Weissenborn issue

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

Moderators: kiwigeo, Jeremy D

Post Reply
KLW
Kauri
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:29 am
Location: Wet Coast Canada

Weissenborn issue

Post by KLW » Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:05 am

A year or so ago I build a Weissenborn for a friend. He has been happy with it and learning to play it (he is an accomplished fingerstyle player) recently he chnaged tunings on it. He had been playing in various C & G tunings but has now changed to Open D (major) tuning.

The problem is the low D string sounds good when played open but as you move up the fretboard it gets dead. The effect is worse the farther up the fretboard you go. All other strings sound good.. it was originally a 0.060 string.. I have dropped it to a 0.053 which has made a slight improvement..

I've checked all the usual suspects..

This is the only Weissenborn I've built..

Any ideals?????????

Thanks

Kerry
KLW Strings Luthier Blog...
http://klwstrings.blogspot.ca/

User avatar
ozziebluesman
Blackwood
Posts: 1529
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:12 am
Location: Townsville
Contact:

Re: Weissenborn issue

Post by ozziebluesman » Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:21 pm

G'day Kerry,
Have you changed the strings.
If you haven't as you have put more tension on the string it a dull part of the string is sitting in the nut and will cause a dull tone.
If you have changed strings check for residue in the nut slot.
Just my two bob worth.
Cheers
Al
"Play to express, not to impress"

Alan Hamley

http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/

KLW
Kauri
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:29 am
Location: Wet Coast Canada

Re: Weissenborn issue

Post by KLW » Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:51 am

Yep new strings....

Lighter sets for open C or G work fine.. Open D the low D sucks...

Kerry
KLW Strings Luthier Blog...
http://klwstrings.blogspot.ca/

KLW
Kauri
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:29 am
Location: Wet Coast Canada

Re: Weissenborn issue

Post by KLW » Thu Dec 20, 2018 1:49 pm

So this issue is solved.. Here is what the problem was. The saddle was rounded with a slope to the bridge pins but the heavier guage string on the D could not conform to this curve so there was a space between the string and the front of the saddle as the player moved the slide toward the saddle the vibrating string would start to hit the front of the saddle and lose energy & tone.. Properly ramping the saddle so the string contacted the front of the saddle solved this issue and the owner and I are both happy!

Thanks everyone for the help

Kerry
KLW Strings Luthier Blog...
http://klwstrings.blogspot.ca/

User avatar
Mark McLean
Blackwood
Posts: 1084
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Weissenborn issue

Post by Mark McLean » Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:21 am

Thanks for telling us about the solution. Makes sense when you go through it, but I bet you puzzled over that for a while before the penny dropped! I will add that to the memory bank.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google and 98 guests