Help! Vibration of the strings

[bootroo]

Hi,

I notice an unpleasant phenomenon when I play on my SR 5 HH.
As soon as I play a string, at least one other string will vibrate quite significantly making a sort of a "hubbub" in the background.
I know that this is common to have to stop the other strings sometimes with the fingers, but I find my SR 5 very prone to do that.

Could this come from a problem with the pickups, or the setting of the pickups ?
Has anyone ever noticed the same thing ?

I also find that my bass makes some fret buzz... I know that we're supposed to fix this by turning the neck rod, but I can't get rid of that noise. Can anyone help ?

Thank you in advance if someone can help.

Bertrand

 

[mynan]

It also sounds like you need to work on your technique. Strings don't "vibrate quite significantly" unless you touch them...Newton's 1st law. Technique could also be causing your fret buzz. If not, it sounds like you need someone who knows what they are doing to set up your SR5 for you.

 

[bovinehost]

A part of 'bass technique' is of course muting strings that are not supposed to be ringing. Some people use their right hand palm to mute, some use their left hand, some use a combination, but in all cases, you should be working on a way to mute the strings that are not being played. Sympathetic vibrations WILL cause unplayed strings to sound, and that's true with any bass.

Of course, being more responsive than most if not all other basses, Music Man instruments are particularly sensitive to technique.

Could this come from a problem with the pickups, or the setting of the pickups ?

No.

 

[GGK]

Sympathetic Vibration

I can attest to the technical skill of "string muting" since I struggle with it all of the time. I can also attest that my EBMM Sterling has made me a bettor technical player since I have been playing it.. All I have to do now is get over my lack of talent....

 

[the unrepentant]

Yeah it'll be part of your technique, you're probably hitting the strings way too hard for starters, try playing softer, or get somebody to set it up for you, and make sure they know you're a heavy player. Also you need to learn to mute, as jack said. I do it by muting the bottom strings by touching them with my fingers on my left hand when i'm playing and i mute the top ones with my thumb.

 

[Bloodfist]

As for as string noise, I'm going to have to agree with the other guys and say the problem lies in the hands. A few quick questions for you on this one. Are you playing with a pick or using your fingers? How hard are you actually hitting the string? I know this may sound a little retarded, but I've know a few people who have done this - When you pick the string do you slap you wrist or any part of your hand against the bass's body? It doesn't have to be a hard slap, but if you are that will definitely cause extra vibration in the strings. And lastly, does it do it after every note you play, no matter what string you play, or is it isolated to one string one specific area.

Now as far as the buzzing goes. I actually think Ernie Ball SHOULDN'T have said anything about adjusting the truss rod in their FAQ's. The reason being, if you've never set up a bass or guitar, and do not know what your doing, you can cause some serious damage to your instrument. Yes the buzzing may be eliminated by moving the truss rod, but maybe all you need to do is adjust you saddle hight. Either way, you'll find that adjust either one may throw your intonation off, an you'll have to reset it. Your absolute best bet is call around, and ask your local music stores if they do a guitar set up. Most all of them do and charge around $30 to do it. Take it them, and explain to the tech exactly what you want the bass to to be set up like ie- how high or low do you want your action, tell him the type of style that you play (pick, Slap, finger) and anything else that you think needs attention. They'll set it up for you, and set your intonation. A good tech will keep the bass for a day or two, if he has to mess with the truss rod to allow the neck to settle properly. It took me about 3 days to get mine set absolutely perfect to my taste, but now she's a mean sounding, growly b!$ch, and that's how I like my basses! She's got more punch than Mohamed Ali, and stings like a Stingray!

 

[bootroo]

Thank you sirs for all your answers.
I've been playing bass for some years and my technique of muting used to work out pretty well with my former bass. It's just that I got so surprised with the Stingray's vibration that I thought it had to be caused by something but not by me... Now I know what I have to do : play and improve on a new technique !

I do not play with a pick and don't play that hard either, I think.
I already brought the bass to a music store and the guy noticed the fret buzz too. He set the neck back into a straight configuration (I had turned the truss rod as suggested by MM in their FAQ) and raised the strings. It improved the buzz but couldn't cancel it completely. Eventually, he told me that stingray players look for that particular sound with a little fret buzz in the background... How about this ?

Thanx again

Bertrand

 

[maddog]

Now as far as the buzzing goes. I actually think Ernie Ball SHOULDN'T have said anything about adjusting the truss rod in their FAQ's. The reason being, if you've never set up a bass or guitar, and do not know what your doing, you can cause some serious damage to your instrument. Yes the buzzing may be eliminated by moving the truss rod, but maybe all you need to do is adjust you saddle hight.

Not sure I get what you mean. Necks shift more than bridge saddles so I would think a musician should get comfortable in tweaking the neck as needed.

Sure, some serious damage can be done to a trussrod if you overtighten it. But every musician really should spend the time learning about their instrument. In the least, a little intuition goes a long way when you find yourself getting out the breaker bar to turn that capstan wheel.

 

[maddog]

Eventually, he told me that stingray players look for that particular sound with a little fret buzz in the background... How about this ?

The guy seems to be stereotyping a bass player by the instrument he chooses. Interesting.

Any bass with a proper setup should be fret buzz free unless you are looking for some very low action. Might be time to try some other shops to see if somebody can get a better idea of what you like. Or at least check over the instrument to make sure something else isn't going on.

 

[mynan]

I already brought the bass to a music store and the guy noticed the fret buzz too. He set the neck back into a straight configuration (I had turned the truss rod as suggested by MM in their FAQ) and raised the strings. It improved the buzz but couldn't cancel it completely. Eventually, he told me that stingray players look for that particular sound with a little fret buzz in the background... How about this ?

It sounds like the guy at the music store doesn't know how to do a setup either and you reached the point where his knowledge ended and the BS began. My first Stingray5 was the first bass that I ever tried to do my own setup with. I even sent it back to the factory thinking there might be something wrong with the neck because I couldn't lose the buzz without having the strings a mile off the fretboard. It came back from the factory with the same neck and a perfect setup...and no more buzz. Now I'm on my 3rd EBMM and am just starting to get the hang of setting it up.

 

[Old_Guy]

Of course, being more responsive than most if not all other basses, Music Man instruments are particularly sensitive to technique.

+1. Not necessarily MusicMan per se, but any high quality active electronics bass. You won't really notice sympathetic vibrations on a passive bass (or at least I didn't years ago) but - the Bongo in particular will really show you where the weaknesses are in your technique. Same would be true if you stepped up from a "student" to "professional" level clarinet or any other instrument. At least that's my personal experience. It's made me a much better player, honestly.

 

[strummer]

He set the neck back into a straight configuration (I had turned the truss rod as suggested by MM in their FAQ) and raised the strings. It improved the buzz but couldn't cancel it completely. Eventually, he told me that stingray players look for that particular sound with a little fret buzz in the background... How about this ?

Thanx again

Bertrand

That is one sad music store employee
First off, all instruments need relief in the neck to get proper (low) action. Second, on any given musicman intrument, you should be able to tweak by only suing the truss rod, unless you want something very different. Third, I've never looked for fret buzz, but I'm sure there are seome players that do. Not necessarily musicman players though.

 

[oli@bass]

Eventually, he told me that stingray players look for that particular sound with a little fret buzz in the background... How about this ?

I do

Still, if he can't get your bass to not produce any fret buzz, he's most probably not a very good guitar technician. But to be fair, being a good guitar tech or luthier is closer to serious artistry than to you'd expect. Ask around where fellow musicians bring their instruments, and talk to them about their experiences. If you hit some rumours about someone being enormously skilled, regardless of what type of guitar or bass, you probably found the right person.

 

[Bloodfist]

Not sure I get what you mean. Necks shift more than bridge saddles so I would think a musician should get comfortable in tweaking the neck as needed.

Sure, some serious damage can be done to a trussrod if you overtighten it. But every musician really should spend the time learning about their instrument. In the least, a little intuition goes a long way when you find yourself getting out the breaker bar to turn that capstan wheel.

The reason I say this is that most musicians who do not know much about setting up an instrument other than how to tune it, are not going to take the time to research it, and understand it. I've seen to many musicians do serious damage to their instruments by messing with the truss rod. The way the FAQ's come across is that it is the first thing you should touch, when that may not be the case. I do agree 100% with you that every musician should learn about their instrument, and their entire rig. Knowledge about you bass and amp is crucial, especially if something goes wrong with it at a gig.

 

[strummer]

The way the FAQ's come across is that it is the first thing you should touch, when that may not be the case.

As the bass is set up leaving the factory, the neck is the only thing that will change, so of course that's what you should adjust first.

 

[bootroo]

I didn't know active basses caused more sympathetic vibrations than passive basses. I find very interesting to read that my new bass is going to force me to pay more attention to the way I play. I like the idea of this challenge.

Indeed, the tech from the music store (who is actually the owner of the shop) didn't seem to me that he knew exactly what he had to do with my bass.
You're right, I have to find The technician near me, but that's not gonna be easy...