Can anybody help?

[songoan]

Hi, I'm new here.
I just got a sterling bass. I bought it used but it's from 2009 and it looks like new. The guy who sold it quit his band and I know he didn't sell it because of that problem. It actually appeared after a few days when I got it.
It is extremely annoying.
The buzz seems to be coming from the inside of the bass. I can't tell if it's from the neck or the body
It has nothing to do with fret buzz.
I just put a mic infront of the bass and here's the recording:
Download Bass Buzz - MP3 Ringtone Bass Buzz by Jojo - Free Music Hosting
Can anybody help?
Thanks.

 

[bovinehost]

It sounds to me like you're playing extremely hard with your right hand (assuming you're a righty) and the strings are bouncing off the frets.

But it's really impossible to say without seeing the bass.

 

[songoan]

Thanks for your answer. The action is fairly high and it's really not the strings touching the frets.
Even if I play softly the buzz is there. I guess I was just making the noise even more obvious by struming harder.
That noise seems to be coming from inside the body or the neck oe even both.
Wherever I'm putting my hear seems to be the source.
It's like a built in distortion or something like that. I really need to find the switch to turn it off.

 

[bovinehost]

Well, it sounds like fret buzz to me.

Raise the action just a bit and see if it goes away.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

It could be saddles screw springs rattling, remove them and give them a stretch, see if that works. However I must stress, most of the buzz we hear is coming from what you hear and what your micrpophone picks up, in fact I am pretty certain none of it (as in most cases) comes through the amp speakers. If no one can hear it when you play on stage then its nought to worry about. Climatize your bass and adjust the trussrod so that you get a decent curve, no neck should be perfectly straight.

Have a read through the link below on how to set your bass up accurately
http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/akcndfr54jdhrei567/Ultimate_Guide_ver100.pdf

 

[Ken Baker]

As Lord Bovine has so eloquently said, though not in so many words, we can't see your bass.

But based upon what I'm hearing, there does appear to be a vibrating sound that is separate from your over-playing and fret buzz. That means that you're probably no crazier than I am (which might be dangerous).

What I am about to tell you is an educated guess and is probably good trouble-shooting. Nothing more. I can't see your bass or lay hands on it, so a pro should be the one to make a final determination.

There are three things that you can look at that are easy to check and on the outside of the instrument. The last two are closely related and fixing one may fix the other.

===============

Press firmly in the E string just to the headstock side of the nut. Now play the E string and listen for this vibration you're hearing. In turn, do this for the remaining strings. If, by pressing on the string behind the nut, you've eliminated the vibration, it is possible that the string is vibrating in its nut slot. Take the bass to a professional for repair or play with heavier gauge strings. Or both.

===============

Look at the string saddles. Each saddle base must be parallel to the bridge plate. Each saddle should be at a different height above the bridge plate relative to the others, but each individual saddle base must be parallel to the bridge plate. Adjust as necessary. If you are uncomfortable adjusting the saddles, take it to a professional.

===============

Look again at the saddles. Each saddle has a pair of height adjusting screws. Each of the screws must be in contact with the bridge plate or an unwanted vibration may result. Adjust as necessary. If you are uncomfortable adjusting the saddles, take it to a professional.

Good luck and remember: The Internets have no eyes.

Ken...

 

[songoan]

"But based upon what I'm hearing, there does appear to be a vibrating sound that is separate from your over-playing and fret buzz"
I agree: It's not fret buzz, I'm 100% sure of that. You can hear some fret buzz but I'm talking about the other noise. It only happens if I'm pressing anywhere on the fretboard but not when I play a string alone so it might not be the string vibrating inside the nut.
It could actually be coming from the bridge. Now that you told me it seems like the buzz is more present in the bridge area even if I hear it anywhere on the neck too.
The saddles aren't parallel to the plate to start with...
I'll check the whole thing tomorrow morning.
It doesn't come through the amp's speaker but still sounds like the bass has a problem that I intend to fix.
Thanks a lot for your time guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[Big Poppa]

please no customer service threads ...also people please tdont tell people to do ythings when you have no idea whats wrong...It just ends up with us and worse.

 

[strummer]

Just wait until the trapped bees are dead, then carefully remove the cover plate on the back of the bass and dispose of the bee carcasses

 

[drTStingray]

Just wait until the trapped bees are dead, then carefully remove the cover plate on the back of the bass and dispose of the bee carcasses

V funny Strummer!

I'm sensing the man with the big hat and padlock is now approaching.

 

[songoan]

What is this forum for then?

 

[mynan]

An internet forum is one of the worst places for troubleshooting problems like the one you have. That's why Ernie Ball has a customer service department...so you can contact them and get real help instead of a lot of poor speculation.

 

[bovinehost]

....What....is this forum for then?

I'm going to edit your post and explain this nicely. This forum is to discuss EBMM products. It is not for customer service issues or for trying to diagnose problems that no one else can see over the internet. What if you come here for advice and someone says "do this" or "do that" and the problem gets worse?

The best thing to do is take customer service issues to - well, customer service. They're experts.

If you want to repost what I'm going to edit out, be my guest, but I'd advise you to calm down and reconsider.

Your call.

Jack