Could Crappy New Strings Cause Buzz?

[BillyIVbass]

I've mostly been a DR or D'addario man, but I was feeling broke and used a set of cheap strings.

No matter how I set my bass up I get buzz. A little relief makes the upper frets buzz and a straighter neck makes the lower frets buzz. A compromise, I still get a wicked buzz on the A string at the 12th fret unless I raise the saddle sky high.

I play a Fender Precision. It has always played reasonable well until this string change.

So can cheap strings create buzz?

[flipper_gv]

yes

[Floyd Eye]

Yes. Buy some Blue Steels.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by BillyIVbass

can cheap strings create buzz?

Yes, but so can expensive ones. IME a setup is required to some degree every time after a string change - specially if you change brand or type (i.e. rounds to flat and vice versa).

[BillyIVbass]

Thanks guys, I was going crazy! I've always worked on my guitars, but just got a book with factory measurements (saddle heights, pickup height etc.) so I was anxious to try stuff out and all I had was free strings from a company that didn't take off.

I'll be visiting the guitar store first thing tomorrow!