High pitched ping on one spot

Shannon A

Electromatic
Jun 1, 2022
45
Michigan
My 5422tg has a high pitched ping when I play the 3rd fret on the A string. Can find it anywhere else currently. I tried dampening the strings below the bridge, but I'm still hearing it. Any ideas?
 

GDGT

Electromatic
Feb 2, 2023
95
Washington USA
Random thought: try dampening the strings above the nut?

Another random thought: maybe it's the A string BEHIND where you're fretting? Try playing that note on the 3rd fret with your third finger, but damping the A string behind it with your first finger (or just lay it across them all in a light barre.)
 

cielski

Senior Gretsch-Talker
Feb 10, 2010
20,528
LaFayette IN
Could it be the nut? Maybe the string isn't seated well. Curious problem.
Is it higher in pitch than the C you're playing? An octave or two above?
 

Shannon A

Electromatic
Jun 1, 2022
45
Michigan
Well, this is wierd.
I only discovered this because the sound was absent when I was chording. But here goes...
If the B string is muted, the sound pretty much goes away. It's that particular string. Remember that it's the C note that's on the 3rd fret of the A string that's causing it.
Does this sound like a problem with the nut? Or could one of the frets be transferring the energy to the B string?
 

cielski

Senior Gretsch-Talker
Feb 10, 2010
20,528
LaFayette IN
Well, this is wierd.
I only discovered this because the sound was absent when I was chording. But here goes...
If the B string is muted, the sound pretty much goes away. It's that particular string. Remember that it's the C note that's on the 3rd fret of the A string that's causing it.
Does this sound like a problem with the nut? Or could one of the frets be transferring the energy to the B string?
Sympathetic resonance from four strings away? Massively weird.
You might just need an exorcist.
 

Ricochet

Senior Gretsch-Talker
Gold Supporting Member
Nov 13, 2009
23,798
Monkey Island
If it’s a high fret(easily checked with a fret rocker or your Visa card) the problem will arise on more than one spot(just by picking a bit harder). This sounds like sympathetic resonance to me. It’s magic. I don’t do magic.
 

GDGT

Electromatic
Feb 2, 2023
95
Washington USA
If the B string is muted, the sound pretty much goes away. It's that particular string
Does the sound go way if you mute the B-string above the nut? If so, I've only seen something like that on one time (it was the G string above the nut on a 3x3 headstock). Leading candidates are the string itself (different string/make/gauge might change it), the nut (might be binding on the B and the frequency of that note is just enough to make it wiggle), or it might be the tuning machine: try tightening it down and see if anything changes. Maybe try those in reverse order, because that's least-to-most effort.

I know the latter sounds like bizarro elven magic…but that was the real cause for that G-string ringing I heard. A nut issue is probably addressed with some graphite in the slot or minimal filing; changing the string type/gauge can also change the nut situation.
 
Last edited:

stevo

Friend of Fred
Platinum Member
May 1, 2012
7,757
Atlanta
If it's only happening at one location, it's a high fret above 3. You'll need to look at 4 and 5. Anything above that probably isn't contributing. As for vibrations at the nut slot, I've seen that but only with open strings. Just the fact that you're down to a specific fret and string tells me that it's a high spot on a fret above three.
 

TV the Wired Turtle

I Bleed Orange
Double Platinum Member
Jul 25, 2009
15,177
Sandy Eggo
take a 1" block of hardwood to the fret w the neck resting on a folded beach towel (on your bench high enough to free the top of the headstock and neck joint. lighty tap a smallish hammer on the wood block as it rests on the fret. This will seat the fret better, and if you had more experience I would say tape either side of the fret and aim heat from a blow dryer at it for a few seconds before the tappity tap tap. If that doesnt work I will suspect the angle that the nut slot is cut at, is wrong, and you are getting sympathetic vibration between the fretted note and the nut... if that does work, well... then the issue of para-normal sympathetic vibrations requires... you know..

shotRemember_E_orcist01%20jpg.ashx
 

Shannon A

Electromatic
Jun 1, 2022
45
Michigan
Does the sound go way if you mute the B-string above the nut? If so, I've only seen something like that on one time (it was the G string above the nut on a 3x3 headstock). Leading candidates are the string itself (different string/make/gauge might change it), the nut (might be binding on the B and the frequency of that note is just enough to make it wiggle), or it might be the tuning machine: try tightening it down and see if anything changes. Maybe try those in reverse order, because that's least-to-most effort.

I know the latter sounds like bizarro elven magic…but that was the real cause for that G-string ringing I heard. A nut issue is probably addressed with some graphite in the slot or minimal filing; changing the string type/gauge can also change the nut situation.
It does not go away when I mute behind the nut.
 

Shannon A

Electromatic
Jun 1, 2022
45
Michigan
Thanks everyone for your advice! And the Exorcist jokes were great lol.
I think I'm going to look into getting the frets leveled. Or maybe get some tools and have a go at it myself.
 

cielski

Senior Gretsch-Talker
Feb 10, 2010
20,528
LaFayette IN
Every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings. Can’t imagine what a ping denotes.

Obviously not a Reverend guitar.
Btw, Has anybody considered hooking up with the vatican to make endorsed Pontiff guitars?
You'd have to wear that pointy hat.
 


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