Ti flats causing Fretboard buzz on fretless

bassplayer48 · #1 09-21-2006, 12:51 AM

Hi all i have my G&L 1000 fretless strung with TI flats which i love the sound of new fretless and 1st time ive tried Ti's i was getting some anoying fretboard buzz here and there (the bass has just had a setup done) anyway i had my p bss strung with Fender stainless flats. Anyway i thought maybe the Ti's are too low tension for the G&L so i swapped strings with the p bass. Result P bass sounds great, and G&L has no more fretboard buzz. My only problem now is the fenders are a bit to high tension (i think they also sit a bit higher) so my question is there another string that is in between these 2 tension wise that might work?

SherpaKahn · #2 09-21-2006, 01:19 AM

If those Fender Flats are the usual medium gauge, almost any flatwound string in existence would be between the tension of TI Jazz Flats and Fender flats.

I've head good stuff about D'Addario Chromes, though, and will soon be getting a set. TI Flats and Fender flats are very different sounds, though, so if you prefer the midrangey sound of TIs but want more tension, I think they make a higher-tension set, or you could try half-rounds or Chromes. They won't sound like TIs, but they'll be a bit more lively than the Fenders.

I happen to love both Fender Flats and half-rounds; I just don't have enough basses to have all the string setups I want (soon to change).

Kael · #3 09-21-2006, 01:56 AM

On my fretless J I went from Fender flats (very high tension, more classic old school flat sound) to TI Flats (very low tension, too low for me actually) to d'addario chrome flats. The chromes are noticeably brighter, convey more nuance, and are lower tension than the Fenders, but not as much as the TI's. I could also get my strings lower with the chromes due to their increased tension. The TI's seemed lower tension to me than most rounds I use.

In short, IMO, yes the Chromes are in between the TI's and Fenders. Although they are probably a little closer to the Fenders than the TI's, they still give decent enough high end.

bassplayer48 · #4 09-21-2006, 02:20 AM

Thnanks guys so maybe the D'addario chromes are the way to go, i liked the fenders on the P but just seem a little stiff on the fretless. But the TI's on the P sound really nice.

Shooshami · #5 09-21-2006, 04:08 AM

Chromes sound excellent on my fretless Carvin, and these strings are about 2 1/2 years old. They still seem to have all their tonal character, and they feel great.

Mike Dimin · #6 09-21-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer48

Hi all i have my G&L 1000 fretless strung with TI flats which i love the sound of new fretless and 1st time ive tried Ti's i was getting some anoying fretboard buzz here and there (the bass has just had a setup done) anyway i had my p bss strung with Fender stainless flats. Anyway i thought maybe the Ti's are too low tension for the G&L so i swapped strings with the p bass. Result P bass sounds great, and G&L has no more fretboard buzz. My only problem now is the fenders are a bit to high tension (i think they also sit a bit higher) so my question is there another string that is in between these 2 tension wise that might work?

If you had the setup done BEFORE putting on the TI's then the setup was done for the wrong set of strings. The lower tension of the TI's mean that you'll have to back off the truss rod a bit

Mike

bassplayer48 · #7 09-21-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Dimin

If you had the setup done BEFORE putting on the TI's then the setup was done for the wrong set of strings. The lower tension of the TI's mean that you'll have to back off the truss rod a bit

Mike

Nope the Ti's were already on it beofre i had the setup done.

bassman blue · #8 09-21-2006, 08:02 PM

i'd take your bass back to the tech and get him to tweak the truss rod, if you're not comfortable doing it. you won't find another set of flats that sound like the ti's, and if you like the sound don't waste your money on trying other flats. just my humble opinion.

bassplayer48 · #9 09-21-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman blue

i'd take your bass back to the tech and get him to tweak the truss rod, if you're not comfortable doing it. you won't find another set of flats that sound like the ti's, and if you like the sound don't waste your money on trying other flats. just my humble opinion.

Ok so which way would you turn it and how much?

Mike Dimin · #10 09-22-2006, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer48

Nope the Ti's were already on it beofre i had the setup done.

My apologies - that was not clear on the original post. Often times, after a truss rod adjustment, the neck continues to move for a few days (it's the best reason to learn to do it yourself) - of it could be that the setup just wasn't that good

Mike Dimin · #11 09-22-2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer48

Ok so which way would you turn it and how much?

Here is a link that might help:

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/trussrods.htm

read it completely

Mike

whitedk57 · #12 10-06-2006, 12:42 AM

When adjusting the truss rod, only turn the truss rod a quarter turn per day. It might take a few days to get it where you want it.

62bass · #13 10-06-2006, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer48

Ok so which way would you turn it and how much?

You'll want to loosen the tension from the truss rod so you'll turn it counterclockwise. Try 1/4 of a turn.