Upper fret buzz

[bobostein]

Why does my E string only slap (and buzz a little) on the 2nd and 3rd fret when Im fretting the 1st but no other string will do it? Im tuned in low B. It will sometimes slap the 3rd and 4th when I fret the 2nd. This would not do it in standard tuning. Its not too bad just annoying.

[chadhargis]

Mine was doing the same thing and I added some relief by loosening the truss rod a bit.

[PBass101]

Take it to a technician to have the frets checked for levelness. Don't assume that screwing around with the truss rod is necessarily the answer.

If the frets are bad, you may have to dial in an excess amount of relief to get rid of the buzz, whereas level frets will let you keep the neck closer to straight, which is usually preferable.

[bobostein]

actually its not really buzz, now that I think about it the string is slapping the 2nd and 3rd fret not buzzing sorry

[PBass101]

So...There's no problem?

[bobostein]

Originally Posted by PBass101

So...There's no problem?

I cant stand the click, click, click, click, when I play the upper frets on the E. Is this just me or does everyone have this with a low tuned bass, and should I just learn to live with it?

[dazgreen]

The standard distance to measure the action is at the 17th fret.With the bass in its playing posistion use a steel ruler (graded in 0.5mm or 1/32 of an inch) and measure from the top of the fret to the underside of the string.Action is a matter of personal taste, but a good starting point is 2mm, with a slightly higher action for the lower strings.

If you think a string may need adjusting, first slacken it off. Then when adjusting ensure that one side of the saddles is not higher than the other. After each adjustment re tune the string and try it out. Always remembering a small ammount of fret noise is often un noticeable at gig levels.

This should help with string buzzes etc, if it does not then maybe you might get a more experienced dude to cast an eye over your bass.

[PBass101]

Originally Posted by bobostein

I cant stand the click, click, click, click, when I play the upper frets on the E. Is this just me or does everyone have this with a low tuned bass, and should I just learn to live with it?

The frets closer to the nut = lower frets.

How are you hitting the strings? Are you striking them downwards into the frets? Sounds like a technique issue to me.

[bobostein]

^ Its the lower frets then. I play kind of hard and Im use to standard tuning not low B, I just started playing in low B last night. I think Im just going to deal with it. Like I said its not too bad Im just being anal.

[Righteous Thunderer]

My Schecter does this as well, but I noticed that when I jam with other instruments, especially drums, if I just hit the string a little lighter you can't hear it. Plus, when I want that heavy clacking sound for harder rock or metal, it's REALLY easy to get it. Especially when I downtune

[Evil Undead]

Try using a thicker string for the low B, maybe a .130 gauge

[JLS]

Originally Posted by bobostein

Why does my E string only slap (and buzz a little) on the 2nd and 3rd fret when Im fretting the 1st but no other string will do it? Im tuned in low B. It will sometimes slap the 3rd and 4th when I fret the 2nd. This would not do it in standard tuning. Its not too bad just annoying.

You have an E string tuned to a low B? That's gonna flop around.

[KellyM]

Originally Posted by JLS

You have an E string tuned to a low B? That's gonna flop around.

Yeah, let's take it to a low G while we're at it. .100 oughta do it, right? :P