Yamaha Trb1006 string noise

clewi1091 · #1 05-14-2008, 06:10 AM

i recently bought a yamaha trb1006. i really like the bass but it seems to have some string noise. i took it to a local music store to see about having the action set but they thought it was set up great. they said that was just the nature of some basses like 6 string basses. the strings dont buzz so its not like a fret issue. to me it would be fine playing live but the studio would be a different story i think. is what they told me true and if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it. thank you in advance. i also dont play with a really light touch so maybe thats part of it but ive tried to play light and its still there but not as bad.

vene-nemesis · #2 05-14-2008, 06:44 AM

I can try to help you but plz define the problem properly, wich strings are making noise and give us a little description like if it happens both plugged and unplugged and that kind of stuff.

ATM im thinking that it is probaly because you might have the pickups too close to the strings or have the bass preamp volume too high (mind that that preamp is very hot and tends to overdrive if you have too much volume).

Bobster · #3 05-14-2008, 06:48 AM

The pickup height adjustment is very important.

Also, changing strings (to a smoother surfaced string) like nickel, ground-rounds, half-rounds, or flats, will help too.

Bob

clewi1091 · #4 05-14-2008, 06:52 AM

its mainly the top 3 strings (b e a ). it does it both plugged in and unplugged.

vene-nemesis · #5 05-14-2008, 06:55 AM

Like a rattling or slight buzz?

clewi1091 · #6 05-14-2008, 06:59 AM

yeah bobster i had thought about that too. these strings are original and so is the set up. i may try that. i dont know what strings are on it but they arent flat. the bass plays really nice and i like the sound but dont think i could take it in the studio the way it is. i am just getting back into playing. i quit for several years but have done a little work for a local studio.

clewi1091 · #7 05-14-2008, 07:00 AM

yes vene exactly. rattling describes it very well.

vene-nemesis · #8 05-14-2008, 07:04 AM

Then it might be due to one or both of the following:

The upper truss rod (the one under B E A strings) might be too tight causing that side of the neck to have very little relief, you might have to losen that rod a little.

The action might be too low for your playing style.

Geezerman · #9 05-14-2008, 07:13 AM

When ever I hear rattling i think "bad nut"

clewi1091 · #10 05-14-2008, 07:26 AM

i can have a look at all those things and that would probably fix it. the action could be too low for me. it doesnt seem to make that noise on the bottom 3 strings though. maybe it does on the top just because they are bigger and they arent flats so maybe they will just naturally cause more noise.

clewi1091 · #11 05-14-2008, 07:29 AM

i guess it could be a bad nut. i hope not since i bought it new but i guess it could happen.

lefty007 · #12 05-14-2008, 07:36 AM

If you are referring to finger/string noise, I had a few TRBs and I can tell you it is part of the sound of those basses. It seems that the electronics have a certain bump in high-mid, high frequencies that accentuate finger noise. It has nothing to do with technique or action, etc.

I recommend using smooth nickle roundwound strings, or even try SIT Silencer strings or Smith Compressors -- both are half-round strings.

clewi1091 · #13 05-14-2008, 07:37 AM

the guy i took it to does alot of set ups for musicians that play at branson mo so i would think he knows what hes doing but you never know. he played the bass and he really really liked it. and thats unusual because that store is the type that if you didnt buy it from them then they dont want anything to do with you.

clewi1091 · #14 05-14-2008, 07:42 AM

it does it even when its not plugged in though lefty. but i think your right that i need to try different strings. i think that would help it alot.

Midinut · #15 10-24-2008, 02:41 PM

I own two TRB1006 basses. The first one I got had uneven frets here and there causing audible irritating fret buzzes - I use Hartke and Genz-Benz cabs with the tweeters pretty much on as I like an edgy sound. I also use stainless steel medium light strings (GHS Super Steels) to make it worse! Well, I sorted the frets out, then set the neck straight with the strings at tuned tension and gradually relaxed the neck relief bit by bit until the action was acceptable and the fret buzz minimal. Now, when I got my second bass, it was virtually 100% better fret wise than the first one. I only had to sort out one fret under the C string and that was it. I can get a super low action if I wanted with hardly any buzzes. So it would appear that one TRB1006 may differ very much from the next one.

So the moral of the story is that a good repairman will be able to sort your bass out to your liking without having to resort to nickel or half-round strings. I won't part with any of my Yammies!

Ps Sound wise, it is interesting to note, as someone mentioned, the sound from these basses are conduicive to finger noise, but I don't mind that. Lots of top bass players get that finger noise anyway. I play through a Zoom B2.1u pedal to tailor the sound more to the edge side, but with less high mid - like my favorite EMG sound.