1st fret buzz

southgabass · #1 05-13-2011, 07:11 AM

Just bought a bass.... it came in things are fine and dandy (in love with this beast) as of last night when I got home and practiced I'm getting a 1st fret buzz across the neck when playing an open string all of a sudden (its actually touching the fret as it plays no matter how lightly i play)... nothing new has changed in the past few days.. took a look at the neck and its like an arrow... anyone have an idea on what is going on/ a fix... I get off work in a couple of hours and have a gig tonight/and tomorrow, would love to have some insight and help to maybe get this situated.... not too major of an issue, but it is coming through the amp.

John Wentzien · #2 05-13-2011, 07:20 AM

Low nut...

southgabass · #3 05-13-2011, 07:33 AM

well I can see that being something... but until yesterday it was great... no nut issues.... you think loosening the truss rod a touch would help... its a USA Peavy Cirrus with a dual expanding truss (never had experience with a dual before)

John Wentzien · #4 05-13-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southgabass

well I can see that being something... but until yesterday it was great... no nut issues.... you think loosening the truss rod a touch would help... its a USA Peavy Cirrus with a dual expanding truss (never had experience with a dual before)

If this just started, its more likely to be a truss-rod issue.
lots of threads on here about proper truss-rod adjustment.

john grey · #5 05-13-2011, 09:52 AM

There is another issue that could be explored and that's humidity. If the guitar was stored at a certain level of air/moisture & then exposed to another level (or more or less humidity) there is a possibility of neck movement. Tighten the Truss-Rod to develop more relief (clockwise) or loosen it (counter-clockwise) to achieve more bow backward. If it's buzzing; bowing backward would not help. What's more the [tightening of the] rod may not achieve full length relief unless it's rather extreme. Some Rods do not achieve full neck-length relief in any event.

When diagnosing problems; the 1st thing is to determine if the item worked properly at any time. IF it did, then you determine what changed. If [changes did not occur on your part] then you start hunting. However, you always alter ONE THING AT A TIME. That way you isolate the issue. If the thing always buzzed and you simply didn't notice it a new nut would be appropriate. If it did NOT buzz then you determine what changed. Did you put new strings on? Some nuts are very close and strings of another size can put them over then edge (of proper height).

Go after this slowly and think carefully. If you 1st had the guitar and it did not buzz (unquestionable) and the strings were not changed, yet it was in differing climatic conditions, that may have contributed to that phenomenon. If it is a climatic issue your most appropriate alteration may be a nut of several thousandths higher level. MANY times a player does not notice all the idiosyncrasies of an instrument when it's 1st in their hands. Only after a period of time do they find the "little problems". That's why it's VERY important to recognize what conditions the instrument was 1st played or examined. A noisy crowded store, busy house, or unique amp can off-set the careful examination in anyone.

southgabass · #6 05-13-2011, 11:14 AM

aye I'm used to doing my own set up but never had this occur... bought the bass from a guy here on TB... he lives in Wisconsin and I live in South GA... my whole thing was thinking the temp/humitidy had an issue...

I changed strings last week when I got the instrument with a carbon copy (minus age) of the set on there... and until last night things were kosher... looking I see the string right on the first fret across the board... and obviously got some buzz accordingly... this was nowhere even remotely close to be found at first...

As far as loosening I'm not talking drastic... not even a 1/8 turn... from a few of the setup guides I have read in the past sometimes that can cure this issue....