Why the 'Tizzy' top E?

Heres one for the luthiers.
I went to see a pal last night and it came up in conversation that four of
our guitars, two Martin OM's and two Santa Cruz' (OM and 000-12fret) all
have a condition that I call a tizzy top E. In other words the top E string,
when played unfretted doesnt give a clean note but exhibits a 'tizzy' impure
note. I then called another couple of mates, one with a Martin M36 and the
other with a Cruz H, and again both experience the same annoying fault. I
suspect a problem with the nut, but only because the note always cleans up
as soon as the string is fretted in any position. Interestingly the note
also cleans up if the string is loosened and moved on the saddle a fraction
one way or the other and then re-tuned, but only temporarily, so that sort
of blows the nut theory out of the window.

Does anyone know what the problem is here, 'cos its driving me mad? Whatever
the cause it is clearly a common fault and I am surprised that companies of
the size and prestige of these two (and probably others) a/ cant sort it
once and for all, and b/ let their guitars go out on the market with such a
problem.
John Collyer


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Why the Tizzy top E?
    ... our guitars, two Martin OM's and two Santa Cruz' all ... note always cleans up as soon as the string is fretted in any position. ... Interestingly the note also cleans up if the string is loosened and moved ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic)
  • Re: Why the Tizzy top E?
    ... I then called another couple of mates, one with a Martin M36 and the other with a Cruz H, and again both experience the same annoying fault. ... I suspect a problem with the nut, but only because the note always cleans up as soon as the string is fretted in any position. ... Interestingly the note also cleans up if the string is loosened and moved on the saddle a fraction one way or the other and then re-tuned, but only temporarily, so that sort of blows the nut theory out of the window. ... Whatever the cause it is clearly a common fault and I am surprised that companies of the size and prestige of these two a/ cant sort it once and for all, and b/ let their guitars go out on the market with such a problem. ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic)
  • Re: Why the Tizzy top E?
    ... our guitars, two Martin OM's and two Santa Cruz' all ... Martin M36 and the other with a Cruz H, and again both experience the same ... note always cleans up as soon as the string is fretted in any position. ... so that sort of blows the nut theory out of the window. ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic)
  • Re: OPPS! Dont restring unless SOBER!
    ... when I decided to restring the Martin. ... Will I break the string if I just unwind it and wind it back up ... Should I ask my 14 year old to string my guitars for me in the future? ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic)
  • Re: So pros dont play custom guitars....
    ... Actually, I wasn't thinking about Heritage at all, but that's a good point. ... his "stock" guitars, or buy a Heritage. ... it be an 8 string hollowbody, a three neck 6/12/mandolin with MIDI pu's on ... Martin for twice the street price of a Martin? ...
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