| Frustrated by my Dead E String / neck
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Hi guys,
I have a 1999 American Jazz bass and when I first got it I had the typical dead notes around C on the G string.... not a big deal... about 6 months ago, I got a dead spot on my E string around A - G. It just showed up out of the blue, I changed nothing. Open notes on the E string sound great and ring out eternally, but as soon as I go up to A, the notes die out quickly. This is a big downer because I generally play around that area. After this dead spot popped up, I changed my strings but that didn't help...
I've made sure my saddles are solid, the string-end is seated properly in the hole in the string-thru.
After posting to the Dudepit, I tried some investigations:
Step one, removed the strings, took a deep breath and unscrewed the four screws in the neck plate. I slid out the neck, turned the truss rod 1/2 turn CW and then back. Then I turned it till it got loose CCW and brought it back to the original position. I put the neck in my lap and tapped the neck...well tapped is an understatement, I gave it a hard rap.. I wanted to hear what was going on inside the neck. I heard a bit of a knock from inside. I also wanted to see if I could move what was inside because I have a suspicion something is damping the fretboard.
Step two, I reattached the neck and restrung the guitar. I tuned it up and then adjusted the truss rod. I played around on the neck and the dead spots were still there. By the way I hear these dead spots when I have the bass connected to an amplifier, BUT the way I've been diagnosing this is by resting my chin on the body while I play the bass. I can really feel/hear the bass resonating and any extraneous rattles. the dead notes exist both plugged in and unplugged
I'm continuing to play around the neck and I hear a slight hmmm.. sympathetic? rattle as I play the dead notes. Its like something is loose and rattling with the note I'm playing. I swear the truss rod or whatever else is in that neck is tuned to A and making contact with the fretboard and its sapping the energy of these notes.
Any ideas? | 
