all of a sudden fret buzz !!!

Gintaras · #1 08-23-2007, 08:48 PM

I was just playing my Carvin AC40 and the G string started buzzing. As I checked it closer it was buzzing at the first 3 frets and then I noticed that all the strings were doing that and that the G and D would not even play a note till I got to the third fret. I have never seen a bass react like that.

It has been quite humid the last few days and cool. I stopped using the air conditioning about 4 days ago. Could this have anything to do with it?

Gintaras · #2 08-23-2007, 08:55 PM

yes I can measure and adjust it and I will do it tomorrow evening but the reason for my post is that this happened so suddenly and I was wondering if this is unusual?

Vincent P · #3 08-23-2007, 09:03 PM

I've had this happen before with one of my basses. The temprature went from cool to drastically humid. Third fret on the E started to buzz something bad even with the lightest of touch. Once I stabalize the room temprature it went right back into place. Try stabalizing the room temp and see if this will settle the neck back down, may take a couple of days. If not give it to a tech (if your not secure in doing so yourself) and have the truss rod adjusted.

PilbaraBass · #4 08-23-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gintaras

yes I can measure and adjust it and I will do it tomorrow evening but the reason for my post is that this happened so suddenly and I was wondering if this is unusual?

my AC40 is the most sensitive neck of all my basses, I have to tweak the truss rod quite a bit on it...that's the downside...

the upside is that it is also the most responsive trussrod that I have...adjustments are quick (usually 2-3 minutes)...

I always find that after I make a move on my AC40, I'll have to make another counter move a day later (not as drastic), then it will be good for a few months...

I think the main reason for this is the mahogany construction...even through it has an ebony board and two carbon-fibre reinforcement rods, it's quite thin, and there's a definite trade-off there...but I do love the way it feels...my AC40 has been my "on the stand" bass for the last couple of months, so I've been picking it up several times a day...in the last two months, I've had to tweak it twice (when I first pulled it out from under the bed, and then the follow-up)

Gintaras · #5 08-23-2007, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the info on the sensitivity of this bass. I seem to like this bass more and more and know has become one of my favorites. I presently have 4 basses that I really like but this one seems to be getting more and more play time.

John Wentzien · #6 08-23-2007, 09:29 PM

I had to tweak my Carvin every week. Nice truss rods in them, and easy to do. That's the price you'll pay for a thin neck.

Lonnybass · #7 08-24-2007, 08:42 AM

And there's been a lot of weird weather throughout the entire middle part of the country the last couple weeks, with 20+ degree temperature swings and wild humidity fluctations all in a matter of hours (or less).

Gintaras · #8 08-24-2007, 07:24 PM

thanks for all the reply's. the suddeness of this scared me but the posts on how easy it is to tweak was absolutely correct. Loosened the truss a quarter of turn and everything is fine, actually better than before. It also seemed to have cured a weak sounding G string

OxJohnson · #9 08-24-2007, 07:31 PM

Same exact thing happened last practice to me with my RD500. I almost flipped! ALL of the strings buzzed on ALL of the frets! Never had a problem before, but it has been getting over 100 degrees here. I didn't have time to fiddle with it, so I used my Yamaha. By the time I got home, all was well again.

I may add a touch of relief to help compensate for future issues like this...

I never had this problem with my guitar either, but it is VERY solid and weighs more than any of my basses (or so it seems).

Ox.