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Buzzing pbass help!!!!

Worshipbass12

Worshipbass12

Feb 23, 2013
1,597
929
Nw georgia
#1
Hey tb i need some advice, i have a 2012 american standard pbass 4 string. I'm using dr sunbeams strings. I have a strange buzz its not fret buzz i have checked that and i know thats not it. It seems to be coming from the body i thought it was the bridge at first i checked every screw and tried my best to get something to move or wiggle or anything to suggest that was the problem and nothing. It is strung through the body so i dont believe it could be the grommets either. I put my ear up to the strings and started plucking listening trying to pinpoint the problem doesnt show up until close to the neck pocket and pups, please help :confused:
 
#2
I'm interested in this too. I got some vibration goin on when I lay into the G string and I can't pinpoint where mines coming from either. It doesn't effect the sound, as in doesn't come through my amp or cab when I play. It's not amplified in other words. It seems like it almost comes from the neck or something.

Didn't mean to butt in to your thread worship but I'm interested to know if this may be a common, non issue, thing.
 
#3
On my MIM P-Bass, it's the A string vibrating on the brass nut. Take your fingers and press down on all strings above the nut then pick each string open. If it doesn't buzz then, that's what it is. Or maybe try checking to see if the bolts on the back plate are snug. If it has that adjustment set screw, maybe try that too. Might have to check under the pickguard. Maybe a pot is loose or something. Could be any number of things.

I'm just troubleshooting...haven't had this exact issue myself.
 
#4
I would try adjusting the truss rod the SLIGHTEST bit, definitely not enough to feel a setup difference. ive had basses do this before, especially after changing string gauge/tension, and often times I find the truss rod just needs to "breathe" a little every once in awhile. also, I doubt an am std would have pickup springs rather than foam, but those will rattle too if not taken care of
 
#5
Had this on my p bass for a bit, the g string was sitting funny in the nut - basically I jiggled the string around and it must have settled back in and the buzzing went right away (this was a 2011 MIA standard)
 
#7
If it is coming through the amp, it might not be a simple case of a loose screw. Most of the time I can't hear that through my amps, even the nut buzz I explained earlier. Granted, I don't have a ton of experience to draw from so a more experienced tech would know better.

You may also want to think about grabbing a can of deoxit when you're looking through everything and clean the pots and jack. Really easy to do if you haven't done it before. That stuff works miracles.
 
#8
I had a problem with a phantom buzz after stringing my bass. I made a mistake of winding one of the strings wrong on the tuner pole. The string should be strung so that the string comes from the bottom winding to the nut.
Could also possibly be the core of the string has been twisted. If so, you'll need new strings.
Just a couple of things to check. Hope this helps.
 
#10
cyclopsbookworm said:
If it is coming through the amp, it might not be a simple case of a loose screw. Most of the time I can't hear that through my amps, even the nut buzz I explained earlier. Granted, I don't have a ton of experience to draw from so a more experienced tech would know better.

You may also want to think about grabbing a can of deoxit when you're looking through everything and clean the pots and jack. Really easy to do if you haven't done it before. That stuff works miracles.
Click to expand...

Could be a pickup screw maybe.
 
#11
Yes its the same acoustically and electronically i honestly thought it was the bridge but after closer inspection it really cant be the sunbeams are about three weeks old and strung correctly also noticed the top pole on the e string pickup has a green spot on it like tarnish probably not causing the buzzing since its doing it on all 4 strings but trying to give as much info as i can
 
#13
Worshipbass12 said:
Yes its the same acoustically and electronically i honestly thought it was the bridge but after closer inspection it really cant be the sunbeams are about three weeks old and strung correctly also noticed the top pole on the e string pickup has a green spot on it like tarnish probably not causing the buzzing since its doing it on all 4 strings but trying to give as much info as i can
Click to expand...

Hmm, then it may well be the pickup. If it is mechanical (and not on the pup itself), it would be somewhat muted when you plug in. If it was electronic, it wouldn't be present with the bass unplugged. I guess it could still be the bridge if it was bad enough. The pickup is sounding like it may be more likely now that you've explained it.

Did it start when you changed strings?
 
#14
play the note that gives most vibrations to your bass, LOOKAROUND THE WHOLE BODY!!!, neck, headstock, tuning pegs, etc... some bass guitars have a screw in the tuning pegs on the side as you play it becomes looser and looser until it gives u a weird vibration, the other thing is is that your truss rod might be doing this, id check with a guitar expert
 
#17
Worshipbass12 said:
Hey tb i need some advice, i have a 2012 american standard pbass 4 string. I'm using dr sunbeams strings. I have a strange buzz its not fret buzz i have checked that and i know thats not it. It seems to be coming from the body i thought it was the bridge at first i checked every screw and tried my best to get something to move or wiggle or anything to suggest that was the problem and nothing. It is strung through the body so i dont believe it could be the grommets either. I put my ear up to the strings and started plucking listening trying to pinpoint the problem doesnt show up until close to the neck pocket and pups, please help :confused:
Click to expand...

check the strap pegs:)
 
#20
I've had rattles on many occasiobs with various basses.

One it was truss rod. I loosened it all the way off and then back to my relief setting. Fixed.

Another, it was saddle screws, put fingernail polish on the threads, fixed.

Yet another, it was where the clover clamps on to the tuner shaft: old Schaller tuners. Used a vice to tighten that join up. Fixed.

Found rattles in pick guards that weren't lying flat.

Pickups with too much play because the foam under wasn't thick enough for the height. Did you check to see if its the two plastic shells on the pickups rattling against each other? P bass pickups should be touching each other by setting the angle high in the middle. If they are flat and have a gap between, they can rattle on each other.

Can be burrs inthe nut, slots to narrow, the string break to the tuners, etc etc etc.

It can be frustrating. Keep at it.
 

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