I need some advice

[Disappear]

Disclaimer:
If you do not wish to read rant, skip to the bottom and to the question.

I've posted on this subject several times now and still nothing has been done about the nut buzz on my bongo. The most recent chapter in this ongoing saga goes like this: I was having issues before and I brought it in 3 separate times. Nothing worked. The most recent time was 3 weeks ago I brought it in again and I said, "I bought new strings from you guys so it's not those and I want this problem fixed because it still hasn't been!"
I get the oh yeah no problem and I thought that was it. I had the set-up warantee still on it and I got to pick out new strings and whatnot. The strings took a while to come in, which is why I waited so long, for it to be repaired. I drove 45 mins up there today and got my Bongo in my hands and plugged into this really lovely Mesa big block running through a 410 [just beautiful sounding!]. I play a couple licks to try out the action and it's beautiful then I start playing the open strings. G, clean D, clean, A, clean, E, a little bit of buzz when I played aggressively, B, BUZZ. Frustrated I brought it back to the counter, "It still buzzes."
"Oh, let me see," the guy plays the open strings, "that's not noticeable."
"No, it is and I don't want that buzzing."
"Okay, just give me a sec." He goes off to ask the repairman comes back a couple mins later, "Oh I asked so-and-so and they said there's nothing we can do about that."
Great. And 1800 dollar bass and you can't fix it although I payed you guys several times for you to do so.
"Well so-and-so said you have to change your style of playing on every bass[No, because before this ordeal started, it was perfect]! See the 'E' string here [was talking about the B string{it's a bongo5}] there's no string tree on it so there's nothing we can do."
So he tried charging me for the set up [of which was apparently a two hour job to bring down the string-tree, oil and clean everything as well as re-stringing] but I argued it wasn't fixed. To hell am I playing you guys for something you can't fix. Then he tried charging me for strings of which they removed a brand new pair and charged me for last time they tried to fix it and the same story the time before that[but I thought it was a string problem]. The guy clearly didn't want to have to deal with me so he didn't charge me [thank the lord!].
/rant

My question now is, my nut still buzzes at the B and E strings[the B more than E]. I've tried changing guages of strings. I've tried different strings. I've tried different brands of strings. I've wound the strings on the tuners as far down as I can. The truss rod is perfectly level. The action is perfect. What the heck else can I do to reduce/fix this frustrating problem?!?!? Can you fellow TBers recommend a luthier/actual store where they know their stuff and aren't out of high-school fixing my bass?

P.S I live in the Niagara Region in southern Ontario.

[Bass_masta16]

I'm Canadian, and I've been to Niagara Falls a couple of times..

What store is it you're bringing it to?

[xgator4u]

you may have a poorly cut nut. if the other strings do not buzz, that is where I would look.
you probably don't want to try fooling with it yourself on an expensive brand new bass, and I don,t blame you, but you can look @ the nut,,, are the strings closer to the fretboard @ the nut than the non buzzing strings?

[Eric Moesle]

For best results, do NOT take it to the store, find a reputable luthier in the area. Retail stores tend to have hacks on staff instead of actual luthiers.

Either its the break-angle of the string between the nut and the tuner, or a poorly cut nut that needs replaced.

Most novices tend to wrap the string around the tuner incorrectly which adversely affects the break angle of the string over the nut. This can happen with ONE string only, usually the one with the tuner closest to the nut.

If the nut is cut poorly - it happens rarely, but it happens - then a good luthier can replace your nut, cut and shape the new one properly, and it won't break the bank.

[JustDavid]

There's a good tech from Toronto here in TB. I think it's Turnaround. He might be too far, but he'd likely know of someone.

[Zooberwerx]

Just a sidenote: A good tech will let you watch the process and give a running narrative.

Riis

[DeepCalls2Deep]

Also, call or email the Ernie Ball / Music Man customer service. They are class acts who WILL fix the issue if its manufacture related.

the website is www.ernieball.com

visit the forum as well.

[Turnaround]

PM sent

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

Either its the break-angle of the string between the nut and the tuner, or a poorly cut nut that needs replaced.

This kind of thing is why I think it's so important to learn how to do setups yourself. We all have our own preferences as to action, relief and nut height and if you know how to set up an instrument, you can get it the way you want.

The nut slots sound like they're too wide - continued cutting every time you take the thing to the store for re-setup isn't going to make em narrower!

A quick test to see if this is the case is to put a piece of paper around the string where it runs through the nut. Then see if it still buzzes.

If you still have enough height left in the slots you can cut them down with a smaller file than was used previously. This will snug the slot up and get rid of or at least help the buzz on open strings.

If you're out of height you probably just need to replace the nut.

LS

[joeeg33]

I have had the same problem, a couple of times on MM basses. The string grooves were cut a little to deep, at the factory. The one plus for me is, I have been a repair guy for 15 years and it's an easy fix for me. You have 2 options. One, get a new nut from EB, they had no problem sending me one free of charge. The problem with that is, if you are not good with removing the old nut, and installing the new one, bring it to someone. Because once you install the new nut, the string grooves will need to be adjusted a bit.
2nd option, and this one you should be able to do yourself. You could mix up some 2 part epoxy, spread a even amount in you B string groove. Let it harden, 30 min is usually long enough. Then file it even, you could use an old B string if you don't have nut files. Just be careful not to file it all off, or you will be right back to the starting point.

[Disappear]

Originally Posted by Bass_masta16

I'm Canadian, and I've been to Niagara Falls a couple of times..

What store is it you're bringing it to?

Long + cQuade up in burlington. It's where I've gotten almost every istru... nope, it's where I've gotten every instrument I own.

Originally Posted by xgator4u

you may have a poorly cut nut. if the other strings do not buzz, that is where I would look.
you probably don't want to try fooling with it yourself on an expensive brand new bass, and I don,t blame you, but you can look @ the nut,,, are the strings closer to the fretboard @ the nut than the non buzzing strings?

I would bet it's the nut and I hate that I've sent it there with no results. They keep telling me that they'll adjust the truss rod, thanks guys -_-.

Originally Posted by DeepCalls2Deep

Also, call or email the Ernie Ball / Music Man customer service. They are class acts who WILL fix the issue if its manufacture related.

the website is www.ernieball.com

visit the forum as well.

I fired them an email about the same time I brought it in. It's unrealistic to ship it to them, pay them 60 an hour labour then pay to ship it back.

Originally Posted by unclejane

This kind of thing is why I think it's so important to learn how to do setups yourself. We all have our own preferences as to action, relief and nut height and if you know how to set up an instrument, you can get it the way you want.

And I taught myself the basic set up. This is just a bit beyond my skill. Bollocks am I playing people to adjust a truss rod for me and clean things and whatnot.


Thanks for the helpers guys. Sorry about my rant, I was p/od

[xgator4u]

Of course you are PO/d , well now you know it is the nut. I do not suggest you tackle that job yourself, bite the bullet, and take it to a REPUTABLE shop, maybe someone on here knows where in your area,,, Guys?

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

Just a sidenote: A good tech will let you watch the process and give a running narrative.

Riis

I can't allow someone to watch. No, I'm not being secretive - it's just that my shop insurance would go up dramatically if I allowed a member of the public into the workshop area. The insurer considers that a risk because of power tools and other "hazards", so unless I want to pay a lot more for insurance I have to keep people out. I'm not happy about that but I already pay too much for insurance!

[Mr. Mig]

It has to be the nut. I take my basses to a reatil chain store, but the tech guy has been doing this for almost 40 years so I got a good guy. Your story confirms my fears of tech guys. Some, not all, are just guys with no real experience.

[Disappear]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

I can't allow someone to watch. No, I'm not being secretive - it's just that my shop insurance would go up dramatically if I allowed a member of the public into the workshop area. The insurer considers that a risk because of power tools and other "hazards", so unless I want to pay a lot more for insurance I have to keep people out. I'm not happy about that but I already pay too much for insurance!

This man fixed my bass and it's beautiful.

[JustDavid]

Dang!

That's too bad, & a very good reason not to show people. Good to have it posted.

!@#%# Insurance companies!! Of course they must exercise caution, given all the deaths you hear about these days from fret files & hex keys.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

I can't allow someone to watch. No, I'm not being secretive - it's just that my shop insurance would go up dramatically if I allowed a member of the public into the workshop area. The insurer considers that a risk because of power tools and other "hazards", so unless I want to pay a lot more for insurance I have to keep people out. I'm not happy about that but I already pay too much for insurance!

I did not know that! Now that you mention it, Kenny / AL&M Music had a dutch (half) door where you could watch the proceedings. He'd measure, adjust, tweak, whatever and then show you the results all with a running narrative. Honestly, his repair area was the size of a Greyhound bus bathroom....I don't think two people would've fit! FWIW, we've learned a lot from each other over the years.

Riis

[HeavyDuty]

Originally Posted by Disappear

This man fixed my bass and it's beautiful.

Of course it's beautiful - it's a Bongo. Good news!

[xgator4u]

Originally Posted by Disappear

This man fixed my bass and it's beautiful.

Excellent, another satisfied customer. Now some day you owe us, YOU have to help out a newbie, when you have been around a while.

[Solarmist]

So were the slots a little too deep - was that the problem?