Strat 6th string resonates oddly - help please

[EmolanEric]

Hi everyone! 

I have a problem with 2017 Japanese-build Strat. The low E-string resonates oddly. The string does not touch the fret and resonate from that. This is something else. It gets stronger the higher fret you go, and is strongest on fret 21. Otherwise the action is perfect, and neck seems to be straight.

Hope you guys get this video open, that clarifys the problem: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y9s505r9a6jn5ei/VID_20220119_184051.mp4?dl=0

 

Thanks in advance for any help

Edited January 19 by EmolanEric

[badpenguin]

On 1/19/2022 at 12:43 PM, EmolanEric said:

Hi everyone! 

I have a problem with 2017 Japanese-build Strat. The low E-string resonates oddly. The string does not touch the fret and resonate from that. This is something else. It gets stronger the higher fret you go, and is strongest on fret 21. Otherwise the action is perfect, and neck seems to be straight.

Hope you guys get this video open, that clarifys the problem: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y9s505r9a6jn5ei/VID_20220119_184051.mp4?dl=0

 

Thanks in advance for any help

To me, that sounds like the typical case of "stratitis". Lower the bass side of your pickups. The magnetic field is interfering with the movement of the string, causing that warble.

[EmolanEric]

Thanks badpenguin. After quite bit of adjusting made, this really seems to be problem. The buzz disappears when the pickups are lowered. However, they almost need to be lowered to pickguard level to get rid of the buzz. Then pickup output is just poor and is not working as desired. When adjusted to factory specs, I get the buzz like shown in video:

Texas Specials	Bass side 8/64" (3.2 mm)  Treble side	6/64" (2.4 mm)

[badpenguin]

Ok, so we found the issue, good, but the solution sucks... bad. Perhaps either a string gauge change, going up a size ie: 9-42 to 10-46 might help, or just changing that one string upwards. Another possible solution is string material. Steel to nickel etc. @Daddymack might have a better answer/solution.

[EmolanEric]

Yep, that's definitely the issue. However, I currently use 11-52 D'Addario strings. The different material is worth testing, thanks. I also have an extra set of pickups. I will try how it works with those, when I have time. 

Edited January 22 by EmolanEric

[daddymack]

On 1/21/2022 at 9:20 AM, badpenguin said:

Ok, so we found the issue, good, but the solution sucks... bad. Perhaps either a string gauge change, going up a size ie: 9-42 to 10-46 might help, or just changing that one string upwards. Another possible solution is string material. Steel to nickel etc. @Daddymack might have a better answer/solution.

watching the vid, I also assumed it was just magnetic pull, p-u too high, but now...that's a .052...hmmm...did you change string gauges recently?

Without having the axe on the bench? Hard to make a definitive call...magnetic tension is always present on the strings, and if this only goes away absent the magnetic tension, then yes, you lose your sound...but something else seems to be in play here. Oddly, this is only on the low E...

Are the pole pieces flush?

I would look at the neck relief [because the 'buzz' is more pronounced past the octave, and gets worse the closer to the neck pocket], and examine the nut slot depth/width and the bridge saddle height and slot depth.

I would first try raising the string height at the bridge slightly while the p-up is still 'pulling' and see if that diminishes the issue. Since it is an .052, the 'deflection' should not be so pronounced...a combination of higher string and lower p-up may solve this.