A little buzz on the New 25th, suggestions?

[DaddyFlip]

String buzz, front-loaded output jacks, what's next.

1. I'm disappointed in the flawless gloss finish on my bass because it shows fingerprints. How do I prevent this? Can I get a refund?
2. I purchased my first bass (Bongo) almost four months ago and I still don't sound like my favorite immortal bass player. What am I doing wrong? Can I get a refund?
3. I'm having trouble keeping the low B from ringing out when I'm playing the other strings. Can this be adjusted so it doesn't do this? Can I get a replacement 4-string ebony SLO neck to eliminate the B-string? Can I get a refund?

 

[the unrepentant]

I really, really hate these kinds of threads.

But don't mind me! If I deleted/closed all the "I want strangers to solve a problem they cannot see or hear and which may in fact only exist due to my technique", it would be a very empty forum.

The only thing I'll say is this. You're getting advice that is worth every cent you've paid for it. The fact is that if you don't understand how a truss rod adjustment and bridge height variation affects your instrument - and how to make these minor adjustments yourself - you're doing yourself a disservice.

String buzz, front-loaded output jacks, what's next.

There's only one way to learn, Jack This forum is a fountain of information in that respect.

 

[Manfloozy]

I really, really hate these kinds of threads.

But don't mind me! If I deleted/closed all the "I want strangers to solve a problem they cannot see or hear and which may in fact only exist due to my technique", it would be a very empty forum.

The only thing I'll say is this. You're getting advice that is worth every cent you've paid for it. The fact is that if you don't understand how a truss rod adjustment and bridge height variation affects your instrument - and how to make these minor adjustments yourself - you're doing yourself a disservice.

String buzz, front-loaded output jacks, what's next.

I personally advocate the "professional setup" ... I don't know what the heck I'm doing, so I don't do it.

I sure don't want someone dissappointed with their brand spankin' new bass... thinking there is something wrong with it... when it is most likely something that can easily be corrected via setup (or technique). I personally JUST went through this last week... on a BFR neck! Fretbuzz on a BFR neck? Surely not. I didn't blame the instrument.. but still wanted my happy noiseless setup back, and got it. And I am as happy as a Possum eatin' briars through a chicken wire fence.... again.

I think the eagerness of knuckleheads to respond is because we don't want Coastie dissappointed in one of the finest instruments to ever be created, and want him to get back to eatin' briars and makin' music!

But I do understand Jack's point and frustration... NetAdvice isn't always the BestAdvice ... by all means... seek professional help... there are guys who can work wonders on these things.... personally mine left home and came back all buttered up again.... super super buttery, no noise... just butter. My MusicMan's don't require any more upkeep than any others in the past and actually can achieve noiseless setups with insanely low action.... where other basses I've played NEVER could be setup right. They do settle, like any other wood, especially when they are new... but that is to be expected... and normal... and part of life. But give her the attention she deserves when needed and it will be repaid back 10-fold in playability, tone and service.

These things are made out of wood after all... a once living entity... not metal, not fiberglass, but a living tree. I'm sure Babe Ruth oiled his bats now and then too.

I fear I have ranted... please forgive.

 

[five7]

1. I'm disappointed in the flawless gloss finish on my bass because it shows fingerprints. How do I prevent this? Can I get a refund?
2. I purchased my first bass (Bongo) almost four months ago and I still don't sound like my favorite immortal bass player. What am I doing wrong? Can I get a refund?
3. I'm having trouble keeping the low B from ringing out when I'm playing the other strings. Can this be adjusted so it doesn't do this? Can I get a replacement 4-string ebony SLO neck to eliminate the B-string? Can I get a refund?

1: leave it in the case, don't touch it.
2: see #1, play immortal bass player thru stereo
3: remove B string and see #1

 

[bovinehost]

There's only one way to learn, Jack This forum is a fountain of information in that respect.

I understand what happens here, I really do.

But - not talking about this thread in particular, but these KINDS of threads in general - you first get a title. Usually something like "PROBLEM WITH BONGO" or "MY STINGRAY BROKEN" and that is searchable by the intertube engines. See an issue? The boss does. And maybe "PROBLEM WITH BONGO" is late delivery by UPS, and "MY STINGRAY BROKEN" turns out to be a two year old dead battery.

Anyway, it's just one of my little pet peeves, diagnosing a problem you can't see or hear and maybe the guy on the other end knows what the truss rod does and maybe he doesn't.

Carry on, I'm just cranky.

Jack

 

[the unrepentant]

nah i totally understand, it must get a bit monotonous considering you visit these forums a lot more than me, but some people that maybe aren't totally internet savvy and don't use forums much probably don't think about doing a search or whatever (i don't mean the OP particularly).

I think generally though, the best idea is to take it to someone who knows what they're doing, have them set it up and get them to talk you through it so you can do it next time. It's amazing what can be done with a good setup.

 

[DaddyFlip]

1: leave it in the case, don't touch it.
2: see #1, play immortal bass player thru stereo
3: remove B string and see #1

See, free advice can be more valuable than it cost. Thanks five-seven!

coastie- you can beat this; either keep trying or take it to the dealer. Someone will eventually make it right. I have a BFR necked 25th coming and am anxious to see how that turns out.

 

[five7]

See, free advice can be more valuable than it cost. Thanks five-seven!

coastie- you can beat this; either keep trying or take it to the dealer. Someone will eventually make it right. I have a BFR necked 25th coming and am anxious to see how that turns out.

No problem! Just trying to help. I'm in a wierd mood after my gig got canceled tonight. I could of said #4: send the bass to me for a refund.

 

[coastie72]

First of all coastie72, like everyone said glad your health is ok and you are doing well.

As for your bass, you've said this is your first EBMM and "someone" warned you about these basses needing frequent adjustment, I disagree, they might need one adjustment every year if someone is really picky. Any bass, no matter what brand will suffer from temperature drastic changes.

But I've read in your first post that this buzz is barely noticable when played through an amp. I think this is where you are going to focus on, playing the bass as it is intended through an amp with your band or in a studio session.

Have you played it with your band or live and noted the buzz actually coming through the speakers?

You see: most basses buzz specially when set with the notorious low action that EBMM instruments are famous for.

It's not a defect, it's a characteristic of the roundwound strings as opposed to flatwound. How hard, do you pluck or play with the pick is the cause for the buzz.

My bongo buzzes more in the summer than in the winter, I put it down to the way in which different temperature affects the neck, but I've played it live and on rehersals and never actually noticed it over the 2 guitar players in my band. The StingRay 5 instead, seems to be more stable to temperature shifts, maybe because its a whole maple neck/fingerboard but it doesn't change as much as the Bongo does. I love it anyway and I leave it as it is because: a) I am too lazy to adjust it and B) it's not that noticable once you play with your chums!

If you play the instrument unplugged or even plugged and you are on your own you are likely to notice the buzz more but in a live or studio situation, unless things are really bad, you don't need to dig so hard into your playing as the amp will do the job of providing the volume necessary to prevail over the drums, the guitars, they keys, the horn section etc etc.

Your local dealer should be more than happy to have it set up for you, under the warranty coverage, and that would be my first port of call if the buzz is that bad.

Cheers and good luck.

This is the best advice and comment, although I appreciate them all. You are right, my other basses have some buzz not amplified. I think what kind of messed with my mind on this is the fact that the day I brought it home, I played around with it a couple of hours, in amazement I might add, of how great it played, the action and no fret buzz.
You can't hear it amplified and for now I am satisfied with where I have it. The action is a tad higher than it was, but still great. After a few weeks I might tweak it again, but then after reading this post maybe not. I won't take it to my local EBMM dealer because I didn't buy it there. I may take it to the dealer I purchased it from in a few weeks. It is about 100 miles away.
In my 59 years I have never needed to have anyone set up a bass for me, I've always been successful doing it myself, but on this one I might give that a shot. It is by far the finest instrument I have ever owned.
Thanks for all the suggestions to all I appreciate them, and Mr. Moderator I did not mean to start a thread that was not to your liking. I was just looking for info from veteran EBMM folks and I got it.

 

[bovinehost]

Mr. Moderator I did not mean to start a thread that was not to your liking. I was just looking for info from veteran EBMM folks and I got it.

No, listen, it isn't about me. It never should be, never will be if I have a choice in it. I completely understand your concern. You're looking for information, and you got a lot of it!

Don't worry about me! My concern is always going to be that you're happy with the instrument. Beyond that, it's all peripheral.

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

Coastie Jack is taking a bullet for all of us here at the company. There are a few basic levels of fans

1. players with passion for our stuff that have no understanding of set ups
2. Players with passion for our stuff that have enough understanding of set ups to be dangerous
3.Players with passion for our stuff that screw up set up so they create the urban internet legend that our stuff needs more set ups.
4 Players that have a passion for our stuff and are expert at set up.

All but number 4 will give advice on solving a problem and trying to help you. Ive said it before...if you had something wrong with you physically would you seek other 59 year old virtual strangers for advice and solutions? You would go to a doctor.

That brings me to the next section

There are people who call themselves techs. When I was growing up they were guitar repairmen.
Of these techs there is no accreditation. All you have to do is annoint yourself with the title...no internet classes and no matchbook degrees. You can all be techs...just call yourself one.
Please this sounds as Im slaggin real legitimate techs....Im not I think that the self appointed future butchers of guitars make life miserable for the qualified techs.

We have a dealer network to serve you. Please use it. If it played perfectly when you got it there is very little that can go wrong other that making a series of changes without a basic understanding of how it works.

From my standpoint I have a very long thread on a bass that Im very proud of that people now think that it could require more maintenance and be prone to buzz....

I either have to shut down the dealer network or not allow threads that are really pointless


rmrmber would you go to a random internet doctor and take his or her advice without them seeing you and asking you to cough.

Coastie Im so happy for you and not upset with you I am very happy that you love our stuff just clearing up some details and offering an alternate perspective

 

[Hellboy]

Coastie Jack is taking a bullet for all of us here at the company. There are a few basic levels of fans

1. players with passion for our stuff that have no understanding of set ups
2. Players with passion for our stuff that have enough understanding of set ups to be dangerous
3.Players with passion for our stuff that screw up set up so they create the urban internet legend that our stuff needs more set ups.
4 Players that have a passion for our stuff and are expert at set up.

All but number 4 will give advice on solving a problem and trying to help you. Ive said it before...if you had something wrong with you physically would you seek other 59 year old virtual strangers for advice and solutions? You would go to a doctor.

That brings me to the next section

There are people who call themselves techs. When I was growing up they were guitar repairmen.
Of these techs there is no accreditation. All you have to do is annoint yourself with the title...no internet classes and no matchbook degrees. You can all be techs...just call yourself one.
Please this sounds as Im slaggin real legitimate techs....Im not I think that the self appointed future butchers of guitars make life miserable for the qualified techs.

We have a dealer network to serve you. Please use it. If it played perfectly when you got it there is very little that can go wrong other that making a series of changes without a basic understanding of how it works.

From my standpoint I have a very long thread on a bass that Im very proud of that people now think that it could require more maintenance and be prone to buzz....

I either have to shut down the dealer network or not allow threads that are really pointless

rmrmber would you go to a random internet doctor and take his or her advice without them seeing you and asking you to cough.

Coastie Im so happy for you and not upset with you I am very happy that you love our stuff just clearing up some details and offering an alternate perspective

Hope that I don´t misunderstand things here now and if so, sorry. But I don´t agree with whats being said here. If you ship a bass (any bass) from sunny California to snowy Sweden, then the bass needs some tweeking. If I take a bass from Stockholm (+ 9 degrees damp and rain right now) to northern Sweden (- 8, snow and low humidity) then I most often need to adjust it alittle. It´s a part of the routine. Most likely the same thing with California and South Carolina I bet. A bass is made of wood and it´s a organic material. It reacts to the weather conditions. And the frets are made of metal and they react to temperature changes too. If I have my bass (any one of them) here in Stockholm for a full year, then I need to adjust the neck alittle in late spring and alittle in late fall/winter. Do I have the time to take it to a luthier or a store each time? No. Not even necessary since it´s actually a very easy thing to do if one knows how to. There are tools that comes with the instrument when you buy it. Acuire the knollage and use the tools on your instrument. Setup is not a hard thing to do. And I wouldn´t compare doing setup on your instrument with going to a hospital. You don´t call your doctor when the only thing needed is a band aid.

I´ve worked at music stores myself and some of the lads that I´ve worked with have had absolutely no knollage what so ever when it comes to fixing instruments. Often young players themselfs with no training and they are not per definition very good just because they get paid for selling musical equipments. I would never let some of the guys I´ve worked with touch my instruments. Some of them have been splendid thou but I rather do it myself. And it saves me time. And it´s good fun too. Bonding time with my basses. I get to know them and their personality. Everyone is different too and reacts differently. Love those moments actually. Focusing on small minor adjustments and let everything else go. It´s therapy for me. The important thing is to acuire the knollage, the know-how, and there are several ways to do this when it comes to minor things like truss rod tweeking, string height adjustments, cleaning fretboards and that sort of things. Internet is a splendid source of information.

One suggestion: Would perhaps be a good thing to create a sticky here on the forum with valid info and tips regarding these kind of things. Adjustments, cleaning fretboards e.t.c. I´ve read somewhere that there might be a "Frequently asked questions" sticky somewhere that might have info regarding this but I can´t find it. Don´t know if it exist. If not, perhaps ask the tech folks at Earne Ball or even forumites for some input and gather the good stuff in a sticky on the forum? Only a suggestion.

Now to the thing that I feel might be the main concern for the company.

* Thread titles. Don´t name a thread "My Stingray is broken" when the only thing is that it needs minor adjustments. It´s not broken. It has reacted to climate and that is perfectly normal since it´s made by organic materials. This was not the case at all with this thread. Great thread title I´d say and good valid suggestions provided I´d say.

To sum things up, I think that a tech sticky would be a good way to give out proper knollage and information and to take some load off Customer Service. Hipshot, for instance, has made some rather short videos to explain how to replace a tuner.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krL94H-wwDw"]YouTube- Installing the Hipshot Products Bass Xtender[/ame]

Perhaps something similar could work here to give advice for minor tech stuff/adjustments and to take some load off Customer Service? Good advertising value too for EBMM if you put them up on YouTube perhaps? The EBMM tech school? Only a suggestion.

And, again, sorry if I´ve missunderstood things. I´m from Sweden.

Sincerely//Jan

 

[DaddyFlip]

And, again, sorry if I´ve missunderstood things. I´m from Sweden.

"Ya, from Sveden." (Trading Places- 1983)

I quote this because the time is important. Trading Places was the very first movie my family owned. My uncle gave it to my dad as a Christmas gift and it cost $45 on VHS! We had a 27" TV that was $1000 and a VCR that was $1000. Both were purchased from the local appliance dealer who carried one brand and an in-house service department. Back then, if your TV or VCR didn't work right, or not at all, you could take it to the dealer and have it repaired or adjusted IN-HOUSE. Up to this time, consumers expected quality and support and expected to pay for it. These times are LONG GONE and the disposable society has replaced it.

I could really rant forever on this one and dig deep into every facet of our society's demise, but I won't. I'm a salesperson, a traditionalist, an enthusiast, and I appreciate a THOROUGHLY educated and FAIRLY compensated dealer network that this industry can no longer support. BP is an enthusiast as well and I'll wager he can barely justify the support he does give the good dealers that are out there. The problem is, again, THE CONSUMER because he has been programmed to SAVE MONEY, not for the future or retirement, but so he can BUY MORE STUFF. I like getting a good deal just as well as the next guy, but there are hidden costs in the lowest price and the lowest price is not always the best deal.

I was about to keep ranting, but I said I wouldn't. Final points: I think coastie got his answer here and that is great- the forum should be a source of help. Jack is technically correct, but he expresses an ideal that died somewhere around 1983, plus or minus a decade. Disposable society deserves and gets disposable support. Ever look at yahoo! Answers? Person asks a question and gets dozens of answers returned. ASKER GETS TO SELECT THE BEST ANSWER! That's relative truth and that's part of our demise... somebody help me; I can't stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

Hellboy Im not asying that instruments dont need adjusting Im just saying asking stringers fpor advice for a problem they have not seen is not wise and what happens is the bass hgets so out of whack that by the time we see it its screwed up...when taking it to your dealer or letting us fix it in the first place would have saved time money and hassle

 

[tkarter]

Where do you rank me BP? Hell I have never payed anyone for a setup. I have no problems setting up my basses any day no matter what brand but I only have EBMM so that may be why it is so easy.

I gave advice it was good advice and stand by it.


tk

 

[five7]

where do you rank me bp? Hell i have never payed anyone for a setup. I have no problems setting up my basses any day no matter what brand but i only have ebmm so that may be why it is so easy.

I gave advice it was good advice and stand by it.


Tk

+1

 

[Stephen]

A side note from this thread:

I really think it would be nice to have a direct link to music-man.com from the ernieball.com website, or at least from the forums ... the sticky pointing to the MM FAQ obviously doesn't catch the eye of the majority of people with small yet common issues (not talking about you, Coastie!).

Cheers

 

[Hellboy]

Hellboy Im not asying that instruments dont need adjusting Im just saying asking stringers fpor advice for a problem they have not seen is not wise and what happens is the bass hgets so out of whack that by the time we see it its screwed up...when taking it to your dealer or letting us fix it in the first place would have saved time money and hassle

I hear what you´re saying, sire. Now what I am trying to say is that it doesn´t take much knollage to adjust a bass. There are much great info on the net and great knollage on this forum too. Here are just a few links with rather easy and proper setup instructions:

DIY Bass Setup Guide | bassplaying.com - Hey, it´s a Musicman bass here!!

Gary Willis basses GWB1005 GWB35 - Not here....

Electric Bass Guitar Setup Guide

The only thing that is needed most of the time is a minor adjustment of the trussrod if the bass is intonated and setup properly when it comes to PU height, string height, saddle e.t.c. There is no need what so ever to take a bass that only need trussrod adjustment to the store. One can learn how to do it oneself within minutes if having the proper info on how to. Same with intonation and the rest. We are not talking installing a new trussrod or replacing PUP´s. We are talking minor adjustments and maintenance. That is something every player should be able to do with his/her instrument.

Now what would save up most money and time for the company and for the customer in the long run? Having customers running in and out of music stores or bothering customers service ever so often or provide the information/knollage so that the player can do these minor adjustments him/herself?

Now I won´t tell you what to do but I think that it might be a good idea to create a maintenance/setup sticky on the forum. Only a suggestion. During the years that I worked in music stores we didn´t see one single instrument that a customer had ruined by adjusting his/her own instrument. Not high quality basses and guitars like Musicman anyway. We did sell some cheap Asian made instruments with crappy hardware where screws corroded or even broke and that was a pain but not one single faulty higher quality instrument because of customer errors. Well. One did bring his bass back after running it over with his own car by mistake but that is not really the same thing. No warranty on that one. Don´t know if you have other experiences regarding customer errors, sire. Would be interesting to hear about them. I know that there are some rather clumpsy folks out there but even those ones can adjust a trussrod if they get the proper info regarding how to do it. It´s good fun to take care of ones own instrument too. Sorry for a lengthy post.

Sincerely//Jan

 

[coastie72]

Coastie Jack is taking a bullet for all of us here at the company. There are a few basic levels of fans

1. players with passion for our stuff that have no understanding of set ups
2. Players with passion for our stuff that have enough understanding of set ups to be dangerous
3.Players with passion for our stuff that screw up set up so they create the urban internet legend that our stuff needs more set ups.
4 Players that have a passion for our stuff and are expert at set up.

All but number 4 will give advice on solving a problem and trying to help you. Ive said it before...if you had something wrong with you physically would you seek other 59 year old virtual strangers for advice and solutions? You would go to a doctor.

That brings me to the next section

There are people who call themselves techs. When I was growing up they were guitar repairmen.
Of these techs there is no accreditation. All you have to do is annoint yourself with the title...no internet classes and no matchbook degrees. You can all be techs...just call yourself one.
Please this sounds as Im slaggin real legitimate techs....Im not I think that the self appointed future butchers of guitars make life miserable for the qualified techs.

We have a dealer network to serve you. Please use it. If it played perfectly when you got it there is very little that can go wrong other that making a series of changes without a basic understanding of how it works.

From my standpoint I have a very long thread on a bass that Im very proud of that people now think that it could require more maintenance and be prone to buzz....

I either have to shut down the dealer network or not allow threads that are really pointless


rmrmber would you go to a random internet doctor and take his or her advice without them seeing you and asking you to cough.

Coastie Im so happy for you and not upset with you I am very happy that you love our stuff just clearing up some details and offering an alternate perspective

BP I am sorry for asking questions, but I thought that was one of the reasons this thread was here? I never said anything derogatory toward EBMM or my own bass. Through all my years of doing some setups, successfully I might add, I don't proclaim to be an expert, but I am not scared to make minor adjustments. If it was beyond me, I would spend the money and in my case drive a hundred miles to do it. I still might in a few weeks. According to the birth date of my bass, it is barely a month old. So I have come to the conclusion that it is nature taking course, and rather than tweak it to death I am going to let it adjust more to my climate which I am sure is the issue.
It is, as I have said, by far the finest instrument I have ever owned, and I got more compliments today at a rehearsal. If in a few weeks, if it has not settled in more, I will take it to Mike at Ye Olde and let him have a look! I am not about to mess it up cranking on the wheel. There is a big difference in the climate in CA and SC, and just in these last few weeks we have seen 90's and right now it is mid 40's with rain.
I am a little gun shy now about posting, for whatever reason it seems I get people stirred up without meaning too?
I am a photographer and a Mustang buff and I ask questions on those forums all the time. I have learned much that way! It seems the best thing for me to do is just read this forum and stay out of trouble.
There may be some idiots that would but as you know this is not a cheap bass, and I wouldn't try to save 40-60 bucks if it was beyond my abilities. I don't take my Ford's to the dealer to check my oil, tire pressure or even air filter. I know this is a minor adjustment and all I was in hope of was experienced opinions.

 

[Big Poppa]

Coastie please relax Nobody is upset with you at all...your thread has just turned into "whats the best way to fix a buzz?" My point form experience over the 25 years is that allow our service network to serve you...THe point that I think you and Hellboy are missing is the concept of asking strangers for advice who arent holding your bass....

post on and rock on...I never took your issue as a problem or was upset in any manner....