Lo Riders vs Hi Beams - ***?

[tylerwylie]

On my 6 string fretless, I had a set of Lo Riders .030 - .130 and was getting some buzz on my E, A, and D strings where I normally didn't. I thought this was weird as I know Lo Riders are a bit stiffer than Hi Beams (not higher tension, actually lower tension with the sets I have when compared on my rubberneck Ibanez).

Today, get a set of Hi Beams in gauges .030 .040 .060 .080 .100 .125 and strung them on, and now there is no more buzz. I haven't touched the truss rod and haven't touched a bridge saddle and I am getting absolutely no buzz. Not only are these Hi Beams which are more flexible, but they are also a thinner gauge so they should also be lower tension than a thicker set of Lo Riders(but still higher tension than Lo Riders of similar gauges.)

So what gives, were my Lo Riders bad... why am I able to get lower action on my fretless with the Hi Beams... I can't figure out why unless it's something specific to fretless bass, how the string vibrates against the wood or something.

Ideas?

[Oneirogenic]

Interesting. My guess is that your neck moved while changing strings accidentally giving you a better setup. Where on the fingerboard were you getting buzz?

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by Oneirogenic

Interesting. My guess is that your neck moved while changing strings accidentally giving you a better setup. Where on the fingerboard were you getting buzz?

5th and 6th 'fret' position more than anything else, no where else on the neck though.

[Oneirogenic]

You may have had a slight back bow that corrected itself. Necks move over time and changing strings may have helped it move a little more. Hard to say for sure.

[bgavin]

The only way to know for sure, is get out the setup specs for your instrument.
Yes, step-by-step is actual work, but you will know for sure.