flats and thickness

[jasper383]

How flat do you have the neck? I have noticed often when I have too little relief in the neck, the strings will smack those first couple of frets.

Hold the A string down at the 1st and 15th fret. How much space is there between the 8th fret and the string? I like about a credit card's width. If you have less than that, loosen the truss rod a 1/4 turn, then check back later.

 

[greitzer]

Funny, I've always associated "dull and clacking" with flatwound strings. That's why I've never used them, and can't understand why so many bassists like them.

I guess my experience has been different. I've used flats on other basses I've owned and had no noise problems at all. The reason why so many of us like them, is because they make the instrument sound more like a bass than a guitar.

I also thought about reinstalling the roundwounds as you suggested, just to see, but I'm tired of changing strings at this point, and I really want the flats, so I'll see if a local setup guy can fix the problem.

I agree about the tone control, I've been playing with the treble turned down and that helps a tad, but just a tad. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[greitzer]

How flat do you have the neck? I have noticed often when I have too little relief in the neck, the strings will smack those first couple of frets.

Thanks Jasper. The strings are smacking from about the sixth fret on up the neck, not the first couple of frets.

The way the action is now, there's maybe two credit cards' worth of space between strings and frets, it's hard to tell exactly. As mentioned in my previous post, I'm going to stop fiddling with it and have this local setup guy take a whack at it.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome, and thanks to all for your suggestions.

 

[Soul Man]

Thanks Jasper. The strings are smacking from about the sixth fret on up the neck, not the first couple of frets.

The way the action is now, there's maybe two credit cards' worth of space between strings and frets, it's hard to tell exactly. As mentioned in my previous post, I'm going to stop fiddling with it and have this local setup guy take a whack at it.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome, and thanks to all for your suggestions.

What became of your situation? Did the set up help?

 

[5Stringer]

Arjan -- thanks the advice, but unfortunately the Ernie Ball flats haven't fixed the problem. The click-clack of string against fret is still annoyingly loud, and now there are buzzes at some frets, which I didn't have before.

Soooo, my next step is to take it to a local setup guy who is supposed to be very good at this. If that doesn't work, I'm not sure -- perhaps ship it back to Ernie Ball, but that would really be inconvenient.

Disappointing for an istrument this expensive, but hopefully somebody can fix it.

Thanks to all for your advice so far, and I will keep you posted.

greitzer - not sure where you are, but if you are in North America it may behoove you to send your bass back to us to have a look at it - contact me at [email protected] if you want more information on that -

Dan

 

[timmy5strings]

Yes it may behoove you to send it in Is that just the coolest word ever?
If your man can't, Dan the man can !! Customer Service Rocks !!!!

 

[phat5]

When I first got my Bongo, I too was having setup / buzzing issues. I misread the setup info on the FAQ section of the EB website; I was using a business card to check for relief, not a credit card. I have played stout Gibsons and Fenders, most of my life. Changing over to a very slim narrow profiled neck, has caused me to use a lighter touch....funny how speed and dexterity has increased. It's been hard for me to break out of my ham fisted mold, but I'm gettin' there. Stiff strings are the new cure for me, they allow me to play with a touch more aggression. I'm really curious to hear from Greitzer, on how he has resolved his problem. I hope he hasn't become frustrated with his instrument, to the point of offing it.

 

[greitzer]

greitzer - not sure where you are, but if you are in North America it may behoove you to send your bass back to us to have a look at it - contact me at [email protected] if you want more information on that -

Dan

Dan, Soulman and others -- thanks for checking back with me on this. The local setup guy (who works with the Guitar Center store where I bought the bass) took a look at it, and found that the sixth and seventh frets were too high. That's why all the click-clacking noise was happening around there. Since it was still a new instrument (only four months old), Guitar Center swapped it out for a new one. And the new one seems just fine.

I appreciate the interest that you guys at Ernie Ball have shown in helping me resolve the problem. Thanks again for your suggestions, and for the support. It sure is a beautiful-sounding bass.

 

[phat5]

Whoo Hoo.....mystery solved! Happy for ya Greitzer!

 

[greitzer]

Thanks, Phat5! The new Sterling is great. Life is good once again . . .