Conference napalm::guitar

    It's possible that the string is vibrating at the bridge. I don't
    know what kind of bridge you have, or what kind of strings you have
    used in the past, but if the bridge slot is not formed properly,
    a narrower string might "rattle" at certain frequencies, whereas
    a larger string would not. You should have something like this,
    looking at the bridge and string in cross-section:
    
      .-\o/-.
    
    not this:
    
      .-|o|-.
    
    Sorry for the crude pictures, but the point is, the sides of the
    slot should be tapered. This problem could also occur at the nut,
    although that seems less likely since you say it happens when the
    string is pressed at the first fret.
    
    I have occasionally seen buzzing of this nature in wound strings,
    which I theorize has something to do with an imperfect winding.
    That is, I believe the winding may actual not be in good contact
    with the core. I have never observed it before on unwound strings.
    
    - Ram

    A few questions:  First, I'm not real familiar with the Yamaha line,
    but I assume by the model name that it's a hollow-body electric
    ala Gibson ES (or am I on the wrong track?).  If so, could the ringing
    be some sort of "sympathy" electronic response caused by the acoustic
    qualities in the body?  Perhaps in combination with a vibration
    as described in .-1?
    
    Which leads me to the next questions: Does this happen regardless
    of volume level?  Does it happen when you play those frets
    acoustically, i.e., not amplified?
    
    And finally, is this a new guitar, i.e., is this the first set of
    strings you've tried on it?  If not, has this happened with other
    string sets?  Either way, could be you've got a couple of defective
    strings, or, as you suggested, this set is not ideal for this guitar.
    
    The only way I know to find that out is to try another set.  See
    what happens if you go to a different gauge.
    
    My curiosity is piqued -- please let us know what you find out.
    
    Good luck,
    steve
    

    The axe is an SE 250 (sorry about the mix-up).  I took it to Acton
    Music Center, and talked with Dan (nice guy, seemed to know what
    he was talking about).  He played it without even plugging in, and
    immediately said it was due to the 1st fret being too high.  He
    also noticed that the neck was slightly mis-aligned, so the truss
    rod could use an adjustment.  He said because of the fret being
    too high, the string would go off and play upper harmonics on top
    of the base note (or something like that, he talked fast).
    
    Anyway, I'm trying to find a Yamaha dealer around here, or get Yamaha
    to authorize Acton to fix it for free (since I bought it recently).
    The place I bought it is 450 miles away, so bringing it back would
    be out of my way.
    
    What do you think about Dan's diagnosis???
    
    Adam
    

    By the way, by the fret being "high", I mean that literally.  It
    needs to be sanded down a bit.
    

    That sounds like a reasonable diagnosis. As I mentioned earlier,
    this kind of problem might not be noticed with heavier gauge strings
    on, because they would ride higher in the notch on the nut. What
    appears to be happening, if he is correct, is that the string vibrates
    just close enough to the fret so that it doesn't buzz, but does
    create a harmonic, just as if you touched the string lightly with
    your finger at that position and played it. This harmonic "rings
    out" over the fundamental frequency produced by the string, which
    is still heard clearly.
    
    The solution to this may be to take the fret down a little, although
    it is also posible that the truss rod is a little too tight, and
    is therefore pulling the upper neck back a bit more than it should.
    I assume he looked at this.
    
    By the way, frets are generally filed down, not sanded. This is
    not a big deal, and I don't see any reason why Yamaha should object
    to having it done at Acton Music (although personally, I wouldn't
    have *anything* done at Acton Music - I won't even walk into the store
    because of the way the owner treated me once when I didn't go for a
    "hot deal" he offered me - but that doesn't necessarily mean they
    don't have a decent repair person).

    - Ram

    I would take it to Mcduff (sp?). I agree with .5 on Acton
    music. 

    I'm no expert, or maybe I'm just slow to catch on, but so far that
    explanation doesn't satisfy me. I mean, he may be right -- I don't have
    enough knowledge in this area to contest the prognosis -- but I don't
    see how the *first* fret's being too high would cause that harmonic
    response. 
    
    I assume that what he was getting at is what .5 said:
    
   > What appears to be happening, if he is correct, is that the string 
   > vibrates just close enough to the fret so that it doesn't buzz, but 
   > does create a harmonic, just as if you touched the string lightly
   > with your finger at that position and played it.
    
    I understand the concept. The problem I have with this explanation is
    that you said the ringing only happens when you press those strings *at
    the first fret*. If that fret is too high, what could it be vibrating
    against that would cause the harmonic?  This kind of explanation would
    make more sense (to me, anyway) if the first fret were too *low*, so
    the strings would be vibrating too close to the *second* fret. 
    OR if it were some other fret, such as the second, that's too high.
    
    Furthermore, if you're *pressing* the string down on the first fret,
    how could that fret be responsible for the harmonic? 
                                                        
    I know what you mean about remembering the details of an explanation
    that's presented in a hasty manner.  I learned long ago to force
    fast-talking types to either slow down, reiterate, or further explain
    what they've said.  Sometimes they realize for themselves that
    they've jumped to conclusions.  Or not.  %^)
    
    I can still believe, however, that *some* kind of harmonics are involved
    here.  And I'm still wondering about the characteristics of the guitar,
    i.e., is it hollow?  Does it make that sound *before* you plug it in?
    (You mentioned that the repair person didn't plug it in, but didn't say
    whether or not it made that sound.  If he didn't bother to reproduce
    the problem, that's all the more reason I'd want another evaluation,
    preferably someplace else.)
    
    steve
    

    	I've tried this method to find buzzing frets, and it may work
    for a fret causing harmonics. (You will know, because the buzzing
    of the paper will tell you)
    	Take a piece of *very* thin paper, slide it under the string
    at one of the high frets and play the string to recreate the noise.
    Carefully slide the paper towards the 1st fret slowly (keep the
    paper close on the frets). You may want to play the string each
    time the paper covers the next fret. (The string vibrates furthest
    on the attack) If you find a fret where the fret buzz (or in your
    case "Harmonic") goes away because the paper is now buzzing instead,
    then you may have found a high fret. A steel straightedge laid along
    the frets parallel to the offending string will quickly confirm
    that the fret is indeed higher than the others before it.
    	You could take it in for filing or if you are handy and have
    the right tools (a small flat, fine file) you can file it yourself.
    Always file frets in parallel with the string by laying the file
    on all frets and *gently* file a few strokes, check with straightedge,
    wipe with moist cloth, then play until buzz or harmonic is gone.
    					Tom Testagrossa
    p.s. Of course, a high fret might not be the problem, but if the
    bridge and string saddles are o.k. than it must be a high fret.
    

    Agree with .7 and .8 - I forgot you said originally that this problem
    only happens when the string is fretted at the first fret. If it
    happened when the string was open, then the first fret might be
    suspect. Otherwise, it is more likely the second fret that is too
    high (or, as suggested, the first fret could be too low), or some
    other fret further up the neck.
    
    Also, as I said before, I have frequently found this kind of problem
    to result from improper adjustment of the truss rod, rather than
    the frets being too high or too low. If the neck is bowed back a
    little too much the frets toward the middle of the neck will be "higher"
    than those at the ends. Depending on how the truss rod is designed
    the position on the neck where the problem first appears will be
    different. I have seen it very commonly that buzzing will start
    to occur at the first, second, third, or fourth frets before the
    others, and fixed this simply by backing off on the truss rod a
    touch. I would definitely check this out before starting to file
    the frets.
    
    - Ram

    Wow, I've got a lot of input from everyone - that's good.
    
    I would like to take your advice and go to McDuff's and have someone
    there take a look at it for a 2nd opinion.
    
    Where is this place???
    
    Adam
    

    
    MacDuff's Music is on Rt. 9, westbound side, in Shrewsbury, MA right
    after Spag's and right before Leiser Sound.
    
    Hours are roughly 10:30 to 7 during the week, they close at 5 on
    Saturdays.
    

    I took it to Kurland, and Sean adjusted the truss rod a bit.  He
    said the frets were OK.  When I got it home, the ringing was gone.
    
    Thanks for your input.
    
    Adam