Acoustic Guitar Buzz? Tighten Your Tuning Machines
Suffering from a hard to diagnose acoustic guitar buzz? Guitarists often attribute string buzz to fret issues, particularly if the buzz has a metallic sound to it. However your tuning machines can also cause a metallic buzz that you might mistake for fret buzz. Your guitar’s tuning machines are typically attached to your guitar’s headstock with nuts at the bottom of the string pegs. String vibration can cause these nuts to slowly loosen over time. When loose enough, these nuts can even cause subtly buzzing, which might sound like fret buzz.
Check Once Per Month
To avoid this peculiar acoustic guitar buzz, check the tightness of your guitar’s tuning machine nuts once per month. If needed, tighten the nuts as well. To tighten, use an open (non-adjustable) wrench of the correct size and tighten until snug. Do not overtighten.
Do Not Use Needle Nose Pliers
Do not use needle nose pliers to make this adjustment. Needle nose pliers have sharp ends and can easily slip and cause damage to your headstock.
Still Have a Buzz?
After doing the above, does your guitar still have a buzz? Find more tips at Why You Have a Buzzing Sound from Your Acoustic Guitar.
