Geddy Lee Bass - Action & More....

[theevilplankton]

I've never had to tamper with my basses before - I've pretty much just owned and played!

However, my Geddy Lee bass has developed a problem. When I play the first fret on the G string, the string has started to buzz really badly.

For some reason, the string when pressed on that fret now seems to touch other frets on the neck, creating a buzz/muffle.

I've done some research, and I believe I'm correct that the bridge needs a small tweak with an allen key to raise the string slightly?

Is this a specialist tool? The Fender allen key doesn't fit, as the Ged comes with the Badass bridge.

I always use 40-100 D'addario EXL 170's, Nickel. Are these the wrong gauge for the Ged? Should I be using a 105 E, or would this not make any difference?

The bass has a lovely low action, but this problem has just developed. I've had the guitar since about June, and it has had plenty of gigging. I'm in the UK, so it hasn't had massive temperature changes.

I got a bit worried, as none of other guitars ever needed this. The neck is totally straight, so no problems there.

Any help or advice much appreciated...or any other Geddy owners wih similar problems?

[()smoke()]

check the sticky on setups--you'll need to take a look at your neck relief and bridge action (as well as nut height, etc. all holistically)

...but you may find it's a simple truss rod tweak and/or slightly raising the saddle until the string isn't buzzing anymore

i'm not sure, but i think the stock strings on the GL have a .045 G, so the change to the lighter set will allow the neck to straighten a bit, which takes away relief and could contribute to the buzzing your hear...this is corrected easily by slightly loosening the truss rod to compensate for the lower tension of the new strings

...as for the string gauge choice, i think you picked a perfect set for the bass because the neck is so slim, the lower tension will work better for it...when i had my GL, i could never get the neck as straight as i prefer using .045-.105 strings, whick i attribute to the less stiff neck due to the thinness