BASS EMERGENCY please help, big show tomorrow!!

Armueller2001 · #1 01-13-2007, 02:05 AM

So I put new strings on my Marcus Miller Jazz bass, and I'm setting the intonation/string height and something is seriously wrong. If the truss rod is too loose, there is real bad buzz at the 5 and 6 frets on the E string and if I tighten the truss rod any more than to make this dead spot stop buzzing, the string buzzes horribly at the open note. I've tried raising and lowering the string height and nothing seems to work. I even raised the string height so far that I had to take the pickup cover off or the string would it it when vibrating.

I've got a backup bass but this is my baby I need it to be fine for this huge show we have tomorrow!!!! I think there may be something wrong with the truss rod.

tplyons · #2 01-13-2007, 02:35 AM

Sounds like you might have a high fret. Does the A string buzz here?

Armueller2001 · #3 01-13-2007, 02:48 AM

Nope... no buzz or any problems from any other strings. When it hits that weird buzz at 5 and 6 on the E string, it doesnt sound like the string is buzzing it sounds like the truss rod or something is loose inside and makes the neck vibrate a little but as soon as I tighten it enough for the buzzing to stop, the mad fret buzz starts for the E open.

Cutty · #4 01-13-2007, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Nope... no buzz or any problems from any other strings. When it hits that weird buzz at 5 and 6 on the E string, it doesnt sound like the string is buzzing it sounds like the truss rod or something is loose inside and makes the neck vibrate a little but as soon as I tighten it enough for the buzzing to stop, the mad fret buzz starts for the E open.

What strings are you using?are they low tension?perhaps you need to get a set of higher tension strings then you should be able to adjust the truss rod more as the higher tension will bow the neck more,it's maybe that the truss rod doesn't have much tesion at the moment and therefore is loose,good luck.

*smb · #5 01-13-2007, 04:44 AM

Have you tried taking the string off and putting it on again? I had a similar issue before and it took ages to work out what the rattle was when I played a particular note. Turned out to be the end of the string in the middle of the tuner.

Edwcdc · #6 01-13-2007, 05:02 AM

This is going to sound weird but I put new strings on once and had the same problem. The E string would buzz and it just sounded dead. I thought the problem was with the bass. After the set I put an old E string on and the problem went away. Try putting the old one back on and see if the problem is still there. Seems like every now and then its possible to get a bad string. Maybe the core breaks inside who knows?

Brass Nut · #7 01-13-2007, 05:22 AM

Found one by accident one time.
Defective(?) string.
Wound windings was loose on it's core.
Usually look new strings over before installing and assume I did this time. Drove me nuts!
Got PO-ed and changed the set and noticed a slight bulge in a 3" section of the string where it wasn't tight to the core. Couldn't see it mounted,,, well wasn't noticeable until removal anyways.
Not saying it's your problem, but just a possibility. Only time I ever seen the situation. (And it was quite awhile ago and no clue of the brand back then - most likely a flat though)

202dy · #8 01-13-2007, 08:57 AM

Another possibility is at the saddle. If during the string change you cleaned the guitar (as it is easy to do when there are no strings on the guitar) the saddles were bumped a bit and the height adjustment screws are loose the saddle can move. Make sure the top of the saddle is parallel to the base of the bridge/top of the guitar. This can cause a buzz.

Armueller2001 · #9 01-13-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cutty

What strings are you using?are they low tension?perhaps you need to get a set of higher tension strings then you should be able to adjust the truss rod more as the higher tension will bow the neck more,it's maybe that the truss rod doesn't have much tesion at the moment and therefore is loose,good luck.

I think this might very well be the case. I'm using D'Addario XL Mediums... Anyone know if they're low tension? Or some high tension strings I could replace them with?

Thanks

Nighttrain1127 · #10 01-14-2007, 05:44 AM

How many winds are there on the tuners if there are not at least 3 then it is possible the string is not being held down tight in the nut and that is causing the problem. If you cut the strings you may have cut them too short or they may not have wound down and overlaped and that could do it too.

BIGBEE · #11 01-15-2007, 03:00 PM

hi did you replace the strings with the same gauge you had before if you went lighter this may be the problem, the string will sit lower in the nut and saddles. hope it helps
good luck steve

iplaybassguitar · #12 01-16-2007, 02:56 PM

why did you screw with the intonation/string height in the first place? did you do anything you dont normally do?