How to dianose fret buzz

collicsws6z28 · #1 11-29-2009, 08:08 PM

I got a lefty 75 jazz bass, strings are about a year old, so I dont think its the strings. The action is quite low on the bass so I having a pretty good idea that its fret buzz due to the low action...Any input it helpful and could provide more information if needed

jworrellbass · #2 11-29-2009, 08:37 PM

Does it buzz everywhere, or just on a spot or two?

collicsws6z28 · #3 11-29-2009, 10:19 PM

no its pretty much everywhere, very noisy if you will when being played

Benjamin Strange · #4 11-30-2009, 01:06 AM

Some fret buzz is normal for a bass with lowish action. How much is acceptable is up to the player. Do you hear it through your amp? If it's too much then you either need to raise your action or possibly get a fret level.

**251** · #5 11-30-2009, 07:41 AM

Winter is coming & as the air gets dryer your bass changes shape. I set up my basses 3 or 4 times a year to keep the action close to the lowest possible without fret buzz.

Perhaps it is time for you to learn to adjust the action?

We disagree about your strings. I rarely get a year out of a set of strings. I change them when they fail to stay tuned for an hour when the temperature has not changed more than 5 degrees.

I also find strings are never the same if you release the tension and re-tune them. Your results may vary.

jworrellbass · #6 11-30-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collicsws6z28

no its pretty much everywhere, very noisy if you will when being played

Has it gotten worse over time? If so you probably should put on some new strings.

If you have it all over your strings are set to low, or you dig in to much when playing. Try using a lighter touch. See what that does.

Pilgrim · #7 11-30-2009, 01:21 PM

It's not the strings. I use strings for a decade or longer....sometimes much longer.

It's probably due to a slight change in the action due to humidity and/or temp shifts. If you play with very low action, it doesn't take much change to create buzz.

I agree with Ben - the solution will be to raise the action, have the frets leveled, or both.

jworrellbass · #8 11-30-2009, 03:00 PM

It might not be the strings, but new strings is way cheaper than a fret job and easier than raising the action. If he has buzz all over it's most likely the bass just needs to be set up again. IMO. I would just start with new strings and go from their.

Pilgrim · #9 11-30-2009, 03:07 PM

Depends on whether he wants or likes to change strings. The flats that have been on my P-bass since 1972 don't have any problems. Neither do the other strings on my various basses that date back to 2000 through 2005. I do actually have strings less than one year old on a bass - I think. But I'm hoping they'll improve with time.

I'm just saying that the price is right if he loosens the truss rod 1/8 turn instead of spending $50 on new strings...especially if he likes the sound of old ones. If that adjustment doesn't work, he can always try strings.

StyleOverShow · #10 11-30-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

It's not the strings. I use strings for a decade or longer....sometimes much longer.

Dead string sound doesn't bother you? Back in the day, having new string zing was a tell-tale sign of a newbie player or new axe.

I've become addicted to the stainless steel attack sound and when I borrowed a bass this weekend found the leather thong sounding flats on my buddies bass to be....fugly.

Do you clean your strings?

-richard

Pilgrim · #11 11-30-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

Dead string sound doesn't bother you? Back in the day, having new string zing was a tell-tale sign of a newbie player or new axe.

I've become addicted to the stainless steel attack sound and when I borrowed a bass this weekend found the leather thong sounding flats on my buddies bass to be....fugly.

Do you clean your strings?

-richard

Nope, many flats players prefer dead strings. I'm one. I also let rounds go dead. I really dislike an overly bright sound.

And I don't clean my strings. They don't corrode or get dirty as far as I can tell.

mcm · #12 12-02-2009, 06:33 PM

does the neck have any relief? if it does not, the neck is not allowing the strings to vibrate back and forth and this may be causing the buzz.

JLS · #13 12-02-2009, 07:26 PM

[quote=collicsws6z28;8309985]I got a lefty 75 jazz bass, strings are about a year old, so I dont think its the strings. The action is quite low on the bass so I having a pretty good idea that its fret buzz due to the low action...Any input it helpful and could provide more information if needed[/QUOTE

Quite low=fret buzz, in most of the real world.

Check relief, adding a little bit can reap audible rewards.

Pilgrim--I'm w/you, on strings. I went through my zing-zang period in the 60s, with Chris Hillman & John Entwistle, but grew out of it.