(Mando) Can someone help me diagnose this?
EDIT: Fixed
(I know I'm unlikely to find another mandolin player or a stringed instrument technician here, but I figured, heck, let's see if I get lucky!)
So my bottom E string seems to be playing consistently one semitone low. It's had fret buzz for a while, but recently it made a pop noise and now it sounds as shown in the video above. I can't see any obvious issues with the string, nut or frets, but something is certainly wrong.
I'd like to start by replacing the strings, but the fact that it plays consistently one semitone off made me think it's more likely a fret issue.
Any thoughts?
Might turn out to be relevant: this is a super old mandolin without a truss rod
EDIT: Fixed
View original on lemmy.world
Just a guitar guy, but...
The fret buzz could be a number of things, but high fret or low nut most likely. Wouldn't affect the tune of the string though.
Unless there's visual damage, the pop was likely just the string moving after some binding at the saddle or tuner let go.
Since the string is consistently off, can't you just tune it up to pitch and call it a day?
Some graphite or other lube on the nut slot really helps ease any binding.
Well, you're not gonna believe this, but somehow, tuning it up a semitone worked! I expected I would then have all frets playing correctly but the open string being a semitone high, but no. Somehow it settled back into place and went from an F to an E. I still don't know exactly what caused it, but I know I was way overthinking this. Thank you!