Epi Les Paul, "Tsst" Noise

darthed1981

Hi All,

Hopefully this is a setup issue.  On my Epi LP Custom Pro, at the higher frets the strings have developed a sort of harmonic "Tsst" noise when pushed down, like a teeeny tiny snare drum.  

Doesn't really pick up the amp but it feels weird, and I'd like to fix it.

The action is (if anything) a bit high and I cant see the strings fouling anywhere.  The one thing I did notice is that the angle between the bridge and tailpiece is very sharp, would raising the tailpiece help?

Any ideas welcome.  Thanks

Edit:  I've already changed strings, and oiled the fret board.  Frets are smooth with no wear.

Legionreturns

Could it be a lumpy fret? 

darthed1981

Legionreturns said:

Could it be a lumpy fret? 

If there is I couldnt find it!

olafgarten

It might sound a bit stupid but could it be something on the Headstock, I had a weird problem where the battery inside my clip on tuner was creating weird harmonics. 

darthed1981

olafgarten said:

It might sound a bit stupid but could it be something on the Headstock, I had a weird problem where the battery inside my clip on tuner was creating weird harmonics. 

I don't think so but I will check what is going on around the headstock, thanks.

sweepy

Pickup heights ? More likely is the classic LP "hump" see if you can find a small straight edge, I'd bet it's about the 15th fret that you'll find a proud fret

ESBlonde

I was watching a youtoob vid the other day and some American guitar fixer dood was saying about fixing his mates guitar and there was a buzz up the fingerboard on some strings. Further investication revealed they were coated strings and the 'G' had tassels of coating hanging off near where the fret wear had gone through. He was not a fan so this validated his dislike of the strings, but a used plain string was swappen in and the problem went away! Can't remember who it was or what the title was can't provide a reference, it just might be a consideration for the OP.

thermionic

I think I've experienced some sympathetic vibrations on the saddles/adjusting screws of cheap tuneomatic bridges of various Epis in the past. Try seeing if a finger pressed on each bridge saddle in turn makes it go away.

Funkfingers

darthed1981 said:

Legionreturns said:

Could it be a lumpy fret? 

If there is I couldnt find it!

What test(s) did you perform to identify high/low frets? 

darthed1981 said:

The angle between the bridge and tailpiece is very sharp, would raising the tailpiece help?

The length of string between the saddle and the tailpiece should clear the edge of the bridge assembly.

*

The condition of the bridge saddles could contribute to the problem. Did you make your own string slots or were the saddles pre-slotted from new?

darthed1981

Funkfingers said:

darthed1981 said:

Legionreturns said:

Could it be a lumpy fret? 

If there is I couldnt find it!

What test(s) did you perform to identify high/low frets? 

darthed1981 said:

The angle between the bridge and tailpiece is very sharp, would raising the tailpiece help?

The length of string between the saddle and the tailpiece should clear the edge of the bridge assembly.

*

The condition of the bridge saddles could contribute to the problem. Did you make your own string slots or were the saddles pre-slotted from new?

Nothing scientific on the former, just ran my fingers over it when i took the strings off looking for bumps or notches.

I have not checked the second one and that sounds possible, will check that later.  The guitar is less than a year old so everything is unmodified from new.

I normally try to only buy the guitar I'm actually buying, and this is the one time I didn't (as the one in the shop was faulty) and I get "tsst tsst".

PhibTreMor

Did you find out what it was? (Hope so)  Was it the saddle screws by any chance?

darthed1981

PhibTreMor said:

Did you find out what it was? (Hope so)  Was it the saddle screws by any chance?

Yes a general tightening up and adjustment sorted it out.

Nunogilberto

It’s trying to get your attention and whisper something to you