Does anyone else LIKE fretbuzz?

momo · #1 11-22-2005, 03:41 AM

Call me crazy, but I like my basses set up with a bit of buzz. It gives my fenders a kind of nice dirtyness and growl, and the growl of the brass warwick frets sounds great. Don't get me wrong, if I lighten my touch a tad, the sound is even, but I like to hear that buzz just a bit when I dig in. I have recorded and played live with these setups and I keep coming back to the buzz. Fretless players love the sound of what is essentally low action buzz, why is it so shunned in the fretted world?

Any one else feel like this?

xbradx · #2 11-22-2005, 01:50 PM

i like a little buzz and also a little of the clanky sound of the strings hitting the frets when a pick's used.

Figjam · #3 11-22-2005, 03:20 PM

very very little, yes, i play with very little relief so a bit of buzz when digging in around 1-5 frets is inevitable.

PilbaraBass · #4 11-22-2005, 03:35 PM

i can see where it could have its place, but...no thanks, it's just not for me...I go for smooth, round tones...the only time a little buzz is ok is when I'm slapping and then the notes are short and percussive so you really can't distinguish the buzz from other things goin' on.

I set up my instruments so that I get a slight buzz when I'm playing with my amp turned way down...as the sound comes up (as in a live situation), my fingers get soft (to even out the dynamics), and the buzz disappears completely.

lyle · #5 11-22-2005, 05:20 PM

I like the growly buzz you get when you dig in with low action I wish I had a little less then I do right now but still its a nice characteristic to have, gives it dimension instead of plain old bass bla bla.

keb · #6 11-23-2005, 06:16 AM

Yup, I like a little buzz and clank. I like to have a fairly aggressive tone, and I set my basses up to where I get that buzz and clank when I dig in. Nothing is a technique faux pas when it's done on purpose.

Fretless5verfan · #7 11-24-2005, 12:15 AM

Nuttin wrong with a little buzz. I actually get a little "mwah" out of the upper strings on my roscoe. Good stuff

JimmyM · #8 11-24-2005, 11:56 PM

Fretbuzz...good with rounds, not too crazy about it with flats.

WalterBush · #9 11-25-2005, 12:42 AM

Buzz and clank are good, good things. I don't like a super clean sound, and I'm not wild about distortion, either, so buzz, clang, and heavy compression=good rock tone in my mind. I have a DB and a Hofner for when I want smooth, round bass sound.

MrDuncan · #10 11-25-2005, 02:15 PM

In short, I hate fretbuzz and even a little drives me nuts.

SGT. Pepper · #11 11-26-2005, 08:08 PM

John Entwistle liked his basses to buzz up and down the whole neck evenly. His neck was adjusted almost perfectly straight. Many players like the buzz for that GIANT bumble bee tone.
Me personally, I hate buzz! It's one of the reasons why I use flatwounds. I could achieve lower action with them and not get a buzz. I prefer a clean round THUMP!

Bobbo 77' · #12 11-26-2005, 08:19 PM

Hola,
Just set up my Marcus, and I might be crazy, but I think that's what gives the Jazz it "Sizzle"! I lowered the action to make it more confortable. Yes, there's buzz on the lower fret's, frets 14-18, D and A string's, but it feels better, and through the amp it's not detectable.

Bobbo 77"

tplyons · #13 11-26-2005, 11:54 PM

Love a bit of buzz, but depends on the bass.

XIbanez4lifeX · #14 11-27-2005, 12:31 AM

uuuughh. I cant stand fret buzz and the clanky B strings are starting to agrevate me as well.

MrDuncan · #15 11-27-2005, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XIbanez4lifeX

uuuughh. I cant stand fret buzz and the clanky B strings are starting to agrevate me as well.

Clanky B strings are the reason I don't play 5ers any more.

BlackburstJBP · #16 11-27-2005, 08:56 AM

Sorry boys,I dont like the fret buzz either.It doesnt fit the type of music my band plays.I made a few adjustments to my 5 string g l tribite,mainly the A and D strings were a little too close for the way I play ( Pluck hard ) I had to adjust it to fit ME .I,ll admit there would be some jazz that a little buzz sounds good in

tiredman9 · #17 11-27-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDuncan

Clanky B strings are the reason I don't play 5ers any more.

Clanky B Strings are the reason when I play a fiver its with a high C.

MrDuncan · #18 11-28-2005, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiredman9

Clanky B Strings are the reason when I play a fiver its with a high C.

Never had the opportunity to play a 5er with a high c. Maybe I need to go buy a new set of strings.

simenandreas · #19 12-10-2012, 04:52 AM

I love some fretbuzz! I have the Marcus Miller jazz bass that dose this job perfectly. We do all have our opinions of this, but a nice balanced buzz that you can control with your dynamic is just great. I think that is what gives each bass their character. I think warwick and spectors have some really great low register buzz. Perfect for metal. Jazzes and P`s are great in the higher register. Perfect for funk and jazz.
Some fretbuzz is referring to a modern type of bass sound, am I right? And the smooth flatstring-sound is a more vintage type? I have never gotten the hang of these consepts

Kmonk · #20 12-10-2012, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDuncan

In short, I hate fretbuzz and even a little drives me nuts.

+1