PRS HB Bzzzzz... I need a reality check

[anode]

Hello all-

I bought a PRS HB Spruce with piezo new about 5 months ago. I use it a lot unplugged late at night when everyone else is asleep. However, it buzzes in a way that is driving me to distraction. When I first got it, I thought it was just fret buzz, but I keep the action pretty high for my style and the buzzing seems to be coming from the bridge. It also only occurs at certain frequencies and on different strings, when plucked hard or soft. This is one of those little things that once you notice it, it becomes really annoying. So, today I decided to get rid of the buzz once and for all. I capo'ed it on a note that caused it to buzz and (this is the weird part) the buzzing seems to be dependent on how I hold the guitar.

I was wondering if it may be the piezo elements in the bridge that are buzzing but that wouldn't seem to be so sensitive to position. With the piezo, there's all sorts of ribbon cables and stuff in there, so now I'm wondering if something on the piezo assembly could be vibrating at certain frequencies.

Anyone have similar buzzing problems with a PRS HB with the piezo option? I'm looking for ideas before considering taking things apart.

TIA

[JMintzer]

It's probably the pup selector toggle switch. Stick your finger in the treble side f-hole (wipe that smirk off of your face! ;)), and push on the toggle switch when it's buzzing. I'll bet it stops. You can push on that switch and bent it a bit to tighten it up and the buzzing usually goes away.

Jamie

[anode]

It's probably the pup selector toggle switch. Stick your finger in the treble side f-hole (wipe that smirk off of your face! ;)), and push on the toggle switch when it's buzzing. I'll bet it stops. You can push on that switch and bent it a bit to tighten it up and the buzzing usually goes away.

Jamie

Jamie-

Thanks for the suggestion... I tried pushing on the PUP switch knob in all directions and sometimes it muted the buzzing and sometimes it got a little worse. Reaching in and holding the contacts didn't seem to make much difference. So, I tied a piece of string (dental floss, actually) to the switch, removed the nut and pushed the switch inside the body, effectively decoupling it from the top. Stull buzzing, so it's not just the PUP switch. Pushing on the volume and tone knobs also mutes the buzz, so it would seem that there's something else in there that's resonating.

Well, at least now the switch is minty fresh.

[LeifK]

I have a HB2 and my tech just pointed out a slight buzz caused by the way the pickups are mounted. He said to just replace the springs with a rubber surgical tubing and that should mute the buzzing. I haven't tried it because it doesn't bother me but you might want to check that out.

While it's buzzing, try putting a little pressure on the pickup or pickup mounting ring and see if that stops the buzzing.

Let me know if that helps.



Leif

[JeffFlowerday]

Hello all-

I bought a PRS HB Spruce with piezo new about 5 months ago. I use it a lot unplugged late at night when everyone else is asleep. However, it buzzes in a way that is driving me to distraction. When I first got it, I thought it was just fret buzz, but I keep the action pretty high for my style and the buzzing seems to be coming from the bridge. It also only occurs at certain frequencies and on different strings, when plucked hard or soft. This is one of those little things that once you notice it, it becomes really annoying. So, today I decided to get rid of the buzz once and for all. I capo'ed it on a note that caused it to buzz and (this is the weird part) the buzzing seems to be dependent on how I hold the guitar.

I was wondering if it may be the piezo elements in the bridge that are buzzing but that wouldn't seem to be so sensitive to position. With the piezo, there's all sorts of ribbon cables and stuff in there, so now I'm wondering if something on the piezo assembly could be vibrating at certain frequencies.

Anyone have similar buzzing problems with a PRS HB with the piezo option? I'm looking for ideas before considering taking things apart.

TIA
Had the same problem with my Archtop piezo. It turned out to be a couple individual saddles in the piezo that rattled even with the tension of the strings on them. My tech installed some brass shims between the suspect saddles and body of the bridge and the rattle went away.

Hope this helps...

[anode]

I have a HB2 and my tech just pointed out a slight buzz caused by the way the pickups are mounted. He said to just replace the springs with a rubber surgical tubing and that should mute the buzzing. I haven't tried it because it doesn't bother me but you might want to check that out.

While it's buzzing, try putting a little pressure on the pickup or pickup mounting ring and see if that stops the buzzing.

Let me know if that helps.



Leif


Problem solved!! :D

Leif-

You were correct-- it apparently was the pickups and/or springs that were vibrating. After reading your post, I tried wedging a piece of card stock between the pickups and the mounting ring and the buzzing was dramatically reduced. So, I took the pickups out and slipped a piece of tygon tubing (clear rubber-like tubing) over the springs and remounted the pickups. The buzz is gone! Huzzah!

I know it sounds trivial, but this was really bugging me. Thanks to all who responded to my initial post.

[LeifK]

Problem solved!! :D

Leif-

You were correct-- it apparently was the pickups and/or springs that were vibrating. After reading your post, I tried wedging a piece of card stock between the pickups and the mounting ring and the buzzing was dramatically reduced. So, I took the pickups out and slipped a piece of tygon tubing (clear rubber-like tubing) over the springs and remounted the pickups. The buzz is gone! Huzzah!

I know it sounds trivial, but this was really bugging me. Thanks to all who responded to my initial post.
Thats Great! I'm glad it worked out. I'll probably do the same neck time I switch strings.