Will replacing tuners move a dead spot?

[Santraginus]

I got a dead spot on the sixth fret on the G string. I learned that I may add a fat finger, so that the increase of neck mass will "move" the dead spot.

If an increase moves the dead spot, a decrease may do the same, right? So if I replaced the Schaller Vintage tuners with lighter ones, the changed neck mass may help to move the dead spot to a "place" where it won't matter...

Has anybody ever tried this successfully?

[Atoz]

While I haven't tried that, I would think that minor tweaks to the trussrod might do the same thing, using the logic that a change in trussrod tension will result in a change to the resonant frequency of the neck. YMMV, of course, but at least it's free!

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Santraginus

I got a dead spot on the sixth fret on the G string. I learned that I may add a fat finger, so that the increase of neck mass will "move" the dead spot.

If an increase moves the dead spot, a decrease may do the same, right? So if I replaced the Schaller Vintage tuners with lighter ones, the changed neck mass may help to move the dead spot to a "place" where it won't matter...

Has anybody ever tried this successfully?

Yes it will move, but that's not enough weight change to move it much.

[remo]

Originally Posted by Atoz

While I haven't tried that, I would think that minor tweaks to the trussrod might do the same thing, using the logic that a change in trussrod tension will result in a change to the resonant frequency of the neck. YMMV, of course, but at least it's free!

IMO resonant frequency is determined more by the weight and mass dispersion in the neck, not by truss tension. I've never had a setup/string change help a deadspot and I put this down to the fact a C# is still a C# even after the best setup in the world.

In theory yes, lighter tuning machines will change the mass and therefore resonant frequency of the neck, but you will have to swap them to find out if it's a "good" change.

heres a bit from an old post of mine on the same issue:

I think it's a little more cosmic than that.. I had a 35" scale Lakland 55-02 and it was dead as a, well, jazz bass, at the 7th fret "G" string.. then again I played heaps of Fenders (J's and P's) in my local bass shop.. and ALL had dead spots somewhere between the 5th and the 9th fret "G" string EXCEPT a 4 string Marcus Miller that was dead spot free!! I'm a self confessed pro at finding dead spots and this baby rang clear and true on every fret!! and that’s a 34" Fender Jazz style bass... go figure!! (come to think of it I should buy the bloody thing!!)

I don't mean it's IN the wood I mean it comes down to the density and the weight distribution in the body and neck. This is why adding a Fat Finger to the headstock changes dead spots location and severity. This is also why pushing the headstock of your bass up against a wood door architrave will almost totally remove any deadspots when you play the bass!! Try it! Try pushing the headstock up against a wood architrave and play the dead spot note.. then quickly pull the headstock off the architrave, you will feel the entire body and neck vibrate in sympathy with the note you just played and you can actually feel the bass suck the life out of the note.. it really heightens the dead spot experience!

[MGabeM20]

what exactly is a dead spot. would i know if i had one?