Buzzing on Open E all of a sudden

GraffixNyc · #1 05-20-2009, 08:29 PM

Hey guys, I have a Spector US NS4. I have a few basses so I dont play each everyday but I was playing this bass just a few weeks ago and it was fine. I picked it up the other day and noticed when I hit an open E it was buzzing. It seems like the string is hitting the first fret. When I fret the string anywhere there is no buzz. Only when I play it open. But I know for sure this wasn't happening a few weeks ago when I was playing it. I didn't change the strings within that time or make any adjustments to the action. When I noticed the buzzing I started to raise the action but no matter what it still buzzes on the open E of course it doesn't buzz as much when I raise the action but it still does and the action is now too high for my liking. Do you think it just needs to be set up? It's just strange that two or so weeks ago there was no buzz and now there is.. It's only on the Open E string none of the others are buzzing when played open

Fieldy Snuts · #2 05-20-2009, 08:37 PM

I think your neck relief got a bit too back bowed due to maybe weather changes/humidity, I would loosen the truss rod just a tad, maybe half a turn or 1/4th of a turn (make sure you mark where it used to be just for the record, so you can get things back to the way they were if it doesn't help), once you do that and if its good (it doesn't buzz) , you can then re adjust the action at the bridge saddle to the desired action.

GraffixNyc · #3 05-20-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fieldy Snuts

I think your neck relief got a bit too back bowed due to maybe weather changes/humidity, I would loosen the truss rod just a tad, maybe half a turn or 1/4th of a turn (make sure you mark where it used to be just for the record, so you can get things back to the way they were if it doesn't help), once you do that and if its good (it doesn't buzz) , you can then re adjust the action at the bridge saddle to the desired action.

Thanks, Yeah the weather has been a little nuts lately. beautiful out one day, cold and rainy the next. I will try loosening the truss rod like you mentioned. I never really messed with the truss rod because I was afaird I'd mess something up but I feel comfortable making that slight adjustment

I'll let you know if that corrected it or not. Thanks

Fieldy Snuts · #4 05-20-2009, 09:26 PM

Just remember that with the truss rod a little goes a long way, so just don't go crazy with it and you should be fine.

dmusic148 · #5 05-20-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraffixNyc

When I fret the string anywhere there is no buzz. Only when I play it open.

That means, quite simply, that it ISN'T the truss rod- it's the nut. Setup 101. Can't say how it happened, but that's what it is.

Fieldy Snuts · #6 05-20-2009, 10:55 PM

If it was indeed a problem with the nut itself, then more than likely the OP would have had the problem a long time before now, as he mentioned the problem just started, as you may or may not know (if the nut is a tad bit on the low side) it can be made up by adding a tad more relief than usual, that's why when setting nut height it should be done with the relief already adjusted to the desired relief, and if the relief that the nut was cut for were to change (due to weather/humidity etc.) like im GUESSING happened with the OP's bass, the nut may now be sitting in too low of a position due to a change in relief (more than likely a decrease in relief) , which should be fixed by adding a tad more relief (loosening the truss rod) .

dmusic148 · #7 05-21-2009, 06:52 AM

I hear ya, Fieldy. But the fact is, if fretted notes don't buzz, it doesn't need more relief. So to get it playing really well, fix the nut.

Fieldy Snuts · #8 05-21-2009, 07:20 AM

If it is indeed the Nut, its still a pretty easy fix with a wee bit of shimming under the nut.