Weird sound from my D string.

[ishouldbeking]

Just got a new SX P-bass, and it plays far better than you'd expect a $120 bass to play, but it does seem to have one issue so far, and I'm not sure exactly what it is...

When I play the D string on the 10th-12th fret, the fretted note rings out fine through my amp, but I get an odd ringing harmonic overtone that sounds completely off-key from the note. Its worst at the 12th fret. The G string also does this to a lesser extent on the same frets. Basically whenever I push down on the string at these frets I can hear this out-of-tune harmonic, though it doesn't seem to come through the amp.

Any ideas? Is this a dead spot or something else? Maybe a funky fret?

[GeoffByrne]

Sounds like a bad string - I had one recently that did exactly the same thing. Go to the music shop & see if you can buy a single.

Geoff

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Could be a bad string like Geoff suggested.

To me it sounds like 11th 12th and 13th fret might be a bit high and/or loose.

Twisted strings also make some really weird noises.

Haven't seen a bad G-string though, it's the way they wear 'em.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[GeoffByrne]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

Could be a bad string like Geoff suggested.

To me it sounds like 11th 12th and 13th fret might be a bit high and/or loose.

Twisted strings also make some really weird noises.

Haven't seen a bad G-string though, it's the way they wear 'em.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

Hey, Humour!!!!!!!

Haven't seen too much of that around..




G.

[ishouldbeking]

I'm gonna throw some flats on there hopefully by next week, so I'll see if that fixes the problem. These are supposedly D'addarios, although they don't have the colored ball-ends so they may be some crap-quality OEM's that they make, i'm not sure.

I'll try to take a look at those specific frets this evening. Anything I should look for in particular?

[birdxofxprey]

sometimes if the neck is backbowed a bit there will be buzzing when you fret a note, but the buzzing will behind the note - back by the nut. if you are hearing this just when you fret (even without plucking), check the neck to see if it needs a bit of relief added. that will provide a little extra space between the frets and the back of the string that lays accross them.

i've had this same problem before and had some success getting rid of it by making the right truss adjustment.

good luck.

[PilbaraBass]

test:

strike the note on your 12th fret to produce the sound...
now...while holding down the fret with your left hand, cross over and mute the string on the nut side with your right hand...

the ring goes away, doesn't it?

your nut slot is cut a little too low...

simple fix...learn to do it yourself...buy a new nut blank (or two) and a couple of inexpensive jewelers files and learn to cut your own nut...

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Damn, I should read more carefully. OEM STRINGS on a cheap bass sound bad .

Change the strings to better ones and that problem most likely dissapears.

Sam