Fixing That Annoying Floyd Rose Sitar Sound

If you've spent enough time with Floyd Rose-equipped guitars, you've probably experienced a weird sitar-like tinny sound at some point. The good news is that it's often caused by something simple.

Let's break down what might be causing that Floyd Rose sitar sound and how you can troubleshoot it effectively.

Common Causes of Sitar-Like Sounds

Before diving into more obscure fixes, it's essential to rule out the usual suspects:

Bridge Height: One of the main culprits could be that your bridge is too low. If the action is too low, especially on a Floyd Rose, your strings might buzz against the frets, causing that tinny, vibrating sound. Adjusting the height of your bridge can quickly solve this problem​.

Pickups Too High: Another issue could be pickup height.

If your pickups are set too high, they can create a magnetic pull on the strings, disrupting their vibration and causing unusual sounds. Lower the pickups slightly to see if that alleviates the problem.

I'll say this: I've seen the strangest behavior from strings on an electric guitar when the pickups are too high. That magnetic pull has created some bizarre sounds.

Don't underestimate this solution for more than just this particular problem.

Check the Neck: It's also possible that the neck has developed a back bow, causing certain frets to buzz or produce odd sounds. Ensure the truss rod is correctly adjusted to maintain proper neck relief.

Fret Issue: Another common source of strange sounds with guitars, in general, is when you have a high fret or a high spot on a fret. Eliminating that is crucial before moving on to other possibilities. That goes for any issue where a string is impeded, resulting in a less-than-desirable sound.

The Less Obvious Fix: String Contact with the Locking Nut

If you've ruled out bridge height, pickup positioning, neck relief, and general fret issues, one often overlooked cause of the sitar-like sound could be how the string sits in the locking nut.

If the string is not resting correctly in the nut slot, it can vibrate unevenly and create that unwanted noise.

The locking nut on a Floyd Rose guitar is designed to hold the strings tightly in place, but over time or due to slight imperfections, the string might not sit flush in the nut groove. If the string bounces around in the nut slot or the contact points between the string and nut are uneven, it can produce a buzzing or sitar-like sound.

Ensuring that the string sits perfectly flush in the groove is key to eliminating this issue.

Steps To Fix That Sitar Sound

Understring Fret Dressing Files: Yes, you read that correctly. Understring Fret Dressing Files, sold by StewMac, are the perfect tool for this fix.

They come in three different degrees, 10, 20, and 30, with a 300-grit diamond abrasive. You can use these files to remove the least amount of material or slightly reshape the slot in the hardened steel locking nut so the string sits properly.

Now, this isn't something I discovered by any means. I've read that many guitar techs have used these files, intended for dressing frets without removing the strings, to work on nut slots.

They're a versatile tool, for sure.

What if I Don't Have Understring Fret Dressing Files? If you don't have access to nut files, an alternative is to use a razor blade wrapped in sandpaper. This method works similarly to fret-dressing files, allowing you to gently shape the slot so the string doesn't bounce, which can cause a vibration that leads to that thin sound. Ensure you go slow and remove just enough material to eliminate the bounce while keeping the string supported correctly in the nut.

Check for String Wear on the Locking Nut: Sometimes, wear and tear on the string or dirt buildup can prevent it from sitting properly in the nut. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the nut slot and changing strings, can help prevent this issue.

Also, ensure that if you have a string retaining bar behind the nut, it's doing its job, and ensure the string isn't coming off the surface of the nut before exiting towards the tuning pegs. We also covered that in our Five Must-Know Tips for Setting Up A Floyd Rose.

The Final Word

The sitar-like sound from a Floyd Rose setup is arguably one of the most frustrating for guitarists because it's not always super obvious what's causing it. Ironically, this particular problem usually results from something simple to correct.

Check the easy stuff first, like your bridge height, pickup placement, and neck relief.

It's also a good idea to ensure you don't need to shim that locking nut if it's sitting too low on the headstock and nut shelf. If those areas are fine, inspect how the strings sit in the locking nut. Whether using specialized tools like nut files or improvising with sandpaper, small adjustments to the nut can make a huge difference in solving this problem.

As with all guitar setups, precision is key. Take time, make slight adjustments over big ones, and ensure the string sits flush in the nut to achieve the best possible playability.

With these tips, you can kiss that annoying sitar sound goodbye on that Floyd Rose-equipped guitar.