Help! Fret buzz problems

[IvanHardy]

I just put Ernie Ball Coated Strings (50-105)on my bass but when i play the 6Th and the 8th fret on the E string theres massive buzzing and i don't know what to do. i dont want to raise the action anymore because then it'll be too high. Any thoughts?

 

[maddog]

do a setup.

 

[IvanHardy]

if i knew how to do one. but i'm a noob at it. ive been at it since like 3 oclock. anyways at first it was just about making my neck straighter (first attempt)then lowering the action. but i put a lighter gauge on my bass (from 55-110 to 50-105)and the buzz started happening. now i read the faq and i have to make my neck straighter because at the E string it buzzes at the 6th and 8th fret and at The D string also at 8. but the 1st fret on the A was buzzing a bit so i didnt know what to do.

 

[MSilvers]

Sounds like the neck probably has a hump, which is basically the opposite of it being warped. What you should do is loosen the trust-rod in the neck so that it isn't strait but has a slight curve inward. This should relieve some pressure and get rid of the buzz. Let me know if this works.

 

[syciprider]

Does the buzz get amplified also or is it just an acoustic buzz?

My super low action SR4 buzzes all over the place.... but not through the amp and I'm cool with that

 

[IvanHardy]

i havent tried it yet with my amp but ill do so in the morning. and if i loosen it wont it make it curve again and the objective is to mak ei straighter. but i guess ill try it. gonna go to GC an dget it looked at just in case also tommorow. and im that kinda guy that itll bug me if my bass buzzes period. i didn't the necks could hump though. idk if it would but should i take a pic although it probably wouldnt help much i think.

 

[maddog]

I'm not sure about making it straighter.

fret at 1 and 12.

check string height at 6th fret. should be able to slip a business card between string and 6th fret.

if you are putting on lower tension strings, the neck might need time or slight pressure to help it along.

after the neck is set, then think about raising or lowering saddles.

 

[IvanHardy]

I'm not sure about making it straighter.

fret at 1 and 12.

check string height at 6th fret. should be able to slip a business card between string and 6th fret.

if you are putting on lower tension strings, the neck might need time or slight pressure to help it along.

after the neck is set, then think about raising or lowering saddles.

ive been doing that all day. ive checked the spacing. i had it set to slip in with my power slinkys and now using regular slinkys i thought i wouldnt have to do much. thats what i get for putting such heavy strings on the bass i dont go lower than drop D with. oh to be a fool and want so much punch and heavy sounding.

 

[ModuMan]

Hard to say without looking at it, but if you've been making adjustments with different strings for a couple of days you are probably way out of whack from where you started.

You might consider taking it to a pro (or friend) and asking for them to show you how to do a good setup from scratch.

 

[rizzo9247]

Hey Ivan, sorry I haven't gotten back to you via PM, but I can give you a setup if you like. If the neck is as described, I might need a day or two with it to let it settle as I adjust the trussrod/string action if you are ok with that. I know it can be a treacherous thing setting up an instrument for the first time, but we've all been there.

I will be in my office monday and tuesday next week, so if you don't mind schlepping it down to Wall St around lunch time, I'd be more than happy to help you out.

 

[IvanHardy]

This guy at GC who works in the rumble room did the set up for me. it wa g reat when i played it at the store. when i got home and plugged it into my rumble 15 though i could hear the fret buzz on the amp. i love how low the action was too but unfortunately i had to raise it a bit. what a let down. if only i could have really low action w/o fret buzz. is this possible?