Uh-Oh!

[doom32x]

I restringed my bass with flatwounds ( I love them!) and now the E and A strings make a metallic buzz when I hit their open notes, It stops the note and lowers the output. But if I put a finder in between the nut and tuners or press a fret it won't do it? What's wrong with it?

[doom32x]

I meant finger instead of finder.

[rickbass]

Sounds to me like you're using a heavier gauge, (i.e., less distance between the strings and the fretboard).

When you fret a note, your finger(s) are acting sort of like a nut, shortening the distance to the bridge and raising the string off the board.

Then again, it could be because you bought lower tension strings or the way you restrung your bass made the tension looser. Your finger between the nut and the tuning gears is creating more tension on the strings.

[David-Adler]

maybe try to higher the action (string height) a bit, that could do it.

[Hambone]

It sounds like you're describing a classic case of nut rattle. This usually occurs when the tension of a string over the nut is less than optimal and it vibrates in the nut slot. The small amount of tension you introduce to the string with your finger tightens the string over the nut and the rattle stops. Not uncommon at all. Some guys deal with it by filling the offending slot with super glue (until dry) to raise the bottom of the slot. Other times you'll find that the slot is too wide and you have to make some sort of shim to take up the extra width. This can also be caused by not having enough break angle over the nut, allowing the string to vibrate all the way to the tuner to some extent. This is why Fenders have the string button for the D & G strings. You can add a string tree from one of the aftermarket guys and that should cure it completely.

Hope this helps

[eli]

Does the headstock on your bass tilt away from the nut? If not, then before you go adding string trees, try rewinding the strings on the tuner posts so the turns fall BELOW the point where the string emerges from the slot on the post. That way, every turn of the string around the post will increase the break angle of the string over the nut.

Wazzat clear?

[Dave Castelo]

Originally posted by doom32x
I meant finger instead of finder.

you can always click the "edit/delete this post" icon on top of the message... and correct anything that sounded wrong instead of posting again.... just a tip

[BassDude24]

Yo, I would have to say a few things could be entering the equation, poss. all of them, poss. none.

It could be:
The flats are bigger around
The flats have greater tension and are pulling on your neck (prob. the case expecially if you replaced an old set of strings)
It could just be because you changed your strings, I know that when I change my strings my bass gets all pissy, so I adjust it a little.

Solution:
If I were you I would give it to my local guitar store with a technician I trust, they generally charge like $40-$50 so not a huge expense, and your bass will sound and feel really good, it will prob. be in the shop for like three to four days though.

[doom32x]

Thanks for the help, My dad actually said that the strings didn't have enough break before I saw it here and he restrung my E and A strings, he does it pretty easily with his damn grease monkey wrench grip. Thanks for the edit tip, I didn't think about that. I'm used to the boards on guitar.com.