slightly requiring a truss rod adjustment.

    They don't sit in the nut correctly anymore and the nut needs recutting.

    Try raising the bridge saddles on these two strings and if that sorts the rattle, check the intonation. Play a twelfth fret harmonic and then fret at the twelfth string. If the pitch is different adjust the saddle either towards the nut or towards the gridge until it pitches correctly. If that doesn't work, or you have to raise the action too high then you need to see a repairer about a set up.

    I'd imagine that, if the other strings play OK you'll just need to raise the action on the two that are rattling.

    Source(s): Guitarist for thirty years.
  • 1 decade ago

    Your question isn't exactly clear but correct me if I'm wrong; You replaced just two of your strings, bottom E & A with new ones of a different make or type. If what I've said is right then your problem is that the two new strings are able to tune higher than the rest and because they are in tune with your other four instead they are looser or at a lower tuned note and there for will shake more when plucked or strummed. As you should know when replacing strings, either buy a full set of new strings or make sure the ones you're replacing the old ones with are the same i.e Type, Steel or Bronze, tension etc.

    Hope that helps.

    Source(s): Experience
  • 1 decade ago

    do u mean u get a tinny sound? have u tried raising the string from the fret? or tune your guitar an octave higher?or the other option is to file down each fret. hope this helps

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    have yhoo tried changing the strings? or yhoo could try tightening the screws on the machine heads, or if not raise the action a little :)

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  • 1 decade ago

    me to! it's probably if you plucking strings to hard, loose, or it's about to break

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