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12-31-2009, 10:54 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | | Excessive buzz on fretless bass, suggestions?
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I'll start by saying that it's a cheap bass: a five string SX fretless jazz bass copy. Anyway, my problem is that there is an incredibly excessive amount of buzzing when playing notes in the first position (where the first fret would be) when the bass is set up properly (relief/action, etc). And also, at the very highest positions (about where the 17th fret and up would be) the notes choke off, especially in the middle three strings. right now it's set up with what would probably be called medium-high action, and it's reasonable, but i would love to get it playing properly with low action (almost straight neck, bridge saddles nice and low).
Keeping in mind that it's such a cheap bass, i'm guessing that perhaps the fingerboard may be slightly uneven in a couple spots?
does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem may be, and how to resolve it? thanks.
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Space Duck
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12-31-2009, 01:25 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | | Would straightening the neck, and sanding with a radius block be a good approach?
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 09:08 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | | bump. nobody has any suggestions?
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 09:35 AM
|  | Analyzer Records
Endorsing Artist: Mesa/Boogie - Shop Manager/Tech, SF Guitarworks | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Bob  Would straightening the neck, and sanding with a radius block be a good approach? | No, it wouldn't.
It sounds like your neck has some issues, which would most likely be resolved by leveling. Look down the neck from the headstock. Using the strings as a reference, try to see if there are any undulations in the neck. Even if they're slight, they will make a difference in how the bass plays. |
01-01-2010, 11:56 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange No, it wouldn't.
It sounds like your neck has some issues, which would most likely be resolved by leveling. Look down the neck from the headstock. Using the strings as a reference, try to see if there are any undulations in the neck. Even if they're slight, they will make a difference in how the bass plays. | will do. if that's the problem, what do i use to level it?
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 12:15 PM
|  | Why Can't We All Just Get Along? | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Somewhere near Raleigh | | | This isn't going to help you fix the issue, but I had a SX Fretless Jazz 4, and I got an extreme buzzing near or on the first fret position. It was way more pronounced on the A String. I tried truss rod adjustments, and it really didn't help totally alleviate the problem. The neck seemed straight and flawless, but I am not an expert.
Not sure how extreme your buzz is, but mine was real nasty - almost a grinding sound from within the neck. I changed necks to a fretted one - that solved that problem. I've inspected the truss rod of that fretless, but it seems to work appropriately.
Steve
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Steve
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01-01-2010, 04:04 PM
| | Registered User
I setup & repair guitars & basses | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kensington, Ca | | Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Bob will do. if that's the problem, what do i use to level it? |
A professional luthier/tech. Seriously. Leveling a fretless neck is more finicky, than a fretted one.
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01-01-2010, 04:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JLS A professional luthier/tech. Seriously. Leveling a fretless neck is more finicky, than a fretted one. | great, so now i have to find a luthier 
i don't even know if we have those in NS, lol
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 04:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Paul, MN | | | Add a bit of relief to the neck. Your action will be higher, and you will lose a lot of "mwah" character to your sound, but the buzz can most likely be eliminated in this manner. Don't pay for a neck leveling on a $90 bass, that's ridiculous. Save the money for a better fretless to replace that one.
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Originally Posted by Tommygunn Eh... I don't know much bout him anyways. I'd think the flecktones mainstream.... | |
01-01-2010, 04:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamBot Add a bit of relief to the neck. Your action will be higher, and you will lose a lot of "mwah" character to your sound, but the buzz can most likely be eliminated in this manner. Don't pay for a neck leveling on a $90 bass, that's ridiculous. Save the money for a better fretless to replace that one. | raising the relief doesn't help, it's already got more than i would like
and yes, perhaps i will save for a better fretless. hard to do when trying to pay for school at the same time though, lol. i foresee the selling of a g****r in my near future...
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 04:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Paul, MN | | | If you can't make do, just order another SX. Odds are, a decent leveling will cost the same as replacing the SX.
Also, if you bought it recently, see if Kurt will take it back. He's cool about that kind of stuff.
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Originally Posted by Tommygunn Eh... I don't know much bout him anyways. I'd think the flecktones mainstream.... | |
01-01-2010, 05:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamBot If you can't make do, just order another SX. Odds are, a decent leveling will cost the same as replacing the SX.
Also, if you bought it recently, see if Kurt will take it back. He's cool about that kind of stuff. | it's been about a year, so no returns i think, lol
i'll just deal with it till i can afford a better fretless though. It's not my main bass anyway, so not a huge deal. and the majority of the neck sounds fine, it's just the very first position, and the highest positions.
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 05:16 PM
| | | | Where about in NS are you? I grew up there. If you are in the Halifax metro area, my guitarist buddy says the guys at Folklore Music do a good job....
Good luck! |
01-01-2010, 05:20 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by gidbass Where about in NS are you? I grew up there. If you are in the Halifax metro area, my guitarist buddy says the guys at Folklore Music do a good job....
Good luck! | that's not too far out of the way. but as was said earlier, maybe not worth it for an SX.
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 05:32 PM
| | | | It may be worth while just to drop it off and see what they say...
Anywho, good luck! |
01-01-2010, 06:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by gidbass It may be worth while just to drop it off and see what they say...
Anywho, good luck! | perhaps. well, thanks for the advice 
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 07:53 PM
|  | (No Longer) Tradin' My Hours for a Handfulla Dimes | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boston | | | Any thought to building up or replacing the nut?
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01-01-2010, 07:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by lowendfriend Any thought to building up or replacing the nut? | the buzzing is from just in front of where the string is pressed down, i'm pretty sure. what difference would the nut make?
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Space Duck
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01-01-2010, 08:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Auckland, New Zealand | | Alarm bells went off in my head when you said "cheap bass". But really you need to get the action set up correctly in conjunction with a truss rod adjustment. These two things, when done together, can maximize your cheap bass.
Even more immediately, try rolling off the treble on your bass - you might find that's all that's required to take the buzzy edge off your notes. |
01-01-2010, 08:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in the maritimes. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by natobasso Alarm bells went off in my head when you said "cheap bass". But really you need to get the action set up correctly in conjunction with a truss rod adjustment. These two things, when done together, can maximize your cheap bass.
Even more immediately, try rolling off the treble on your bass - you might find that's all that's required to take the buzzy edge off your notes. | i know how to do proper setups 
the problem is when it's set up properly.
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Space Duck
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