Guitar string sounds like a sitar

[Pieman]

I bought a new Martin M-36 in December from Dave’s Milwaukee. . Discontinued and heavily discounted.  Never had such a nice acoustic. The guitar was built in 2024.

Last night the wound G sounded like a sitar. That string only. Same thing today.

Dave’s says it could be a truss rod or humidity problem.  It’s been damn cold in the Midwest.  He said I should buy a d’addario humidity pack. That sounds goofy.

YouTube /internet searches say it could be a nut problem not cut accurately maybe too wide. I tried the pencil in the slot trick but that didn’t solve it.

I don’t want to send it back - cold, cost and shipping cost or problems.

Why did this arise now?  It hasn’t sat out. It’s been in the case when not played.

i registered this with Martin.  Should I call  Martin? I could take it to my local guitar repair guy.  

Your thoughts on this problem? Solutions? I hate shelling out money to have somebody local look at it, especially if he hadn’t dealt with this before. 
 

thanks

 

 

 

 

[Dave Scepter]

Could be The Nut or bridge... have you checked neck relief?.. does it do it open string and/or every fret or?

[RobB]

40 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

Could be The Nut or bridge... have you checked neck relief?.. does it do it open string and/or every fret or?

This. Sounds like the neck has contracted with the cold. It’s not a big deal. Check the relief and adjust the truss rod if needed. 

[Jimbilly]

how low is the action?  how's the neck relief? Since it's nearly new and this is a new problem, less likely the nut or bridge, more likely a truss rod adjust issue.

I live a somewhat humid area, but I understand that in very dry areas the humidity packs, or something to keep the guitar from drying out too much, can be necessary to prevent damage.

It could possibly be a bad string, I had a DR once where the winding was not tight from new, sounded dead/buzzy.

[G Man]

Any good solid-wood acoustic needs to have some sort of humidification in the winter months, without it, expect cracks, lifting bridge and truss rod adjustments seasonally, although the latter is a given regardless.  I'm going with truss rod adjustment in this case, and get over goofy, humidify your guitar.

[Pieman]

Thank you all for your input.  Only the wound G is affected.  The sitar effect goes up to the 14th fret. The action is low. Ebony neck, rosewood bridge. Martin has been making this model for 30+ years.

This particular guitar may have hung on the wall at Dave’s for 14 months before I bought it. I was told the Milwaukee shop does not have a lot of storage. Prior to shipping, it was restrung with Martin strings and set up. It was shipped in cold weather in December. Cold but not much  below freezing, not like 5-10 degree temperatures in the past week. There was no issue for five weeks.

I have lived in this old house for 35 years. During that time, which should be a pretty sample, I have known periods much colder than now, including minus ten and 100 plus. During that time, neither of my two other acoustics have suffered cracks, lifting bridges, etc., nor have they sounded like “Norwegian Wood.”  They have been in the basement and the attic.

Other than that, it’s a wonderful guitar. Disappointing for now, for sure, especially for a new $3200 Martin.  D’Addario humidifier packets are arriving today. We’ll see.

Thanks again.  I might call the Martin folks today. I’ll let you know what they say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave Scepter]

You still haven't mentioned anything about neck relief... Do yourself a favor and turn the truss rod 1/4 turn counter clockwise... wait a few minutes and see if that helps... repeat if necessary.

[Dutchman]

Look at your top. When a Acoustic drys out in the winter the top starts to shrink into the guitar. Time for humidity!!! The key was it happened after 5 weeks just enough time to draw the top down. Put a straight edge on it. See if it's sucked in. If it is the damp bathroom towel and guitar in a black garbage bag usually cures it. Not a wet towel a barely damp Towel and it cannot be touching the guitar. Or take it to a luthier and they'll probly due the same thing! I call it intensive guitar care!