Hi, I'm a fairly new bass player with a fairly new bass (and by fairly new, i mean about 5 weeks) and I am finding that the E string often buzzes a few moments after letting it ring out. I have tried different positions in the fret and pressing harder/softer on the string but nothing seems to fix it. I was wondering if this is due to a problem with my technique or a problem with the action or something else... any ideas?
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First-up - welcome to Talkbass!
Your problem could be down to a few issues, in isolation or in combination. So first off, a couple of questions...
1: Does this happen at all positions/frets, only some, only on the open string or only on fretted notes?
2: Are the strings the ones that came with the bass or did you install new strings yourself?
If you hold the string down on frets 1 and 15, can you see daylight between the underside of the string and top of frets 6-10? How about if you hold between 1 and 8 and check at 3 or 4, then 9 to 20, checking at around 13?
It sounds like you might need a touch more relief in the neck. Try loosening the truss rod by no more than 1/4 of a turn. At the same time, lower the action by taking 1/4 turn off each saddle height screw.
Steve is usually right. I think that will clear up the problem, however, if you are like me - all thumbs - take it to a guitar store and let the tech do it for you. In my neck of the woods it'll cost $35 to $40. I leave the truss rod to the tech at my local music store.
No tech still working in your area, Google has a video...
Good luck.
No tech still working in your area, Google has a video...
Good luck.
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I think we've decided to take it to a guitar tech because i don't trust myself to not mess it up. I'll let you know if it works though
I think we've decided to take it to a guitar tech because i don't trust myself to not mess it up. I'll let you know if it works though
That is 100% the thing to do.
I think we've decided to take it to a guitar tech because i don't trust myself to not mess it up. I'll let you know if it works though
I did the first time or 6 and watched very carefully what was done. If you’ll do that, you’ll it’s fairly simple and save some bucks in the future. Easy...
I think we've decided to take it to a guitar tech because i don't trust myself to not mess it up. I'll let you know if it works though
Yes - if you are not feeling confident that is the right thing. Of course, with the instrument in hand the problem/solution might be something else. Based on it being a new instrument I have assumed a few things that may not be true, including good fretwork, no worn or damaged frets, a correctly cut nut, undamaged strings and properly set witness points, for starters.
I've spent hours on YouTube learming about truss rod setup, string height and annotation and from why I can "feel", as a novice", there will be a setup which you may like. On my Yamaha I play in my bedroom at night, fret buzz annoys the hell out of me when I'm not playing on an amp, so the string height is a little higher, the neck isn't as straight.
On my sub ray5, it's flat as a pancake and you can hear the frets slap a little, it's how it's "meant" to be. But I play that in my lounge room on my amp so I can't hear it. Learning basics like this has made me even more obsessed with bass now.
On my sub ray5, it's flat as a pancake and you can hear the frets slap a little, it's how it's "meant" to be. But I play that in my lounge room on my amp so I can't hear it. Learning basics like this has made me even more obsessed with bass now.
Nobody knows how you like your bass setup better than YOU! What I like about doing my own setups is that when I am done, if something is still a little bit off, I can go right back and adjust it. I was scared to death to do it the first time also. However, it is not nearly as dangerous to your bass or as difficult as you think. Watch a few videos and apply those techniques. It really is straightforward and simple. The only way you can damage your neck by adjusting the truss rod is if you go crazy! Do 1/4 turns at a time in either direction (depending on) what you need to do for your relief. If you do that, you will be perfectly fine. After that, adjust the saddle heights accordingly. Then set the intonation. Check out John Carruthers on YouTube. He explains bass setup very well.
It does sound like the setup needs a little bit of a tweak. If you have no idea about what to do it would be wise to have a pro work on it. May as well get a new set of strings put on because you’ll have no idea how long those have been on there and they could actually be part of the problem (could be a bend or kink in the string incurred in the store or in shipping).
The other thing, and nobody has mentioned it, is that you have to be more gentle playing on the E string because it’s larger in diameter and usually has a lower tension. This is where technique comes into play.
The other other thing is it’s possible that someone monkeyed around with the saddle height on that string. Best to have a pro look at it until you become a little more knowledgeable.
The other thing, and nobody has mentioned it, is that you have to be more gentle playing on the E string because it’s larger in diameter and usually has a lower tension. This is where technique comes into play.
The other other thing is it’s possible that someone monkeyed around with the saddle height on that string. Best to have a pro look at it until you become a little more knowledgeable.