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Fender MIM Jazz Bass bridge buzz

F

fraiture_fan

Jan 1, 2012
11
0
#1
hey guys..I have a 2008 Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass that I bought used, and after putting some Dean Marley Medium-Lights I noticed a slight buzz coming from the bridge when I played higher notes, such as the 9th fret on the E. I looked on the neck and it doesn't seem to be an action problem but I did notice that each string seemed to have different levels of action with the heights of the bridge saddles. anyone have any ideas on how I can eliminate or lessen this buzz? thanks.
 
#3
The saddles are supposed to be different heights following the curve of the fretboard. The rattling is the saddles hitting each other or not being level with the body (the height screws are not firmly planted on the plate). Does the plate have grooves for the saddle screws?. The problem with that type bridges is the clearance between saddles is too small. My personal solution is to adjust the saddles on slight angles so they solidly rest on each other. This is the only thing that seems to work short of grinding the saddles to open the gaps between them. If the plate is smooth, You can get the old style threaded saddles that when you align the strings over the poles, the E and G force the saddles together from the string spacing being wider than the tail plate holes.
 
#5
Ok so you need to angle the E and G saddles SLIGHTLY down on the outside screws. This will add a little inward pressure so the saddles all touch. Best cure is to drop 15 bucks on vintage threaded saddles from Allparts or basspartsresource.com., etc. You will be able to align your strings right between the polepieces and they will pull all the saddles tightly together. Lots of comments on this forum about that.
 
#8
He called me out on the actual tilting of the barrels - says it was somewhere between kicking your hunting dog and shooting your neighbor's bass boat tires.

I tilt all my barrels a little bit and I've never had any buzzes, clicks or pops and never had a string wander around over the p'up poles either.

I think he was just out to impress himself with his professional knowledge. My barrels are still tilted as much as I feel they should be,
 
#9
The reason you typically don't want the outside saddles uneven is twofold: first, because it puts uneven pressure on the saddle set screws and they can go out of adjustment while you play (you can address this with some clear nail polish or Loc-Tite on the set screw threads). Second, you want both set screws on each saddle to have solid contact with the base plate so the string vibration doesn't cause the saddle to rattle.

To the OP, your problem might be as simple as pushing down slightly on the strings just in front of where they touch the saddle (known as a witness point). This ensures the strings are sitting properly in the grooves of the saddles.

EDIT: No hunting dogs were harmed in the making of this post.
 
#10
Plain and clear. It works despite the fear mongering. We're talking a thread or two, not enough that there's no downforce on one of the screws. My G used to skid around the plate. Now it doesn't.

I'm gonna go kick a cat now and knife the neighbor's snowmobile trailer tires 'cause I'm a rube; a Canuck rube.
 
#13
SurferJoe46 said:
...Not that I don't like the vintage barrels, I just don't find them totally necessary...
Click to expand...

I have tended to like the contents of vintage barrels more than the barrels themselves. :ninja: ;) :D

But seriously, I would start with a good setup by a really professional tech. Then acquire the tools and info to tweak it and eventually do it all yourself. :cool:
 

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