BUZZING issues with Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Studio EC

[Daniel Vladu]

   Hi!!! I bought a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Studio EC (picture A) a couple of months ago after a long time of struggle with saving money. Finally I managed to gather the money and to fulfill my dream.

   The first meeting between me and the guitar was memorable. The guitar really spoke to me. I gently took it off from the case and instead of “Hi”, she said “clunk”. A very annoying sound produced every time I moved the guitar. I found the source of that “clank”. It was the guitar tuner, (picture B) the electronic part of the guitar. After all, the source of all my problems is this tuner.

   PS. My thought is: Don’t buy a guitar with more than two holes. If you want a tuner, buy it separately.

Somehow I managed to fix the problem with the “clunk” noise but with what cost? Till I managed to fix it, I had to take the tuner off for several times. This caused another problem. I damaged the screw holes and now the screws won't stop turning. I tried to replace the original screws with other that have nuts (picture B and C). I put the nuts inside the body and gripped the screws but I didn’t screw hard because I was afraid to not cracking the wood. Anyway, I still have a gap between the tuner and the guitar body. A very small gap where is space for a piece of sheet (picture D)

   The main problem is the BUZZING string, a buzz which is come from the tuner. That buzzing sound comes when I play a very specific note. Every time when I play a C note (or a C sharp/C flat) with the 6,5 or 4 string (picture E), the buzzing sound is coming from the tuner. If I open the tuner (picture F), there’s no buzzing at all. If I take off the battery, C note will no longer buzzing but will start buzzing other notes.

Sometimes, when I press my finger on the tuner and take it off, it is stop buzzing for a while but it starts again. I tried with new strings but it is still BUZZING.

   It is quite unpleasant when you spend so much money for the guitar and when you play, you hear a dying fly inside the guitar. I am Daniel, I’m from Romania and there’s no Gibson dealer near me to help me and I hope that you could give me some help, some brilliant ideas. Sorry for the low quality images but I had to compress the pdf to be integrated in the size limits. Thank you very much!!!

pictures from A to F--compressed (1).pdf

[slimt]

Maybe a loose truss rod nut? Vibration in the neck?

[Daniel Vladu]

3 minutes ago, slimt said:

Maybe a loose truss rod nut? Vibration in the neck?

Thank you very much for your response!!!The vibration is from the tuner!!!

[duluthdan]

Can you bring it back to the dealer for a look?  If not, I am of no help. 

[BoSoxBiker]

2 hours ago, Daniel Vladu said:

Thank you very much for your response!!!The vibration is from the tuner!!!

The cause of the buzz can be a long way away from the buzz.

[QuestionMark]

If the buzzing is coming from the tuner vibrating at time, it seems to me that purchasing a thin piece of foam or cutting a thin piece of foam that is used inside shipped packages and wrapping it around the tuner  so it doesn’t buzz against whatever is holding it or against the guitar would stop the buzz.   Just a thought.

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

 

[Daniel Vladu]

7 hours ago, duluthdan said:

Can you bring it back to the dealer for a look?  If not, I am of no help. 

Thank you very much for your response!!! I have no idea what's the terms of bringing back to the dealer or what costs are involved or if the transport is safe.

[Daniel Vladu]

7 hours ago, PatriotsBiker said:

The cause of the buzz can be a long way away from the buzz.

Thank you for bringing me know that. My first thought is that is coming from the tuner because I stick my ear on it and it seems that is whispers to me.

 

[Daniel Vladu]

2 hours ago, QuestionMark said:

If the buzzing is coming from the tuner vibrating at time, it seems to me that purchasing a thin piece of foam or cutting a thin piece of foam that is used inside shipped packages and wrapping it around the tuner  so it doesn’t buzz against whatever is holding it or against the guitar would stop the buzz.   Just a thought.

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

 

Hi, thank you very much for this new idea.  I didn 't think about that!!! It could work!!! Have a great day!!!

 

[blindboygrunt]

My money once again is on the Jack plug 

 

I've a rattle in my car dashboard,  any you guys want to guess what's causing that ?

[BluesKing777]

1 hour ago, blindboygrunt said:

My money once again is on the Jack plug 

 

I've a rattle in my car dashboard,  any you guys want to guess what's causing that ?

 

A screw loose? 😁

I have a buzz from my bridge on my HD28v, think it could be a ball end seating problem. We’re going in, doc.

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

[Jinder]

Did you buy it new or secondhand? It's a very pretty guitar. I found that the Fishman Aura Ellipse (different unit but same manufacturer and same rattle) in my SJ200 drove me MAD with rattles and buzzes, eventually I removed it and put a different pickup in...obviously this isn't an option for you with the "barn door" style side mounted preamp, but perhaps worth speaking to Gibson Customer Service and seeing what they can do to help.

[BluesKing777]

1 hour ago, BluesKing777 said:

 

A screw loose? 😁

I have a buzz from my bridge on my HD28v, think it could be a ball end seating problem. We’re going in, doc.

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

 

My buzz is fixed!

I went in with torch and mirror and saw the 1 and 2 string were both hung up on the string join under the pins. The guitar is just back from getting refretted, so the tech must have been rushing to put the strings on. Anyway, I put a capo on the 2, loosened 1 and 2 string, lifted the pins and yanked on the strings, replaced pins, grabbed torch and mirror to check...all good. Tightened the strings, tuned and played the guitar for about an hour. Hooray!

So check your bridge pins/ball ends.

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

[kidblast]

Check the battery, that could be moving a bit making some noise. Try using some black electricians tape to see if that helps.

Edited July 2, 2019 by kidblast

[Daniel Vladu]

14 hours ago, Jinder said:

Did you buy it new or secondhand? It's a very pretty guitar. I found that the Fishman Aura Ellipse (different unit but same manufacturer and same rattle) in my SJ200 drove me MAD with rattles and buzzes, eventually I removed it and put a different pickup in...obviously this isn't an option for you with the "barn door" style side mounted preamp, but perhaps worth speaking to Gibson Customer Service and seeing what they can do to help.

Hi!!! Thank you very much for your response.  I bought it new and I wrote to the Customer Service but they did't response me yet. I was thinking to refill the screw holes  with wood filler and screw the original screws. But I have some doubts. I find out that when I press the tuner with my finger is stop buzzing.

 

[Daniel Vladu]

8 hours ago, kidblast said:

Check the battery, that could be moving a bit making some noise. Try using some black electricians tape to see if that helps.

Thank you very much for your idea!!! I completely remove the battery but it starts to buzz other notes. I find out that when I press the tuner with my finger is stop buzzing.

[kidblast]

The Tuner?  is this some sort of control module for a pickup?   Or is this one of the machine heads at the headstock?

your photo doesn't really help and I'm still not clear what "tuner" means in your context.

 

[Daniel Vladu]

4 hours ago, kidblast said:

The Tuner?  is this some sort of control module for a pickup?   Or is this one of the machine heads at the headstock?

your photo doesn't really help and I'm still not clear what "tuner" means in your context.

 

 

[Daniel Vladu]

Just now, Daniel Vladu said:

 

If I keep my finger pressed on Gibson logo from the tuner, while I play the C note, it stops buzzing. I tuned the D string one step down into the C note and it has the same vibration. 

[kidblast]

Ok.  this is not a tuner, this is the control module for the pickup, which just happens to have an onboard tuner.

what you are dealing with is sympathetic vibration of the control plate for the prefix pickup.  The vibrations from the wood, and all, are causing this thing to rattle around while you're playing.

 

this  not uncommon with this kind of setup, and why a lot of people do not like these kind of pickup systems. 

you may want to try to slide something like a thin wedge of foam, or some cloth cut from  from a t-shirt  on the sides of the control plate to see if you can quiet it down. 

 

If that works, then look for a more permanent solution.   hint: sometimes Air Conditioners come with very thin pieces of foam with some adhesive (Tape) on the back.  A small piece of something like that put on to the sides of this control plate could take care of it

you could also email Fishman (the makers of this pickup system, despite Gibson putting their name on it, it's made by these guys: https://www.fishman.com/products/instruments/acoustic-guitar/ ) and ask them if they have any advice.

Edited July 3, 2019 by kidblast

[Daniel Vladu]

6 hours ago, kidblast said:

Ok.  this is not a tuner, this is the control module for the pickup, which just happens to have an onboard tuner.

what you are dealing with is sympathetic vibration of the control plate for the prefix pickup.  The vibrations from the wood, and all, are causing this thing to rattle around while you're playing.

 

this  not uncommon with this kind of setup, and why a lot of people do not like these kind of pickup systems. 

you may want to try to slide something like a thin wedge of foam, or some cloth cut from  from a t-shirt  on the sides of the control plate to see if you can quiet it down. 

 

If that works, then look for a more permanent solution.   hint: sometimes Air Conditioners come with very thin pieces of foam with some adhesive (Tape) on the back.  A small piece of something like that put on to the sides of this control plate could take care of it

you could also email Fishman (the makers of this pickup system, despite Gibson putting their name on it, it's made by these guys: https://www.fishman.com/products/instruments/acoustic-guitar/ ) and ask them if they have any advice.

Thank you a lot for your help and for your great ideas. I will try to use these ideas and I will also try to write to fishman guys wich I tried once but they didn't answer me. Have a great time!!!

[Alex Pasc]

Did you finally solve this problem? I’m experiencing the same buzzing problem on the same guitar. The Fishman module is a bit clunky and moving or cracking when I touch it. Did you show your guitar to a Gibson dealer or a luthier eventually ?

Thanks

[Daniel Vladu]

   Hi, Alex Pasc!!! Man, unfortunately I have the same issues with that buzzing caused by the electronic part of the guitar. That' s way I think that it may be a better idea to buy a guitar with just the resonance hole...and no more additional holes in the wood. No other electronic parts that require cutting the beautiful wood of the guitar...in this particular model Gibson cuted a giant whole in the side of the rosewood to fit a big and clunky electronic system that causing buzzing issues. Surprisingly I didn't learn my lesson...there's a quote which says something like this: "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." I made it. I even bought another Gibson songwriter guitar...the same model but from 2019 (the "old" one was from 2018) and I have the same issues. Fortunately for Gibson, there are many people who do not pay attention to these details...Unfortunately for me, I care about those issues especially when the guitar cost 2666 euro.:)))...

PS. The moral of this discussion: If a guitar is made in the USA, this definitely does not guarantee the quality. Recently I played a Yamaha guitar made in China that sounds very healthy and does not have these problems with strings buzzing.

Unfortunately, a totally wrong idea has taken root in people's minds, according to which, if an object is made in America it must be with great quality... it is totally wrong and an extremely superficial way of thinking...There are cases when the quality is highly poor. 

Gibson should rethink his strategy because such a thing is shameful. If you can't ensure a better quality check, then maybe you should be fair to the consumer and lower your monetary claims one storey below.