Is there a way for D standard and drop c tuning without fret buzz?

IvanHardy · #1 10-04-2010, 08:27 PM

hey guys. i recently took one of my stingray basses to a luthier for a set up for DGCF tuning and to go Drop c and then back to DGCF when done. so for the first day or two the bass sounds great and has extremly little buzz. my luthier told me there was no way to completely eliminate fret buzz at drop tunings. i don't know if this true or not. the bass was set up with Power slinky strings(55,75,90,110). so today while playing i noticed in C i had a lot of fret buzz that wasn't there two days ago and fret buzz even in D standard. should i increase the gauge?

electracoyote · #2 10-04-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanHardy

hey guys. i recently took one of my stingray basses to a luthier for a set up for DGCF tuning and to go Drop c and then back to DGCF when done. so for the first day or two the bass sounds great and has extremly little buzz. my luthier told me there was no way to completely eliminate fret buzz at drop tunings. i don't know if this true or not. the bass was set up with Power slinky strings(55,75,90,110). so today while playing i noticed in C i had a lot of fret buzz that wasn't there two days ago and fret buzz even in D standard. should i increase the gauge?

Check to see if the relief has shifted since you brought the bass home. It sometimes takes a while for an adjusted truss rod/neck to settle in. More or less bow may have developed. If the strings didn't buzz when you got the bass from your tech, and two days later they do, it can't be the strings (assuming your playing style has been consistent).

The strings may have relaxed a bit over the course of two days, but I still doubt that is the cause.

somegeezer · #3 10-04-2010, 09:52 PM

Just loosen the truss rod a little til the buzzing stops.

Floyd Eye · #4 10-04-2010, 10:10 PM

That's ridiculous. Find a new tech.

NateS · #5 10-04-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

That's ridiculous. Find a new tech.

+1. a high enough quality bass can be set up to handle any type of tuning you could possibly want. TONS of bands play exclusively in D standard, drop C, C standard, drop B, b standard, drop A, etc. They can have their basses set up just fine.

Find somebody else, is my 2cents.

XylemBassGuitar · #6 10-05-2010, 12:18 PM

Hey Ivan,

It's hard to say exactly what is causing the buzz without looking at the bass or knowing what work the luthier did. Though it is more likely for a bass to buzz at lower tunings because the strings are usually "floppier," I can't say that I agree completely with the opinion that you can't get rid of all buzzing at drop tunings. An instrument with perfectly level frets should have no problems with drop-tunings if it is set up well and the strings aren't tuned too low (there is a limit to how low you can tune a string of a given gauge...it is also hard to find manufactured instruments with perfectly level frets).

I would recommend that you take the bass back to the luthier and let him know that more buzz has developed since the setup was done. Occasionally it will take things a little while to settle in like electracoyote pointed out. I have always told my customers to bring their instruments back to me for a touch-up if something settles in funny a few days after a setup...I would imagine that your luthier would offer the same courtesy.

Based on the luthier's response you can decide if you want to continue taking your instruments to him. He should at least be able to tell you why your bass is buzzing again...

interstatejoe · #7 10-05-2010, 12:50 PM

+1 on finding a new luthier. What gauge strings are you using?

Turnaround · #8 10-05-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassk81976

+1. a high enough quality bass can be set up to handle any type of tuning you could possibly want.

Sure. I want my 34" Brand X bass to sound great with no fret buzz tuned to low Bflat with low action. I play with a pick. Want to set it up for me?

XylemBassGuitar · #9 10-06-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Sure. I want my 34" Brand X bass to sound great with no fret buzz tuned to low Bflat with low action. I play with a pick. Want to set it up for me?

LOL, good point Turnaround.

Ivan, just in case I didn't get this across in my first post, if your luthier is willing to at least discuss with you the reason(s) why your bass is buzzing again (if not willing to take it back and work on it again) you may not want to hold this against him/her. Setting up an instrument for dropped tuning can be challenging and it is definitely within the realm of possibility that your bass would need a fret dressing, different string gauges, higher action, etc., to completely eliminate buzzing at the tunings you are using.

Don't judge your luthier based solely on the opinions of the guys on TalkBass, myself included. Give him/her another call.

NateS · #10 10-06-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Sure. I want my 34" Brand X bass to sound great with no fret buzz tuned to low Bflat with low action. I play with a pick. Want to set it up for me?

sure, i'll get right on that.

Do i need to start listing bands that play in drop B?

how about Black Sheep Wall, the bassist is tuned to Drop G.

I tune my 5 string to drop E some times.

stu1965 · #11 10-06-2010, 02:43 PM

I too would find a new guy. Ivan - I'm in NY as well. I can suggest two people.....

1- Chris, over at the guitar museum in new hyde park. Good mellow guy, knows his stuff, takes forever though. I've known him since the late 70s.

2- Sal Tine (in Oceanside)-Beyond amazing. All the local 'progressive/fusion/REAL musician dudes go to Sal. http://www.theguitarfix.com/ - doesn't do emails, or much of a computer guy - call him, and if you do, please tell him Stu sent you.

NKBassman · #12 10-06-2010, 02:45 PM

I'm tuning to C Standard/Drop Bflat right now, and I'm using DR DDT strings. Can't remember the gauge exactly but they are pretty much a 5 string set without the high G string, so maybe like 55/60-125 or something. The strings still rattle a bit but I'm reluctant to go to a higher gauge. Tone is beefy and makes me want to puke when I turn on my fuzz.

Worldeeeter · #13 10-06-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XylemBassGuitar

LOL, good point Turnaround.

Ivan, just in case I didn't get this across in my first post, if your luthier is willing to at least discuss with you the reason(s) why your bass is buzzing again (if not willing to take it back and work on it again) you may not want to hold this against him/her. Setting up an instrument for dropped tuning can be challenging and it is definitely within the realm of possibility that your bass would need a fret dressing, different string gauges, higher action, etc., to completely eliminate buzzing at the tunings you are using.

Don't judge your luthier based solely on the opinions of the guys on TalkBass, myself included. Give him/her another call.

him/HER?!?!?! Hmmmm....a female luthier. I never even entertained that thought, as I've never seen or met one. If I found a girl who could set up my basses, refret, or even build me a bass, I'd consider getting married again!

ga_edwards · #14 10-06-2010, 03:46 PM

Am I the only one who doesn't mind a little fret buzz and rattling in the low end, and thinks it adds a little character to the tone?

electracoyote · #15 10-06-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

Am I the only one who doesn't mind a little fret buzz and rattling in the low end, and thinks it adds a little character to the tone?

You're not alone.

On some of my basses, when I get them dialed in, if they rattle just a tad, I think it adds a certain character and charm. A bit more bite and growl, if you like that kind of thing, and it almost always gets subdued in the mix.

On other basses though, if I don't dial all the buzz and rattle out, they sound like crap.

rockstarbassist · #16 10-06-2010, 03:59 PM

Yes.
My NS5 is tuned GCGCF, and I have zero buzz all up and down the neck.

Find a new/good tech.

Brewtallica · #17 04-10-2011, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldeeeter

him/HER?!?!?! Hmmmm....a female luthier. I never even entertained that thought, as I've never seen or met one. If I found a girl who could set up my basses, refret, or even build me a bass, I'd consider getting married again!

Hi...I'm Jessica...and I'm a guitar tech.....you have now officially met your first female guitar tech! congrats!

hahahaha

Jessica Guitar Tech | Facebook

lokikallas · #18 04-10-2011, 11:29 AM

Your bass settles in after a few days as said before. Which is why it is a great idea to learn how to do a basic setup yourself. You save yourself money, plus you can deal with these minor tweaks easily. Your 110's sound about right for D tuning, Drop C should be cool, but there are tension charts all over here to figure out the optimum gauge. Also remember, a little bit of buzz is OK! The question is, when you play through your amp, can you hear the buzz? I've met a lot of people who base their buzz tolerance around playing an electric bass without plugging in. Are you putting a mic on the bass, or the speaker? Think about it. I'm not saying you should ignore all buzz, but be conscious of the actual sound from your amp, not just what you hear plinking around in your bedroom.