HELP SR405QM - Clanking string sound?

[srptopdog]

Some advice please.

I just bought a new Ibanez SR405QM 5-string. The salesperson adjusted the neck and set the action to medium low. I brought it home three days ago and it played fine for now. When I play through the factory strings I'm going with a set of DR highbeams and a good setup to fine-tune things.

This morning my E string was making a sound as if it was hitting something metalic. I hear the note and the clacking sound. I can hear this sound through the amp as well as from the bass itself. Thinking the action might have settled some (since the instrument was new out of the box), I took the allen key and raised the action on just the E string to trouble shoot the issue. The offending sound is still there. In fact, I set the string hight higher than all of the other strings and I still hear this sound.

We have had a lot of rain here in the northeast lately, and the temperature has dropped somewhat, so I'm wondering if the weather has effected the neck somewhat. When I sight down the neck on either side it looks good, with just a the very slightest bit of up-bow, so as the neck is not completely flat. So I think I am still OK in that area.

Do I have a "lemon?" Any ideas? What about neck "twist?" I don't see this, but I can't be sure.

I'm ready to return the instrument becuase I don't want to play around with setups and tweaks, only to discover that I have some intrinsic issue specific to this bass that can not be fixed.

Finally, I am thinking about moving up to the 505 (with the barts, I know... but more $$$).

Thanks for any advice,

Salvatore ~

[Solarmist]

I have the SR400QM, and it does the same thing. The active system really picks up the small amount of fret buzz when you initially hit the string - especially if you have the treble up. I do all my own setup work, and have mine set what would be considered a bit high, but I also tune to C G C F. I don't think you have a lemon (I've never seen an Ibanez lemon). Learn how to do your own setups - its easy.

[jayarroz]

see if the pick up is raised to high, hit the string purposly to the pick up and see if its the same noise you keep hearing. If so sink the pickup at the E string down a little.

[srptopdog]

Originally Posted by jayarroz

see if the pick up is raised to high, hit the string purposly to the pick up and see if its the same noise you keep hearing. If so sink the pickup at the E string down a little.

Thanks for the feedback.

Turns out the pickup near the E string WAS set too high. I brought it down a touch and that fixed my issue.

On another note, I did return the instrument and payed a bit more money for a Spector 5-er. I like the tone better on this axe vs. the IBZ. Fit and finish are good too.

Cheers,

Sal ~