Is there anyone to prevent fret buzz??? Is there anything you can buy?

suitlandkid2005 · #1 02-01-2009, 10:15 PM

I have a beginner's Ibanez bass. I got it off musician's friend.com It had fret buzz that was caused by low action. I bought it january of last year. I took it to a shop in febuary. It was fixed. I had to take it back in like august because of low action again. It was fine. I took it back for fret buzz again in december. The guy at the shop was telling how the hot/cold of the weather keeps messing with the neck. I live in Washington, D.C. by the way. The fret buzz is now back. I am just practicing and getting my technique together so it is not like I am gigging. The buzzing is only in the first fret and will buzz if I pluck open strings a little hard. I am thinking it is the weather. I don't want to take it back and have it buzz again 2 weeks later so I am thinking I will wait until it gets warm outside like march because I have the heat on in my room because it is so cold outside. Anyway, I was wondering, is there anything that is made you can buy or ways you can protect your bass from the weather so it won't get tension? Or should I just learn how to repair it myself from somebody?

bongomania · #2 02-01-2009, 10:23 PM

You have limited options:
-keep the bass in a room with both heat and air conditioning, at a stable temp, and don't take it outside.
-learn to adjust the action on your own. It's actually not a big deal to do.
-get a bass with a more weather-resistant neck.

Dfinch · #3 02-01-2009, 10:29 PM

I think best option for you at this point would be to check the stickies in the Setup/Repair forum for setting up your bass, learn how to adjust the truss rod, and adjust it yourself when it starts giving you trouble.

If it was professionally set up and you liked it, then the nut and saddle heights *should* be okay. That leaves a relatively easy and minor truss rod adjustment to get it playing back the way you like it. The correct allen wrench and a bit of reading and you'll discover how easy it is. Just take it slow, and realize that a very small turn (like an 1/8 of a turn) can make all the difference.

suitlandkid2005 · #4 02-01-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

You have limited options:
-keep the bass in a room with both heat and air conditioning, at a stable temp, and don't take it outside.
-learn to adjust the action on your own. It's actually not a big deal to do.
-get a bass with a more weather-resistant neck.

Thanks for the info. What are some basses with a more weather-resistant neck. I was thinking about going for an Ibanez ATK bass or an Ibanez SRX bass. Are they a good choice? I hope so. The ATK is actually my dream bass.

suitlandkid2005 · #5 02-01-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dfinch

I think best option for you at this point would be to check the stickies in the Setup/Repair forum for setting up your bass, learn how to adjust the truss rod, and adjust it yourself when it starts giving you trouble.

If it was professionally set up and you liked it, then the nut and saddle heights *should* be okay. That leaves a relatively easy and minor truss rod adjustment to get it playing back the way you like it. The correct allen wrench and a bit of reading and you'll discover how easy it is. Just take it slow, and realize that a very small turn (like an 1/8 of a turn) can make all the difference.

Thanks for the info. I will look into that.

Fred19137 · #6 02-01-2009, 10:33 PM

DDDDDDDuuuuuuuuuuuudddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeee get a hard shell case. I garentee it will help tremendously. Or buy a more expensive bass

suitlandkid2005 · #7 02-01-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred19137

DDDDDDDuuuuuuuuuuuudddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeee get a hard shell case. I garentee it will help tremendously. Or buy a more expensive bass

Thanks a lot. I was actually wondering about a hard shell case. I should make sure it always go in there when it is not being played right? I try to go with the whole leave your bass out so it will stare at you right in the face so you will neglect it approach. lol

wynne_tom · #8 02-18-2009, 05:42 AM

I'm Having exactly the same problem with my ibanez aswell.. I just raised the string a little and it has now got rid of the fret buzz..

ehque · #9 02-18-2009, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred19137

DDDDDDDuuuuuuuuuuuudddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeee get a hard shell case. I garentee it will help tremendously. Or buy a more expensive bass

A hard shell case will not help. Few hard shell cases are air-tight, and in any case, will not keep your bass at a constant temperature OR humidity anyway.

Learn how to do your own setups, or get a carbon fiber bass.

Vincent P · #10 02-18-2009, 05:47 AM

Is there another room in your home that has a more stable climate? I would leave it there inbetween practices and see if this makes a difference.

Eric Moesle · #11 02-18-2009, 12:39 PM

Are you taking it to a professional luthier for setup, or to a music store? You just mention taking it to "the shop".

A pro luthier will diagnose the problem, and music store tech will just do simple tweaking, usually.

NickInMesa · #12 02-19-2009, 10:50 PM

Fret buzz is half setup and half technique but in some cases, buzz is not a big deal, for instance when playing metal. For this style, you want fast action, therefore a flatter neck, and you often get quite a bit of buzzing, which is usually drowned by the guitars.

Anyway, you need to take it to a luthier, a real pro. I found my luthier by simply asking at GC and they sent me to the best in the area and he sets up a whole bass for $45, which includes setting neck, adjusting saddles and bridge (tuning), also cleanup and inspection of the electronics.

Yes, it is pricey, but believe me, there are more expensive hobbies (I used to race motocross, by comparison, music is extremely cheap).

Many folks, instead of spending that sum, will think that they need to spend a huge amount, $500, $1000, $2500, whatever, on a boutique bass, when a good cheap bass like an RBX can be tuned for a few bucks and turned into a great instrument to start on and make real progress and even gig.

Chris Breese · #13 02-20-2009, 10:18 AM

I think Ernie Ball makes some stuff called FretBuzz Remover. Works like a charm.

xgator4u · #14 02-20-2009, 07:39 PM

Sounds like you just need to loosen the truss rod a bit and let the strings pull a little relief into the neck,not a big deal really. remember lefty loosy righty tighty.

bluefish 1 · #15 02-25-2009, 01:04 AM

If the strings buzz in the open position or 1st fret, the nut slots could be too low requiring a shim under the nut to raise the slots or a new nut. Just a thought.

lonote · #16 02-25-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Breese

I think Ernie Ball makes some stuff called FretBuzz Remover. Works like a charm.

I prefer Buzz-B-Gone.

Chris Breese · #17 02-25-2009, 05:48 PM

Awesome!!!

celtic tig · #18 02-27-2009, 05:49 PM

This is a problem driving me nutz too. My strings are actually hitting the topmost fret slightly when I pluck them so it makes a clicking noise... raising the action a tad should sort that problem out - but there is a buzz too.

My qualified luthier friend (who I don't entirely trust, as he has made a few mistakes on other instruments of mine) thinks he could file the frets down a bit. I'm not convinced this would help... opinions?

Pilgrim · #19 02-27-2009, 06:36 PM

Much easier - and less permanent - to raise the nut or adjust the bridge than to file frets. unless they're uneven, I'd leave the frets alone. However, if you have one or more high frets, then by all means have them leveled.

NickInMesa · #20 02-27-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celtic tig

This is a problem driving me nutz too. My strings are actually hitting the topmost fret slightly when I pluck them so it makes a clicking noise... raising the action a tad should sort that problem out - but there is a buzz too.

A bit of clicking and buzzing is not necessarily a big issue. If you play big rock / metal, it will be lost in the mix. Lower action means faster playing and less cramping.

If you need a neat sound, raise your saddles little, string per string, quarter turn per quarter turn.