Need tips on setup for low action without buzz..

[greengoblin]

Hello all...

Not sure if it is something I do wrong on my set-ups or maybe just the basses I am working with... I think it is me though as I get similar results on two different basses. Both I am running EB Hybrid Slinkys..

So I am looking for as low of an action as possible without buzz. I am following Fenders directions to the T and then once I get a good set-up I am trying to get the action as low as I can with no buzz.

My best description would be the Mark Hoppus "Jazz" I just picked up. Neck was a little convex when I got it. Action was super low and I loved it. Absolutely perfect except that on frets 1-3 or possibly 1-5 I was getting alot of buzz. Figured a quick adjustment of the neck to a flat stance would do the trick, but no go. Still buzz and of course this brought the action up.. So more adjustments were needed. Next I brought the neck up to a slight concave where it sits now... Everything is to Fenders specs on their set-up page. No more buzz but now the action feels really high. Figured since with a convex neck I was getting buzz, but with the current concave neck stance I should be able to go low again..... Wrong! I have adjusted the bass side of the strings at the 17th fret just a step below Fenders guide at 5/64" and I start getting buzz again.

Any suggestions? Possible time for a fret leveling? I am open to any suggestions. TIA!

[JLS]

That's what I'd do.

Try to find someone who has embraced the strings-on method of leveling frets--you'll get results from a human being, that will put to shame much ballyhooed German machinery.

[darkstorm]

Agrees with have it looked at for possible fret levelling fix.

[maturanesa]

use strings with a higher tension (they dont move too much when picked)...and youll get less buzz with the same action

[JTE]

First, Fender factory specs are a bit too high for my tastes. Low action without buzz depends on:

A. Perfectly level and dressed frets. Not good enough to pass mass produced specs, but exquisite fret work.

B. A neck that can be set to have equally even curve along its whole length no matter where the truss rod is.

C. High tension strings because they don't vibrate in as large an arc as do similar strings with lower tension.

D. A light touch with your hands. This is due to the string arc.

John

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by JLS

Try to find someone who has embraced the strings-on method of leveling frets

Erlewine's neck jig is a pretty good alternative to a real strings-on fret level. But you're right - nothing beats a levelling job that accounts for the effects of string tension. A relaxed neck's geometry is not the same as one under tension.

[slaphappychappy]

Fretless bass. Solved.

[jacostilllives]

Originally Posted by maturanesa

use strings with a higher tension (they dont move too much when picked)...and youll get less buzz with the same action

+1 hex-core strings such as d'addario's and DR Lo-Riders do this.

[jdbernard]

Originally Posted by slaphappychappy

Fretless bass. Solved.

lol... not if you are going for low action. That's a whole new problem. Now you have to worry about leveling the whole fretboard so you don't get spots that buzz when you drop the action super low. The lower you want the action, the more perfectly flat that fretboard has to be under tension. Frets allow you to hide a lot of fretboard unevenness.

Not saying it can't be done...