Another great setup tutorial is from Gary Willis: Invalid Link Removed - specifically for his signature model bass, but almost all the info is generally applicable, I thought it was very clearly presented and explained.
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Bass strings
- Thread starter Kevin Pressnell
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Dean Markley Blue Steel. medium #2676. 50-105. Last a long time. Sound good. True stuff.
hate to say it like this, but some guitars are just built better than others.
All of the posts are good posts but no setup is going to give you buzz free strumming without the bass being built correctly in the first place.
Things like fret installing and leveling under tension helps immensely but most mass produced guitars don't come with it. It is just too time consuming and costly.
As The Rage said, PLEK is the best thing you can do if you get a guitar without tension leveling. Obviously you might have to shave a lot, and I mean A LOT of fret height but that's the price you pay for low action on a cheap guitar. Heck, the cost of PLEK could be higher than the cost of the bass, as in my case.
From owning tons of basses, the best cheap one was the Bacchus. Even their cheapest ones had decent fret and fretboard job. It's just my experience so yours might be different.
After you learn to set up your guitar, go to the guitar shop and play a bunch. You'll start to understand guitars better and you'll see what you like and what you don't.
All of the posts are good posts but no setup is going to give you buzz free strumming without the bass being built correctly in the first place.
Things like fret installing and leveling under tension helps immensely but most mass produced guitars don't come with it. It is just too time consuming and costly.
As The Rage said, PLEK is the best thing you can do if you get a guitar without tension leveling. Obviously you might have to shave a lot, and I mean A LOT of fret height but that's the price you pay for low action on a cheap guitar. Heck, the cost of PLEK could be higher than the cost of the bass, as in my case.
From owning tons of basses, the best cheap one was the Bacchus. Even their cheapest ones had decent fret and fretboard job. It's just my experience so yours might be different.
After you learn to set up your guitar, go to the guitar shop and play a bunch. You'll start to understand guitars better and you'll see what you like and what you don't.
One word for you: Rotosound. If Jaco made them sound good, there is your challenge and remember he played them in a mundane Fender Jazz Bass. Do not try to pull the frets out!
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
The 18 is a good guitar bro. He just needs to mess around with the factory set up a little. Just like with "any" instrument.
Right, your are talking about string rattle, not neck buzz. I had a set of DRs High Beams once that drove me to distraction. I took them back and got a refund. I’m not so sure that is a brand problem as much as it is an odd set as I’ve
had little problems using the same strings.
There really is no way any of us could give you a “correct “ answer beyond making sure your bass is set up properly. After 20 years, the number of strings I’ve tried is far outweighed by the number that are available. You just have to experiment while having an eye on what characteristics you like and dislike. Even within one string type from one brand the different gauges will feel and sound different.
I play with a pretty light touch, minimal relief, light gauge strings and fairly low action. Let the amp do the work for you and you will have headroom available for when you want to dig in during a song for special emphasis.
I play with a pretty light touch, minimal relief, light gauge strings and fairly low action. Let the amp do the work for you and you will have headroom available for when you want to dig in during a song for special emphasis.
gotta find what feels right/good also ... strings with a hex core are stiffer ... they're all gonna vibrate ..!!
i tend to play a bit to hard , then i start striking down more than across the string ...
since those habits are very very old ( since 1973-4 ) ... i'll play a bit closer to the bridge , where there is naturally more string tension ..!!
i also play GHS Pressurewound strings ... they make less fret/finger noise because of of the way they're made ...!!
i tend to play a bit to hard , then i start striking down more than across the string ...
since those habits are very very old ( since 1973-4 ) ... i'll play a bit closer to the bridge , where there is naturally more string tension ..!!
i also play GHS Pressurewound strings ... they make less fret/finger noise because of of the way they're made ...!!
I have to agree with everyone who mentioned a good proper setup. A proper setup can make the cheapest bass play well. I also agree that it is best to learn to do your own setups. When you know how to do it yourself, you can tweek the bass to your heart's content till you find the setup that works best for you.
Beyond that, I like D'Addario half round strings. They are more expensive than a basic set of bass strings but not as expensive as others.
Beyond that, I like D'Addario half round strings. They are more expensive than a basic set of bass strings but not as expensive as others.
I will do almost anything setup-wise, except fret levelling. I simply don’t have the tools.
1. Can your bass accommodate a good set-up?
2. Do you have a good set-up?
3. Does your technique permit low action, or do you need to dig in? (Personally, no problem with latter - I believe that basses with a bit higher action will permit a wider range of expression through left-hand technique - but that's a different place than the low-action shtick)
4. Do you have high-tension strings? In this regard, DR Hi-Beams merit exploration, and I'm sure there are others.
2. Do you have a good set-up?
3. Does your technique permit low action, or do you need to dig in? (Personally, no problem with latter - I believe that basses with a bit higher action will permit a wider range of expression through left-hand technique - but that's a different place than the low-action shtick)
4. Do you have high-tension strings? In this regard, DR Hi-Beams merit exploration, and I'm sure there are others.
Thank-you all for your insight I think I've enough information now on what to do.
I apologise if this article is in the wrong place within talkbass.
Many thanks kev
I apologise if this article is in the wrong place within talkbass.
Many thanks kev
Alot of info regarding buzzing and string height has already been given so I'm just going to say Ernie Ball Cobalt slinkys... seriously, I tried these strings last time I restrung my fender jazz and wow, I think I'll be on these for a while, really crisp highs but still maintains alot of low end growl. Strings do depend alot on your required tone or the genre of tunes you're playing but these seem to do well in most situations.
I play mostly rock and punk with some funk thrown in for good measure and can't fault those strings atall.
I play mostly rock and punk with some funk thrown in for good measure and can't fault those strings atall.
Just to further muddy up the waters, I‘ve encountered far less opportunities for buzzing by using lighter gauge strings myself.
All depends on playing style...
Absolutely. I have a very light touch when I’m playing most times. But even with that I tend to favor a slightly higher action for most things.
It really is all about what you like and how you play. I’ve got a bass friend who sets the relief and then takes the strings all the way down to the deck. He then slowly raises each string till they just stop buzzing, and then raises each bridge saddle a quarter turn above that. We are talking loooow! action here. But whatever works for you, right?
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That is a task that requires not only the correct tools but a specific kind of finesse that can take a long time to develop.
