Extra string buzz on '70 Starfire IV

[Norrissey]

Recently purchased a '70 Starfire IV that I love. It plays and sounds fantastic BUT I've got some extra buzzing sounds when I hit the strings, fretted or not so I think the Hagstrom Bridge is the culprit. Unfortunately I also pick up the buzz sound slightly through the amp. I had the guitar setup and had my luthier tighten everything on the bridge in particular but the issue persists. Any suggestions how to fix it? Should I replace the bridge? If so, what would be a good replacement? Thanks for any guidance!

 

[BradHK]

First, that Starfire is gorgeous! Second, all strings or just one or two? If the saddles are seated down and the screws on both sides of each saddle are tight, there is really nothing that can buzz on the Hagstrom bridge. However, if just individual strings then they could be buzzing in the string slots on the top of the saddle if not shaped correctly. If all strings, then I would look beyond the bridge to something else. I had something similar on one of my Guilds with a Hagstrom bridge on one string in particular and it ended up being loose tuner mounting screws. Good luck tracking it down as a buzz drives me crazy and they can be hard to track down!

 

[SFIV1967]

Unfortunately I also pick up the buzz sound slightly through the amp.

Have you checked that the ground wire under the tailpiece near the strap button is really grounded?

Ralf

 

[GAD]

Beautiful guitar! I would swap that bridge in a heartbeat but that’s just because I dislike them. They feel like I’m playing on a knife edge.

Just to clarify, it buzzes acoustically when not plugged in?

 

[GGJaguar]

That's a gem! I hope you get the buzzing worked out.

 

[Norrissey]

First, that Starfire is gorgeous! Second, all strings or just one or two?

Thanks Brad! I was dreaming of owning a '60s style Starfire IV with burst for a long time so I was pretty excited when I finally stumbled on this one. As for the strings, it's just the G and B strings that have the extra buzzing noise. I double checked the saddle screws on those strings and they are nice and tight so perhaps the string slots are the problem. I will ask my luthier to look into that (I don't have that kind of expertise unfortunately)

 

[Norrissey]

Have you checked that the ground wire under the tailpiece near the strap button is really grounded?

I haven't. Thanks Ralf. I will put this on the list when I take the guitar back to my luthier. However, if it was the ground wire wouldn't all the strings have the buzz issue? I should have mentioned in my original post it's just the G and B strings that have the extra buzz.

 

[Norrissey]

Just to clarify, it buzzes acoustically when not plugged in?

Hi Gary, yeah it buzzes when playing acoustically (very clearly) and you can hear a little of the same buzz through the amp when I plug it in.
Just curious, what bridge would you put on a guitar like this? I hope I can solve the problem and keep using the Hagstrom, but if I can't I will have to look at other options. This guitar needs to be played!

 

[SFIV1967]

However, if it was the ground wire wouldn't all the strings have the buzz issue? I should have mentioned in my original post it's just the G and B strings that have the extra buzz.

Oh yes, that would be on all strings. So I guess the ground wire is there. I wasn't sure when you said you also hear a buzz through the amp.
Just to clarify, usually there is a ground wire internally from one of the potentiometers going torwards the tailpiece endpin, actually a small hole next to the endpin, you only see this when removing the entire tairlpiece. The bare wire just presses against the screwed on tailpiece to ground the strings.
Ralf

 

[GAD]

Hi Gary, yeah it buzzes when playing acoustically (very clearly) and you can hear a little of the same buzz through the amp when I plug it in.
Just curious, what bridge would you put on a guitar like this? I hope I can solve the problem and keep using the Hagstrom, but if I can't I will have to look at other options. This guitar needs to be played!

I’m a fan of Compton bridges, personally but you lose the ability to intonate individual strings.

 

[Norrissey]

I’m a fan of Compton bridges

I have a Compton bridge on my '75 SF2. It's a solid stainless steel bridge. I have that guitar setup with flat wounds for a jazz style sound and it's wonderful. This SFIV has a more retro rocking '60s sound that I want to be sure to keep/enhance. I wonder if I could get that with a Compton bridge? I'll take a look at their site.

 

[BradHK]

I have a Compton bridge on my '75 SF2. It's a solid stainless steel bridge. I have that guitar setup with flat wounds for a jazz style sound and it's wonderful. This SFIV has a more retro rocking '60s sound that I want to be sure to keep/enhance. I wonder if I could get that with a Compton bridge? I'll take a look at their site.

You could swap in the stainless Compton bridge to see if you like the sound and also see if that gets rid of the buzz. You should be able to just loosen the strings and hold them up with one finger behind the bridge and slide the bridge out. I do this on my floating bridges when adjusting and such.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

If you can enlist someone to help while you make those strings buzz you'll find the culprit. You could even do it yourself since it happens on the open strings also. Strum the guitar and make it buzz, then touch different spots to see if you can eliminate it. Try the tuners as mentioned, the pickguard and pickup mounting screws, etc. Try anywhere there is something attached to the guitar.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

And that's a beautiful guitar, congrats!

 

[Walter Broes]

I like plain old abr-1 tune-a-matics on my Guild archtops. The ones Philadelphia Luthier sells are great, not expensive and made in the USA. (by Advanced Plating in Nashville)
You will probably need a matching rosewood base too, and you'll need to have it contoured to the guitar's top.

I have a pre-compensated Tru-Arc ""Serpentune" stainless steel bar bridge on my Gretsch, and while I was sceptical before I got it - intonation at the 12th fret was spot-on. Not close, not "good enough" - spot-on.

 

[Norrissey]

I like plain old abr-1 tune-a-matics on my Guild archtops

Thanks so much for the bridge info Walter. I really appreciate it. I will ask my luthier to look into the issue one more time. If he can't eliminate it I will look into replacement options.