Strange dead note problem on a graphite neck

[gimmeagig]

Hi,
I have a Jazz bass with a Modulus Flea Bass neck.I have not played it a whole lot until recently when i changed the bridge pickup to the 70s position about 1/4" closer to the bridge.What a difference.
Now that 'm getting to know the bass better I noticed a problem which might have been there for a while but it is new to me.
The A on the D string is really dead sounding but it has a slight barely noticeable high harmonic that sounds almost like a feedback.I get that through my recording setup as well as through my amp.Everything else is clear as a bell on the whole bass including every note on that string.Only the A (7th fret). So I changed the string, raised the action, checked every screw on the bass.Saddles tuners evreything.No difference.
Then I noticed that if I press the string down really hard the note wil start sounding much better.I have been playing all my life so my hands are strong naturally but on this one note I have to really press.
The frets have very minimal wear but it seems like it is a fret related problem.I always thought that graphite necks don't have dead notes.
What could be the cause and what might be the remedy?

[kyral210]

Have you tried getting a guitar tech to set your bass up? You might be making some school boy error on the setup, or overlooking something. A good setup solves 99% of problems in my experience.

Part of the setup should be checking your nut hight, wear, and saddle wear.

Hope that has helped a little.

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by gimmeagig

I always thought that graphite necks don't have dead notes.

This is a common misconception. Typical dead notes aren't a function of the neck alone - they are a function of the resonant frequency of the bass a a whole. One way of treating them is to add mass to the headstock. That doesn't change the neck per se, but rather alters the resonant frequency of the entire instrument. You could also add mass to the body rather than the headstock for a similar effect.

That is not to say that this is the exact problem you are having. The cause could lie elsewhere - a poorly seated fret for example. It's not a bad idea to get the instrument checked over by an experienced tech.

[tcbass4ever]

i agree poorly seated fret,or a guick file job on the fret,id bring it in and have it looked at.im pretty sure its a quick fix

[gimmeagig]

great,I'll have it checked out.I'll let you know what happened.Thanks!

[Webtroll]

I read another graphite thread with this problem and it was attributed to the neck/body connection. He remounted the neck and made sure all the screws were tight and the problem went away. If I remember correctly that is.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by gimmeagig

until recently when i changed the bridge pickup to the 70s position about 1/4" closer to the bridge....[snip]...The A on the D string is really dead sounding but it has a slight barely noticeable high harmonic that sounds almost like a feedback.I get that through my recording setup as well as through my amp.Everything else is clear as a bell on the whole bass including every note on that string.Only the A (7th fret). So I changed the string, raised the action, checked every screw on the bass.Saddles tuners evreything.No difference.

Begs the question: Was this "dead spot" there before you moved the pickup? It's conceivable you may have moved the pickup to a position that just happens to correspond to a node -- a point of minimal excursion -- of that particular string's vibration when fretted there.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Begs the question: Was this "dead spot" there before you moved the pickup? It's conceivable you may have moved the pickup to a position that just happens to correspond to a node -- a point of minimal excursion -- of that particular string's vibration when fretted there.

If I was a zombie I'd eat your brains first!

[gimmeagig]

I got it fixed.Fret 7 was loose.My Bass tech used super glue and clamped it down for a while.It eliminated the problem.Thanks for the help!