I just put new strings on my bass...

ZachOrem · #1 07-16-2010, 10:15 PM

I just got new strings on my bass and lowerd their action significantly.

Now I'm getting a lot of buzz when I'm playing. It sounds and feels like the strings are sticking to the frets. Is this normal for new strings, or do I have something to fix?

ZachOrem · #2 07-16-2010, 10:18 PM

Guys.

I put new strings on my bass and now my sound is all messed up. It sounds and feels like my strings are sticking to the fret a little. I have never had new strings before and I don't know if this is normal or not.

Help me out?

ozzyismetal · #3 07-16-2010, 10:26 PM

Sounds like the action is too low. Maybe raise it a bit and see if the buzz remains.

ThunderGod · #4 07-16-2010, 11:09 PM

You can not simply adjust the height of your bass strings, arbitrarily.

Although guitars are simple machines, there is a protocol to adjusting them properly. Here is a link that may help.

http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/

rockstarbassist · #5 07-17-2010, 12:00 AM

If they're a different type or style of strings, then ya that's expected. If not, then that's another issue, possibly.

Eminentbass · #6 07-17-2010, 12:36 AM

It might have something to do with the setup you mentioned in your other thread. New strings are going to have a much brighter "zing" to them. Also if your bass was difficult to play before you may have compensated by digging in harder than necessary. A lower action will result in a bit of fret buzz or choking notes if played too hard. Try relaxing your hands and playing with a lighter touch and see if that changes anything. Another thing could be that with the setup and possibly different guage of strings your neck has settled too straight which will cause buzzing in the lower registers. Check your neck relief by pressing the first fret on the E or A string with your left hand and use your right hand index finger to press the last fret, then hold the bass to the light. The distance between the bottom of the string and the fret while doing this should be a around millimeter(or credit card thickness) at the 7th - 9th fret. If you don't see any gap, then the neck might be too straight. Try playing with a lighter touch first though and seeing if that makes a difference.

1kinal · #7 07-17-2010, 01:07 AM

If the notes buzz no matter where you play on the neck, the strings are too low. Get the action higher at the bridge for each string.

If the notes buzz only in a certain part of the neck (either below 5th fret or higher than 12th fret) then you have a neck relief problem (either too much or too little of bow in the neck)

ZachOrem · #8 07-17-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eminentbass

It might have something to do with the setup you mentioned in your other thread. New strings are going to have a much brighter "zing" to them. Also if your bass was difficult to play before you may have compensated by digging in harder than necessary. A lower action will result in a bit of fret buzz or choking notes if played too hard. Try relaxing your hands and playing with a lighter touch and see if that changes anything. Another thing could be that with the setup and possibly different guage of strings your neck has settled too straight which will cause buzzing in the lower registers. Check your neck relief by pressing the first fret on the E or A string with your left hand and use your right hand index finger to press the last fret, then hold the bass to the light. The distance between the bottom of the string and the fret while doing this should be a around millimeter(or credit card thickness) at the 7th - 9th fret. If you don't see any gap, then the neck might be too straight. Try playing with a lighter touch first though and seeing if that makes a difference.

You're right, I'm pressing too hard. Jeez, thank you. I don't know how long it would have taken me to figure that out myself. I probably would have gone back to get the action raised before long.

It's going to be different teaching myself to stop choking the neck. I'm so used to having to punch the strings.

**Pacman** · #9 07-17-2010, 02:07 AM

Welcome to Talkbass.

Please note that we have lots of different sub-forums here, and when posting a thread, try to find the forum that fits it best. For instance, this one would be great in the "Strings" sub-forum. that's where I'm moving it now.

Eminentbass · #10 07-17-2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZachOrem

You're right, I'm pressing too hard. Jeez, thank you. I don't know how long it would have taken me to figure that out myself. I probably would have gone back to get the action raised before long.

It's going to be different teaching myself to stop choking the neck. I'm so used to having to punch the strings.

A lighter touch takes some getting used to but will become second nature after a while. It will also increase your mobility and the ease with which you can execute certain things. I had to really focus on it when competing with my guitarist's Marshall half-stack because my natural tendency was to play harder if I couldn't hear myself properly, despite that being an ineffective solution. Good luck.