Buzzing?

[Sorrowspell1995]

Okay, this isn't a technique issue with pressing down on the frets, before someone even brings this up. So I tuned my bass down into Drop C today, and I'm getting buzzing on notes, particularly on open notes or 1st fret. I'm wondering, is this an issue with my strings? or maybe the action? *This is the first time I tuned my bass into Drop C, by the way*

[Art Araya]

Your action may be too low for the drop C tuning. The strings are looser than they are in E tuning. You may need to raise the action on your bridge saddles.

But first take a look at your neck relief.

[Jay2U]

If the tension is very low, it is possible that you hear the string's construction buzz. Especially strings with a round core can do so. Another possibility is that, also due to low tension, the string buzzes on the saddle.

What is the gauge of the string(s) involved?

[Sorrowspell1995]

Okay, I wondered if that was the issue. Thanks for helping. Kind of an ignoramus when it comes to repair, so forgive my asking, but neck relief?

[Sorrowspell1995]

And the gauge of the strings, I'm actually unaware of. See, it's new in my collection. If you happen to know the gauges of the default bass strings that Schecter ships with, then I have those on there.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Your action may be too low for the drop C tuning. The strings are looser than they are in E tuning. You may need to raise the action on your bridge saddles.

But first take a look at your neck relief.

+1 Neck relief also comes into play, caused by lowering the tension. If that's the case, the buzzing should be absent above fret 6.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by Sorrowspell1995

And the gauge of the strings, I'm actually unaware of. See, it's new in my collection. If you happen to know the gauges of the default bass strings that Schecter ships with, then I have those on there.

Standard gauges are too thin for drop C tuning. Over 40 pounds of tension drop to just over 25 pounds, which is well outside the playable range.

[Sorrowspell1995]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

+1 Neck relief also comes into play, caused by lowering the tension. If that's the case, the buzzing should be absent above fret 6.

More or less, yeah. The buzzing appears to be absent around that area.

[Sorrowspell1995]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Standard gauges are too thin for drop C tuning. Over 40 pounds of tension drop to just over 25 pounds, which is well outside the playable range.

So you would suggest then that I get different strings? Any recommendations on that? I should mention that I play a 5 string bass, and the lowest I'll generally go is Drop A.

[Jay2U]

Oh, is it a 5-string. Then it's not drop C what you did, I suppose. The normal tuning for a fiver is BEADG, so the gauges of the strings should be okay. What we need to know is which tuning you'd like (for each string). If it's standard BEADG, I'd expect something like 0.045, 0.060, 0.080, 0.100, 0.125.
For an A-tuning I'd use 0.135, then it's still tunable to B.

[Sorrowspell1995]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Oh, is it a 5-string. Then it's not drop C what you did, I suppose. The normal tuning for a fiver is BEADG, so the gauges of the strings should be okay. What we need to know is which tuning you'd like (for each string). If it's standard BEADG, I'd expect something like 0.045, 0.060, 0.080, 0.100, 0.125.
For an A-tuning I'd use 0.135, then it's still tunable to B.

Well, I use a few different tunings, I like a lot of different music. I'd basically like to be able to play EADG, DADG, CGCF, and AEADG, if possible to accomodate all of those. On the tunings listed where there are only four notes listed, these are obviously the four highest strings, and I don't care at all what my low is. It would just make sense to kind of keep it locked on A.