one flippin' note is off-kilter ...

[mlbarlow]

I'll make this a day that I ask for advice on both of my basses ...

I was laying down some tracks with my drummer for a demo we're working on last week, when I heard the nastiest sound I think I've ever heard my fretted 5 make ... the B flat on the E string - only that note - would attack fine, and then turn into a wicked buzz-saw sound (perhaps exacerbated by headphones). My set-up is all-around pretty normal ... about a credit card thickness of relief ... a little less than 3/32 on the treble side and a little more than that on the bass side.

I ran a credit card along the frets and nothing seemed awry, and I've played the bass for over 10 years with really no problems.

I play with a pretty light touch, so it's not evident unless I dig in, but if I want that note to ring for a while, well, I'll go to another string.

What give?

Thanks.

[mlbarlow]

thanks for the second time today, joshua

the strings have been on the bass only a month or so, but they're cheap strings, so you never know. I'll check on possible flattening ...

[mlbarlow]

hmm ... well, I haven't seen the aforementioned flattening, and changing strings didn't change matters. I get some buzz on frets 1-10 or so, but the Bb on the E string is notably worse than the other frets. I've had this bass for about 10 years ... no problems in this dept.

ideas?

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by mlbarlow

hmm ... well, I haven't seen the aforementioned flattening, and changing strings didn't change matters. I get some buzz on frets 1-10 or so, but the Bb on the E string is notably worse than the other frets. I've had this bass for about 10 years ... no problems in this dept.

ideas?

sounds like you are in need for a "tweeka da trussy"

One of my basses (a Carvin AC40) will occasionally buzz like a hive of bees, a quick relaxation on the trussrod and she's good for another few months.
I believe the phenomenon is referred to as "humidity"

[mlbarlow]

I wish it were that simple ...

The truss is cool ... roughly a credit-card's thickness in relief.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by mlbarlow

I wish it were that simple ...

The truss is cool ... roughly a credit-card's thickness in relief.

perhaps you have a fret that's lifted...

use a smalll metal bar, like the back of a large drill bit and tap on the frets...do you get a dull thud anywhere? vs. the sharper "tap" sound of a solid fret?

look very closely....can you see anything?

on a cheap bass of mine, I had a fret that lifted a little on the E-side of the 11th fret...I managed to fix it by waxing the board, and wicking in some water-thin CA glue and then clamping it with a wooden caul that I made and a G-clamp.

I then had to slightly dress that fret with a tiny bit of careful sanding...

all was cool.