Help with MM Lightning tail block

[fonsolo]

Hello there,



Since around a year and a half, I'm the proud owner of a MM Lightning resonator, which I love, and have been reading this forum regularly since. The guitar has develop lately a slight buzz which happens intermitently with the D note (second string third fret, open first string if tuned to open G, etc), kind of a sympathetic vibration.



The thing is, after trying to sort it out using the various methods discussed in this forum, and the buzz returning after a while each time, I decided to open the guitar to see if something was obiusly amiss. As soon as I unscrewed the tailpiece, I noticed something falling down inside the guitar. I thought it should be the tailblock, and sure enough, when I took a look inside the tailblock was completely loose. I managed to painfully realign the holes in the tailblock and guitar to screw the tailpiece again, so I had to carefully slide cone and coverplate under the tailpiece to reassemble the guitar...



So my question is, shouldn't the tailblock be fixed somehow to the guitar, or shimed?
Or is it OK like this?


Thanks in advance for your help,



Alfonso

[pete1951]

I have had quite a few modern resos apart and none have had the block glued in. When refixing I usually draw a cross on the block and Mark the centre (if the wood is dark) with a spot of Typex. Then you can see where you are when manoeuvring the block.

[fonsolo]

Hi pete1951, thanks for your prompt reply, I appreciate it. So the correct order for reassembly is tailpiece, then cone and then coverplate, right? It just doesn't seem very convenient... almost counterintuitive.

Thanks again,

Alfonso

[pete1951]

Yes, it's awkward, a spot of glue could be applied. Sometimes it nice to have the tail piece loose when putting on the cover plate. Then the block can go round and round with the tail screw if your not careful.
PT

[Michael Messer]

Hi Fonsolo,

Pete has advised you correctly about re-fitting the tail block. I usually glue them when I'm inside one.

I don't think that was causing your D note buzz. It just came out when the strap button screw was removed. The buzz was probably nothing serious and dismantling and reassembling the guitar has probably sorted it out.

If you have any more problems, please let me know.

Shine On
Michael

[fonsolo]

Thanks Pete and Michael, for your reassuring words. I realize it was probably overkill to open the guitar for an admittedly minor buzz, but having it come back after the "wiggle-the-cone" trick, and a little piece of chamois leather (for lack of felt) under the tailpiece, really set my OCD off and I just had to check that everything was in place! The worst part is that it comes and goes, so it’s quite difficult to troubleshoot.

Michael, I hope you are right and it’s gone for good. If it’s not, I’ll let you know. Congratulations for such lovely instruments.

Alfonso

[Michael Messer]

Hi fonsolo,

Thank you for your kind words.

There really should not be any need for leather or chamois gasket under the tailpiece. The best tone comes when there are no gaskets to stop vibrations between components.

All resonator guitars occasionally get buzzes & rattles. They can come from many parts of the guitar, they are usually nothing serious and often just go away other own.

Hopefully it's gone now!

Best wishes
Michael

[bonzo]

Hi fonsolo, welcome to the forum.
Sometimes I find retuning up a little and then back down to the tuning you use does the trick. Also a really stern look and placement in a corner overnight can have surprising results!

Best wishes to you all, John

[fonsolo]

Thanks bonzo, if the pesky buzz comes back I might just try your "stern look" technique... So far, so good. As for the gasket, yes Michael, I left it out upon reassembly, as the tailpiece was obviously not the source of the problem.

Thank you all,

Alfonso