Emergency - Buzzin Sub

[MM Scarborough]

I need you're help guys, cancel you're night in, tell the wife to sit tight as she's in for along ride! Last night I have followed you're set-up guide on my SUB (as I always do) as it was buzzing quite badly after a fresh set of DR's (which I've never used before!), and it apears physically to be set up properly. There is still some buzz on the guitar, so I took it to the local shop who told me is was correct and played fine. I play heavier than the guys in shop so I was able to point the buzz out to them, again they couldn't eliminate it. It buzzes slightly on all strings especially the A string up and down the fret board but mainly between 0-8th fret


Couple of questions

1) Is it true that all MM's are prone to Buzzing as this adds to the character of the bass

2) Does it sound like it may need fret dressing

3) Am i panicking becasue new strings all buzz more than old

4) I left the guitar in the van overnight. Could the cold have warped the neck

5) please tell me it ain't seriously damaged!

 

[tkarter]

Not being the expert here bouts I would say put some more relief in the neck.

tk

 

[bassmonkeee]

I need you're help guys, cancel you're night in, tell the wife to sit tight as she's in for along ride! Last night I have followed you're set-up guide on my SUB (as I always do) as it was buzzing quite badly after a fresh set of DR's (which I've never used before!), and it apears physically to be set up properly. There is still some buzz on the guitar, so I took it to the local shop who told me is was correct and played fine. I play heavier than the guys in shop so I was able to point the buzz out to them, again they couldn't eliminate it. It buzzes slightly on all strings especially the A string up and down the fret board but mainly between 0-8th fret


Couple of questions

1) Is it true that all MM's are prone to Buzzing as this adds to the character of the bass

2) Does it sound like it may need fret dressing

3) Am i panicking becasue new strings all buzz more than old

4) I left the guitar in the van overnight. Could the cold have warped the neck

5) please tell me it ain't seriously damaged!

1) That's just silly....

2) If it's more than one fret, and more than one string, probably not

3) I've never seen anything that indicates a new string buzzes more than an old one

4) It's possible that the cold had an effect on theneck, and it straightened out a bit, but unless you are in Antarctica, and it was -30degrees. I mean--there's a chance that it was so cold that it made all of the frets pop out, but I seriously doubt it.

5) Relax, Beavis! It's probably fine. Do you hear the buzz when you are playing through an amp, or only when you are unplugged?


Any change of string brands/gauge/tension will more than likely require a set up, and tuss rod tweak. Sometimes, it takes the neck a couple of days to settle to the new tension. If the DRs have a little less tension than the former strings, then you will need to add a bit of relief to the neck to counteract this. I'd loosen the trussrod about 1/4 turn to see if that does it. And, if the A string is buzzing up and down the entire neck, then simply raise the bridge saddle a little bit.

 

[Moondog]

My basses are all set-up pretty good but I can make every bass, every string, and every fret buzz if I play hard enough . . .especially when using a pick. If your local shop is reputable, it's probably fine & it's your style. If it bugs you, play softer or raise string height a bit & see if it does the trick . . . or <caution> carefully turn your truss wheel counter-clockwise & see if that alleviates buzz on 0-8. Did you switch gauges when you switched to DR strings?

 

[Psychicpet]

I took it to the local shop who told me is was correct and played fine. I play heavier than the guys in shop so I was able to point the buzz out to them, again they couldn't eliminate it.

I think you answered it for yourself right there. Now that I've got my action lower and lighter strings I have to be ever aware of how I'm plucking 'cause if I start to get a little carried away my Bongo "buzzes" but it has nothing to do with my bass it's just me. And ytou may be perceiving the buzzing as louder with new strings because they're brighter. Maybe lay back a little bit with your plucking or raise up the action a bit. The latter should do the trick or treat... oops , Halloween's gettin' to me

 

[MM Scarborough]

cheers guys, the buz doesn't come through on the amp unless the treble is really pumped, which is rare. I think must just be the new strings and little bit more relief needed. You can all go back on patrol now. Im going to play it for a week or so (after watching bands reunited) then put a little more relief in the neck.

This forum is brilliant by the way, informative and not biggoted (unlike me).

Very big thanks

Matt

 

[tkarter]

Your going to wait a week to fix it and that constituted an emergency?


tk

 

[Morrow]

"There is still some buzz on the guitar, so I took it to the local shop who told me is was correct and played fine. I play heavier than the guys in shop so I was able to point the buzz out to them, again they couldn't eliminate it. It buzzes slightly on all strings especially the A string up and down the fret board but mainly between 0-8th fret"
there is a lot to be said for playing with a lighter touch. You have more control ,can play faster, and actually have some dynamics in your playing.Let your amp do the work.

 

[Moondog]

" there is a lot to be said for playing with a lighter touch. You have more control ,can play faster, and actually have some dynamics in your playing.Let your amp do the work.

That's true & good advice but most audiences (not anyone here ) get bored watching nipple-riding bassists gently fondle the strings on their Ken Smiths (not that there's anything wrong with that ). I love Rays cuz they sound great played hard, and it's ok to beat the piss outta your strings . . . and then play soft on occassion to be "dynamic"

 

[JB1]

Ya don't have to nipple ride. Lord forbid.

Play a little more softly, not to the extent of 'tickling' the strings, and crank the amp/guitar volume.

Bingo.

 

[Morrow]

I was talking dynamics.I don't know where you got that "nipple riding /Ken Smith "crap.I did say you can play faster, have more control and actually have some dynamics with a lighter touch. This is true with a pick or fingerstyle.There are times I might want to increase my presence in the mix. If I am starting with a lighter touch I can do that without reaching for the amp.

 

[Moondog]

relax . . . I was exaggerating(sp?) - read the post & nipple-riding popped in my head - no offense, especially to K-Smith basses. Play soft, dynamic, have fun, whatever . . .

 

[MM Scarborough]

I think this is my problem. The guy in the shop had a play, very fast and very light touch, therefore the bass did not show any buzz, when I play I was letting the strings ring more and was playing harder, therefore creating more scope for buzz. Again it doesn't appear to show up on the amp unless the trebles pumped but I always feel as though the bass should be set-up correctly all the time. Been playing this afternoon and it appears to be settleing.

 

[bovinehost]

It's one of those unwritten laws of bass-playing, although I have been advised by my therapist to not take part in any threads about setups or adjustments - if you play hard, you're going to have to raise your action unless you want to sound like Fieldy.

BTW, I hang my bass HIGH and it's NOT a Ken Smith. (Not that I would mind having a KS.)

 

[fretmaster]

cheap solution to buzzes

I just bought a Thomas & Ginex Fret Refinishing Kit off eBay and what a godsend. I had the same problem on my pre CBS Strat. Buzzing on the 4th and 5th strings between the 8th and 12th frets. I did the job in less than 15 minutes. Man does that thing really work. I was very skeptical about using it but am I glad I did. The guitar never sounded better and I saved a ton of money. It must be giving the repair dudes the heebie jeebie's.

 

[tkarter]

While there is nothing the matter with working on your own bass and setup. I highly doubt I would suggest fret filing to someone that isn't even sure what is causing the fret buzz.

IMHO

tk

 

[dlloyd]

Any change of string brands/gauge/tension will more than likely require a set up, and tuss rod tweak.

It's also worth mentioning that a change in string tension may require a change in setup to suit your playing style. Dropping the tension but keeping the same setup (ie. using a ruler to set the action exactly the same) will result in fret buzz where there was none. I find I can get away with a lower action with heavier strings.