Need info on Fret rattle, maybe?

Vypor · #1 10-12-2006, 12:59 PM

Hey, im new here and I looked through the forums on this topic before I posted but dident really find any good solutions to my problem.

I play on a Ibnez BTB 5 string, and I have it tuned GDADB, I get rattle on my Drop D when its tuned to Drop D, but when its in E it plays fine.

On the B string, It always rattles. More so towards the top of the neck around the first 7 frets or so, If i pluck really softly then it doesnt rattle as much, but that becomes a problem seeing as how I slap, and I play heavy, somtimes with a pick.

Some people have told me I could adjust my truss rod, but I also hear thats kind of a dangerous thing to do if your inexpeirnced. I know the rattle isnt an EQ or amp problem becuase the bass rattles even when I dont have it plugged up.

I dont really have anyone in the general area that I can take the bass to get looked at by a teacher or whatever, unless of course I take it to Guitar Center but I dont really like doing that becuase they always just feed me somthing that has nothing to do with the problem.

Just a little help from someone that might know of the problem, or if its common or what. Its really annoying.. Especially when im trying to play with a drum machine and whatnot.

Vypor · #2 10-12-2006, 02:50 PM

Alright, I Put my index finger on the first fret of my B, then the bottem fret with the pinky of my right hand and reached as far as i could with my thumb to get towards the middle of the neck to tap, and as far as I can tell the string is completly flat agianst the neck with no "clearance" keeping in mind its a fretted bass

I also forgot to mention in my last post that I previously raised my action pretty high thinking that it might fix the problem, and it helped a little but not much.

But yeah, as far as I can tell there is no clearance between the strings and the fret board.

Vypor · #3 10-15-2006, 07:17 PM

It feels like I run into a new problem everytime I think I might have one fixed.

I read your post, but I had to work a bunch so tonight was really the first night I got to mess with my bass.

When I looked at the head stock, there was no apparent truss rod but there was a small plate with 4 screws that looked like it mich cover where the truss rod would be.

I open the plate, only to find that my bass has 2 truss rods.. is that odd?

So my question is what now? should I turn both truss rods or just one?

They sit right next to eachother, I think one just might be for the high strings and the other for the low strings, but im not sure. hopefully you guys know somthing about this..

Vypor · #4 10-17-2006, 09:00 AM

By the way, if it helps any, this is my bass

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar...l=BTB455QM&z=y

Juneau · #5 10-17-2006, 09:30 AM

This may or may not be an issue, but since I had a similar "rattle" on an Ibanez, and since its easy to check and fix, try this....

Check to make sure the tuning pegs are tight to the headstock. There is a nut on the top side of each tuner. Mine were loose and I always got this rattle. If you shake the bass and get the same rattle, thats likely the whole problem.

Again, this may have nothing to do with your problem, but since you used the word rattle instead of buzz, I thought it worth mentioning.

Also, dual truss rods is not that uncomon. I do not know the proper way to adjust one though personally. BTW Joshua, the BTB is just a weird animal. Its one of the few 35" scale production (factory) bass around. I considered getting one before I took the plunge on my Dingwall. It wouldnt suprise me if this model had dual rods standard.

Vypor · #6 10-17-2006, 12:56 PM

To be honest, I really love the way my high side plays. No problem at all, its just the low side i get rattle from, so should I still adjust both rods?

Juneau · #7 10-17-2006, 01:11 PM

Check the tuner bolts first, but if your only having issue on one side, it could be that that side is set too low action-wise, or that you need more/less relief. Remember the lower strings need more room to move and should be set accordingly. Then again you should be measuring action from the bottom of the string anyhow.

A setup is a multi-step process, and any one of the steps could be out of whack. I usually start by measuring relief. Measure relief on both sides of the neck in your case, and adjust the rods accordingly. If your high side plays fine, you likely will notice the relief is set correctly on that side, but Id still check it.

69nites · #8 10-17-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vypor

To be honest, I really love the way my high side plays. No problem at all, its just the low side i get rattle from, so should I still adjust both rods?

No this is the point of duel truss rods

it's real nice

Just remember a little is a lot and adjusting just one rod is twisting the neck so don't go too nuts with it

I occationally drop a whole step but It drives me nuts cause I like to keep my action low

Vypor · #9 10-20-2006, 11:48 AM

Thanks guys, I got it all fixed up and it plays excellent now. I can't put it down, and im really glad Im not buying a new bass becuase I've had this problem for about 7 months (about the time I bought the bass) and thought it was just somthing I'd have to get use to until I bought a new one.

Now I can expect years to come out of it, thanks for the help!

Vypor · #10 10-24-2006, 08:35 AM

I went ahead and just adjusted the low rod first, and it still rattled so I waited a couple days, then turned both rods 1/4 of a turn and waited another day. After that its played fine since.

I read up alot about double truss rods before I went to adjusting though, and from what I read the only big deal is it just takes the wood about twice as long to settle with dual.

But thanks agian, I'll def. keep you guys in mind whenever I have questions about my bass.