[glendyll]

The plastic string divider at the top of my acoustic guitar (I don't remember what it is called) was broken and replaced before i got it. I have one in there now but my stings all rattle off the frets. I've generally keep it tuned a 1/2 step down. The strings are way off the neck, and when pressed down in a wide variety of locations on the fret board, they rattle. All of the strings have certain places they suck. I was just wondering if anyone knew what my problem may be. It's a Yamaha FG-400A.

[dadfad]

That's a load of problems. It's hard to say. The nut (separator at the top of the neck) may be too low (especially if your strings rattle when played open). If they do, and they're a 1/4" high farther up the neck, first of all you need a higher nut. You can sort of check that out temporarily by putting tiny pieces of string under the strings in those grooves to raise them a little. Then, you might have to adjust the action for the higher frets after that if they still fret-out (buzz when held). This is a lot for someone unfamiliar with setting up a guitar to try to do. You're probably better off letting a tech-guy do it.

[randomorwhat]

Get it serviced. Why risk making a mistake?

[gyr84me]

Get it serviced. Why risk making a mistake?

aww.. but life's about risks

Anyway, what's rattling? When you putyour strings on, do you clip them, orleave the spare wire hanging (sorry if that sounds daft, but that's gonna rattle so make sure it's not that) .. if the strings are hitting the frets, causing the rattle, the bridge is too low.. get a higher one.. take it to a shop though. Once the guy sees it, he'll know what's wrong straight away.. no fecking about

[lyra14]

Exactly, get it serviced/set up properly. Even with a lot of problems, it shouldn't cost too much I imagine, maybe 50 bucks. How old is this guitar? If it's old and not very good at all, you might just want to think of saving up for a new one.

[glendyll]

I'm almost wondering if the nut is too high, the strings are near a constant height off the neck the whole way down.

[randomorwhat]

Get it serviced. Why risk making a mistake?

aww.. but life's about risks

But not to the guitar! Take my life, but leave my guitar!

[grzegorz_panek]

First of all make sure the strings are put on the right way, that is wound 4-5 times around the machine, under the outcoming string end. If strings rattle on the nut it meand they are nos pressed against it strong enough. The higher the nut the bigger the angle and the stronger they are pressed.

Sometimes they rattle and detune quicker if not wound as they should around the machines.

Action on an acoustic should be higher than on electrics, don't worry about that.


If you get buzz on different frets you might need some truss rod adjustment.

[metallica_fan_03]

it sounds to me that your nuts the real issue here. i'd say to take it to a shop and get it sorted cause if you do it you'll probably need some specialist files etc..

a shop would sort it for you in no time for very little.