really really bad fret buzz

swankfrank6 · #1 04-22-2009, 06:04 PM

so today my Dean playmate acoustic bass came in... (the only reason i have one is because it was free.)

here's the deal, everything above the 5th fret sounds great. everything below is very much unplayable. the fret buzz is so bad that it is muting the strings, including open E A D G. i've adjusted the truss rod to totally loose and it is still unplayable.
here's what i've done, i put little pieces of cardboard between the nut and the strings. which helped with open buzz, but i was wondering if there is anything else that can save this bass..
heaver gauge strings?
some how warping the neck?

kevinmoore73 · #2 04-22-2009, 06:19 PM

Sounds like there's not enough relief in the neck. Does this bass have a truss rod?

southernrocker · #3 04-22-2009, 06:32 PM

I own one of these as well.
You must get neew strings! That'll fix it.
the stock strings are POS.

BurningSkies · #4 04-22-2009, 06:33 PM

Sounds like you've got some back bow happening. Do a quick search, depending upon how bad it is, you should be able to get it fixed up.

swankfrank6 · #5 04-22-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

Sounds like there's not enough relief in the neck. Does this bass have a truss rod?

it does. i have it set to all the way loose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernrocker

I own one of these as well.
You must get neew strings! That'll fix it.
the stock strings are POS.

i figured it might be a string problem. what kind do you use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Sounds like you've got some back bow happening. Do a quick search, depending upon how bad it is, you should be able to get it fixed up.

i hope so. even though it was free it's still a nice bass, well when i get it fixed it will be.

southernrocker · #6 04-22-2009, 09:01 PM

I used Dr's, they were very nice. The store stopped selling them, so now I use Ernie ball earthwounds. they are nice, too. Basically, get any strings beside those!

Solarmist · #7 04-23-2009, 02:17 AM

Hmmm - If you've loosened the truss rod all the way, and that didn't help maybe you should go for some heavier gauge/higher tension strings.

If that doesn't work - get some concrete blocks, and stack them on the neck while it's laying flat for a week or two

swankfrank6 · #8 04-23-2009, 01:46 PM

so today i put on an old set of strings i had lying around and that seemed to help.
but the reason i can play it now is that i cut out little strips of paper and put them under the saddle. it worked, and it plays and sounds great now...
the only thing is that i had to sacrifice the electronics. but hey, they were pretty horrible anyway. so not a bad loss. plus i'd rather mic it anyway.
thanks for your help guys.
if anyone has an idea how to cure my problem as well as save the electronics please let me know.

southernrocker · #9 04-24-2009, 11:05 PM

The electronics on the dean are crap. If the strings you put on are made for an electric, get some real acoustic bass strings made of bronze. The sound is HUGE. Screw the electronics, but hey, it's nice for 150.