Getting rid of a dead spot...

[Inconnu]

Any tips on that?

[Turnaround]

[testing1two]

lots of threads on the subject if you do a search. the short answer is that you need to change the mass of the neck. your neck has a "resonant frequency" that causes it to vibrate excessively compared to other notes on the neck. This means that the string vibration is lessened and that causes the lack of sustain/dead spot.

By changing the mass of the neck (adding mass to the headstock) you are attempting to shift the neck's resonant frequency to a place that doesn't directly correlate to a fretted note. There's no guaranteed fix but the easiest thing to try is called a Fat Finger which clamps to your headstock: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acces...LAID=885301128

[Edward G.]

Depends on how much you love the bass. The simplest solution is to get one without a dead spot.

[Turock]

Try a lighter gauge of strings.

[bass12]

If it's a real dead spot then your only solution is probably to replace the neck. A mass-adder (such as a Fat Finger) might help but probably won't eliminate the dead spot completely. Most basses have dead spots - it's a matter of how many, how bad they are and whether or not you can live with those/that particular dead spot/spots.

[Inconnu]

Good, I'll try a fat finger if I get the chance... all ready thinking of applying Edward G.'s option...

[Turock]

I really think that you should try a lighter gauge of strings. I know it works.

[Inconnu]

Originally Posted by Turock

I really think that you should try a lighter gauge of strings. I know it works.

Sorry, that too. Next time I change strings I'll try lighter ones, easiest of the suggestions posted here...

[Remus_Redbone]

If you notice the dead spot on every bass you pick up, there's not much you can do to eliminate the problem. I had a wise old musician tell me that once you discover a dead spot on a fretted instrument you will discover it on every one you pick up. It's sort of a disease for which there is really only one known cure; graphite.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Remus_Redbone

. It's sort of a disease for which there is really only one known cure; graphite.

Nope. Some graphite necks do it too, I have one. The spot is in a different location, that's all.
Don't waste your money on a fat finger, which is really meant for guitar or any other gadgets, because they don't work.

[bass12]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Nope. Some graphite necks do it too, I have one.

Yep. It's a common misconception that graphite is somehow immune to dead spots. I've played more than one graphite neck with dead spots...

[Lowbrow]

Lucky for me as a P player that I both use light strings and can easily live without a C# on the G string. Heaven knows I have had to in about 30% of cases.

[Remus_Redbone]

All graphite I've played (which has been very few) was dead spot free, but I'm not surprised to hear it also suffers from the maledy. Nothing is beyond the laws of physics....