Buzzing sounds no matter what I do

[ADJ808]

Hi everybody...

Every time I play a note on my Squire bass IV, it buzzes. I secured the bridge so it's straight and doesn't move. I played around with the action. I even tried inserting shims. I adjusted the truss rod accordingly.

Finally, I levelled and re crowned the frets. This has helped a bit, but it still buzzes when notes are played.

I've currently got the Low E action at 10/64ths from top of fret to under the string. That's way to high for me, plus it still buzzes here and there.

Any ideas? Is the action supposed to be that high?

Thanks

 

[Justinian]

I'm one of those players who assumes that there will inevitably be some buzz
with extremely low action,

"Played" around with the action?

Please elaborate if you can.

 

[Don Kasper]

Gentlemen. You are posting on the Double Bass (DB) side of Talk Bass.
Please use the Report button at the bottom of your posts to notify a Moderator to move this to the BG (Bass Guitar) side of TB.
Good Luck.
Thx.

 

[ADJ808]

I'm one of those players who assumes that there will inevitably be some buzz
with extremely low action,

"Played" around with the action?

Please elaborate if you can.

Hi Justinian

I set the bass up. I set the truss rod correctly and checked the string height at the nut. It was still buzzing.

Then I experimented lifting the action at the bridge to try to get rid of the buzzing. I had to have the action ridiculously high to almost get rid of it. So it has minimal buzz but is unplayable.

 

[ADJ808]

Gentlemen. You are posting on the Double Bass (DB) side of Talk Bass.
Please use the Report button at the bottom of your posts to notify a Moderator to move this to the BG (Bass Guitar) side of TB.
Good Luck.
Thx.

Will do. Thanks

 

[ADJ808]

Hi everybody...

Every time I play a note on my Squire bass IV, it buzzes. I secured the bridge so it's straight and doesn't move. I played around with the action. I even tried inserting shims. I adjusted the truss rod accordingly.

Finally, I levelled and re crowned the frets. This has helped a bit, but it still buzzes when notes are played.

I've currently got the Low E action at 10/64ths from top of fret to under the string. That's way to high for me, plus it still buzzes here and there.

Any ideas? Is the action supposed to be that high?

Thanks

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Neck could be twisted, which happens on entry-level bass necks IME.

If you're really attached to the bass, perhaps a swapout with a Mighty Mite or Fender aftermarket neck?

 

[ADJ808]

Its fairly new, only about two years old. Could it of got twisted in that time?

I'll look into those other ones you mentioned. Thanks

 

[byacey]

It's best to keep all your inquries in one thread. Having multiple threads for the same thing causes confusion.

Does it buzz on all notes in all strings? Some details of when the buzz occurs will be helpful in troubleshotting.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Its fairly new, only about two years old. Could it of got twisted in that time?

I'll look into those other ones you mentioned. Thanks

Yes, absolutely...some happen incredibly quick or others can develop over time from various stressors (weather, humidity, imbalanced string tension, etc.)

 

[Turnaround]

Yes, absolutely...some happen incredibly quick or others can develop over time from various stressors (weather, humidity, imbalanced string tension, etc.)

Actually most twist is caused by internal stresses in the wood, not externally applied ones. These develop in the wood as the tree is growing and will show up to some extent when the log is converted into boards. But there may be residual stress inside the wood that doesn't work out for some time, occasionally not for years. I have a piece of maple in the shop that was kiln dried and perfectly flat when I bought it. It has been stored properly and not subjected to any external stresses. It's badly twisted now after about 5 years of resting.

 

[Derek Kay]

I presume it buzzes when you play it acousticly
I assume every string buzzes along most of the fingerboard
If so the action is too low.
I would raise it incrementally until most disappears and then adjust the trussrod accordingly.

You could try a heavier set of strings, or play lighter or closer to the bridge.
The action is a compromise

 

[Prodigus Filius]

I've currently got the Low E action at 10/64ths from top of fret to under the string. That's way to high for me, plus it still buzzes here and there.

Any ideas? Is the action supposed to be that high?

Thanks

Too high. What kind of neck shimming? Saddles too high (shim at front of pocket). Saddles bottomed out? (shim at rear of pocket). What tuning, what strings? Relief?

 

[jj.833]

Often the buzz comes from bad playing technique - put your left hand fingers just below the fret, not in the midpoint between two frets.
Just saying... good luck!

 

[sawzalot]

Normally I'd say you need to get the frets looked at, but you said you leveled and re-crowned the frets. Is this something you did, and is it worth maybe having another tech give it a second look? Given everything that's said here so far, if the relief is set properly, you have enough travel in the saddles to lower the action, and the strings are still buzzing at a relatively high action height, it's either the fretwork or the neck is wonky somehow.

 

[ADJ808]

Thanks for all your great responses guys. This is a very helpful site.

Just to let you all know. I eventually plucked up the courage to level and crown the frets. I took my time and it was a good job.

Once I'd set up the bass again, it played really well with no buzzing.

Thanks again for all your help!