setup help, not sure where this should go.

[bassmasta117]

So I play 6 string bass in a metal band. and we play somewhat complicated stuff. I'm using a EBMM bongo 6, and i like my action low to play faster high stuff. but my B string, unless i hit it really softly always rattles against the frets. Apparantly it sounds really annoying in the audience live and I don't know what to do to make the low B not rattle and still have decent action. thoughts? suggestions?

[seanm]

A larger B string with more tension?

[shadow_FIX]

I've found that playing with the EQ to try to "remove" some of the clatter from your sound helps me. It's finding the balance between low action and minimal fret buzz in the setup as well.

I've also found that getting my right hand technique to where I can get the attack from the note with less force, thus less fret buzz works well. I play a SR5 so I'm in a similar boat as you...I hope this helps.

Also I use larger gauge DR strings...maybe that helps too.

[mulchor]

fret buzz is gross. Even for metal, setting up the instrument properly is important.

How high is it?

[bassmasta117]

I'm using a 130 B right now, and i'm not sure how to judge how high or low it is

[mulchor]

Measure at the 12th fret, the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the fret. You can do it in 64ths of inches or mm, whatever sort of rule you might have handy.

A decent setup the B should be about 10/64 (i.e. 5/32 or halfway between 1/8 and 3/16). If you can get it lower with no buzz, that'd be cool. But there's the natural wiggle of the string, and it's .13" so if you strike your string hard enough that it moves just over 1 times its width, it'll rattle.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by bassmasta117

I'm using a 130 B right now, and i'm not sure how to judge how high or low it is

If it's hitting the frets, it's too low.

[ehque]

Generally people don't play a lot of fast stuff on the B string. You could raise it.

Alternatively a string with more tension would work. That means a thicker string. Try circle K for tension-balanced sets.

Lastly you can't wail on a B string like you do the rest of your strings. Even raising your action and changing strings will not help if you do that.

[bassmasta117]

ok looks like i have to stop wailing on my b string then

[calebbarton]

i would also suggest a string with more tension as long as your bridge can handle the mass of the string.