Dead Note on Fender Ultra Jazz Bass

[musicsale12345]

Hello bass world, I am looking for some guidance. I own a 4 string Fender ultra jazz bass. I play it through an Aguilar 700 tone hammer coupled with a AG preamp/direct box through an Aguilar 210 cabinet. The bass and rig sound excellent. This past week I was playing in the theater.

The “B” note, 4th fret on the G string, seems to be a dead note. It does not sustain. Every single note on the bass sustain tremendously. This G string notes sustain fine - not as well as the other strings - but well enough. EXCEPT the “B.”

Can anybody offer some suggestions on how I can get this fixed? Thank you so much.
Mike, Langhorne, PA

 

[BGroovy]

Common on most Fender Shaped Objects, usually the 4th or 5th fret on the G.

The way to fix it is to add some weight to the headstock. you can test this by clipping something (even a snark tuner) to the headstock and see if it lessens or if the dead spot moves.

If you search solutions you'll find people that have drilled holes in the headstock and put lead weights in.

I had an Ultra 1 and I'll say I didn't notice it much after I changed the bridge to a hipshot. Technically changing weight anywhere can change it, but the headstock is the most responsive since the neck is what's resonating at that exact frequency and cancelling the sustain of the note.

Sometimes changing string types can help, but not totally address it. Especially if you're finding the G string to not ring as clearly as the other strings. Check the alignment of the string to your pickup pole pieces. I've found Ultras to be commonly misaligned which could make a string a bit duller. A hipshot with adjustable string spacing can help there.

 

[mazdah]

I've played more than 60 Fenders and ALL of them HAD a dead note.
Custom Shop, Deluxe, Standard, my American Vintage 62, Fenders from 70's... you name it. With new or with old truss rod neck, with or without reinforcements in ther neck.
My G&L L-1000 has a typical Fender dead note on 6th fret of G-string (like my '62 AM Vintage Precision)
My 2011 Rickenbacker has some weaker spots.

It can't be fixed.

It can be moved or decreased by adding weight either to the headstock or to the bridge (Badass) or both.

IF somebody is telling that his Fender doesn't have a dead note he is either lying or he hasn't found it yet. Or is in 1% of lucky Fender owners without dead note.

A dead note on one or two frets of G strings in Fender type bass is not a thing anybody should be bothered by.

 

[96tbird]

How often do you need that note to sustain for more than a quarter note in a song? Oh that’s right, never.

Problem solved.

 

[musicsale12345]

Common on most Fender Shaped Objects, usually the 4th or 5th fret on the G.

The way to fix it is to add some weight to the headstock. you can test this by clipping something (even a snark tuner) to the headstock and see if it lessens or if the dead spot moves.

If you search solutions you'll find people that have drilled holes in the headstock and put lead weights in.

I had an Ultra 1 and I'll say I didn't notice it much after I changed the bridge to a hipshot. Technically changing weight anywhere can change it, but the headstock is the most responsive since the neck is what's resonating at that exact frequency and cancelling the sustain of the note.

Sometimes changing string types can help, but not totally address it. Especially if you're finding the G string to not ring as clearly as the other strings. Check the alignment of the string to your pickup pole pieces. I've found Ultras to be commonly misaligned which could make a string a bit duller. A hipshot with adjustable string spacing can help there.

Thanks so much for the excellent advice. I’ll show your reply to my Bass Tech.

 

[musicsale12345]

I've played more than 60 Fenders and ALL of them HAD a dead note.
Custom Shop, Deluxe, Standard, my American Vintage 62, Fenders from 70's... you name it. With new or with old truss rod neck, with or without reinforcements in ther neck.
My G&L L-1000 has a typical Fender dead note on 6th fret of G-string (like my '62 AM Vintage Precision)
My 2011 Rickenbacker has some weaker spots.

It can't be fixed.

It can be moved or decreased by adding weight either to the headstock or to the bridge (Badass) or both.

IF somebody is telling that his Fender doesn't have a dead note he is either lying or he hasn't found it yet. Or is in 1% of lucky Fender owners without dead note.

A dead note on one or two frets of G strings in Fender type bass is not a thing anybody should be bothered by.

Big thank you. I’ll try the adding weight idea. Thanks again.

 

[skycruiser]

My Squier P has this problem. I try to work around it, playing those notes on the D string. Not always easy to do, but I make the effort for notes I need to sustain.

 

[musicsale12345]

My Squier P has this problem. I try to work around it, playing those notes on the D string. Not always easy to do, but I make the effort for notes I need to sustain.

Thanks for your reply. yes, I certainly play some of the passages up on the D string for sustain. However, in this particular show, some of the passages required playing on the first five frets on all four strings. But I do like your suggestion - thanks again!

 

[musicsale12345]

Common on most Fender Shaped Objects, usually the 4th or 5th fret on the G.

The way to fix it is to add some weight to the headstock. you can test this by clipping something (even a snark tuner) to the headstock and see if it lessens or if the dead spot moves.

If you search solutions you'll find people that have drilled holes in the headstock and put lead weights in.

I had an Ultra 1 and I'll say I didn't notice it much after I changed the bridge to a hipshot. Technically changing weight anywhere can change it, but the headstock is the most responsive since the neck is what's resonating at that exact frequency and cancelling the sustain of the note.

Sometimes changing string types can help, but not totally address it. Especially if you're finding the G string to not ring as clearly as the other strings. Check the alignment of the string to your pickup pole pieces. I've found Ultras to be commonly misaligned which could make a string a bit duller. A hipshot with adjustable string spacing can help there.

Great advice. I’ll especially check the alignment of the pole pieces. What about adjusting the height of the neck pickup near the G string?

 

[musicsale12345]

I've played more than 60 Fenders and ALL of them HAD a dead note.
Custom Shop, Deluxe, Standard, my American Vintage 62, Fenders from 70's... you name it. With new or with old truss rod neck, with or without reinforcements in ther neck.
My G&L L-1000 has a typical Fender dead note on 6th fret of G-string (like my '62 AM Vintage Precision)
My 2011 Rickenbacker has some weaker spots.

It can't be fixed.

It can be moved or decreased by adding weight either to the headstock or to the bridge (Badass) or both.

IF somebody is telling that his Fender doesn't have a dead note he is either lying or he hasn't found it yet. Or is in 1% of lucky Fender owners without dead note.

A dead note on one or two frets of G strings in Fender type bass is not a thing anybody should be bothered by.

Understood. Thanks.

 

[BGroovy]

Great advice. I’ll especially check the alignment of the pole pieces. What about adjusting the height of the neck pickup near the G string?

Pickup heights are a no risk tweak, get a screwdriver and get those strings sounding even.

Wouldn’t expect it to change anything with the dead spot though.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I don’t know if these things actually do anything but some say it’s an easy way to add mass to a headstock.
I’ve seen others say that adding a Hipshot drop tuner will add some mass to help with dead spot.
Funny that Fender markets the Fat Finger as something to add sustain when most people buy them to fix dead spots. Guess they don’t want to own up to the fact that their bass necks have had a design flaw since they have been making them.

 

[bass12]

I've never been able to fix a dead spot (if what you have is, indeed, a dead spot). I either accept it or move on.

 

[HueyFreeman]

If you find that adding weight to the neck doesn't help, then it may be an indication that you need your frets levelled.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

It’s only a real problem if you can’t compensate by playing the dead note a bit harder.

I know TB orthodoxy has very light EVERYTHING but sometimes that just isn’t what is needed for the gig.

Also remember, no one but you cares if a note dies a hair sooner and 98% of the audience doesn’t know what the big guitar even does.

 

[mazdah]

It’s only a real problem if you can’t compensate by playing the dead note a bit harder.

I know TB orthodoxy has very light EVERYTHING but sometimes that just isn’t what is needed for the gig.

Also remember, no one but you cares if a note dies a hair sooner and 98% of the audience doesn’t know what the big guitar even does.

This

Plus - you really CAN find the same note somewhere else across the fretboard. Don't stick to one position.

 

[Yahboy]

Hello bass world, I am looking for some guidance. I own a 4 string Fender ultra jazz bass. I play it through an Aguilar 700 tone hammer coupled with a AG preamp/direct box through an Aguilar 210 cabinet. The bass and rig sound excellent. This past week I was playing in the theater.

The “B” note, 4th fret on the G string, seems to be a dead note. It does not sustain. Every single note on the bass sustain tremendously. This G string notes sustain fine - not as well as the other strings - but well enough. EXCEPT the “B.”

Can anybody offer some suggestions on how I can get this fixed? Thank you so much.
Mike, Langhorne, PA

Try Fat finger either guitar or bass version to try move the dead note hidden under the fret wire.

 

[Yahboy]

I've played more than 60 Fenders and ALL of them HAD a dead note.
Custom Shop, Deluxe, Standard, my American Vintage 62, Fenders from 70's... you name it. With new or with old truss rod neck, with or without reinforcements in ther neck.
My G&L L-1000 has a typical Fender dead note on 6th fret of G-string (like my '62 AM Vintage Precision)
My 2011 Rickenbacker has some weaker spots.

It can't be fixed.

It can be moved or decreased by adding weight either to the headstock or to the bridge (Badass) or both.

IF somebody is telling that his Fender doesn't have a dead note he is either lying or he hasn't found it yet. Or is in 1% of lucky Fender owners without dead note.

A dead note on one or two frets of G strings in Fender type bass is not a thing anybody should be bothered by.

Lucky that my current Hot Rod P ~ Bacchus Roasted Neck married China made P body. No single dead spot found even this bass has flatwound bass string loaded. ( EB Cobalt flat )

 

[mazdah]

Lucky that my current Hot Rod P ~ Bacchus Roasted Neck married China made P body. No single dead spot found even this bass has flatwound bass string loaded. ( EB Cobalt flat )

Enjoy this blessed time, because one day you'll most likely find it )

 

[Yahboy]

Enjoy this blessed time, because one day you'll most likely find it )

No joking. The neck are removed from my 2019 Bacchus jazz bass and I love this neck very much. The C on the G string just slightly less sustain compared to the others fret but hardly notable.

Once I move the neck to new P body, every single note ring well and the E string has piano like ringing tone. Just incredible!