Fret buzz

[Wesola78]

Hey folks,
i recently purchased an Epiphone EB0 short scale bass. The only issue is a bit of fret buzz on the E string mostly. I was wanting to upgrade with a Hipshot ultralight bridge anyway. The neck looks straight, what do ya'll think?

 

[96tbird]

It needs a setup. Possibly a fret levelling. Hard to say from a paragraph and without seeing the bass in person.

 

[Yahboy]

High tension bass string do help .

 

[MonetBass]

+1 to a setup. That should fix any fret buzz issues.

 

[Wesola78]

Thanks guys!
So if I'm planning to upgrade to a Hipshot bridge, should I replace the bridge first and then do a setup?

 

[Warpeg]

Thanks guys!
So if I'm planning to upgrade to a Hipshot bridge, should I replace the bridge first and then do a setup?

Yes

 

[Minimalist]

Thanks guys!
So if I'm planning to upgrade to a Hipshot bridge, should I replace the bridge first and then do a setup?

Nor trying to be mean, but the first thing you should do is learn about your instrument. What does each part do, how to set it up to your liking/needs, how to get the best sound etc.? Once you got that down, think long and hard about what upgrade you want to do. Unless you like to tinker and have lots of extra cash. If you got that, by all means upgrade away.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Hey folks,
i recently purchased an Epiphone EB0 short scale bass. The only issue is a bit of fret buzz on the E string mostly. I was wanting to upgrade with a Hipshot ultralight bridge anyway. The neck looks straight, what do ya'll think?

If you're set on replacing the bridge, go ahead and do it, then do the setup. If you are just replacing the bridge to address the fretbuzz, a setup may fix this without having to modify your bass.

If you do replace the bridge, the last step will be a good setup. If the E string is the only one that buzzes and you can't fix it by raising the string a little, you may need some fretwork done whether you replace the bridge or not. If your current bridge does not allow you to adjust the string heights, a new bridge may allow you to fix this, but no guarantees based on the information we have so far.

 

[Fynn]

Hey folks,
i recently purchased an Epiphone EB0 short scale bass. The only issue is a bit of fret buzz on the E string mostly. I was wanting to upgrade with a Hipshot ultralight bridge anyway. The neck looks straight, what do ya'll think?

You can get very cheap tools online that will allow you to check how level your frets are. If you feel comfortable with the idea, you should get a fretfile, something to protect your fretboard while filing, and something that allows you to check the frets straightness. I do this with every bass I buy and often find that there's atleast one or two frets who are slightly off. In order to get the most freedom in the way I set my action, I will make sure that they're all as level as possible. If the frets aren't level you'll have a hard time setting everything up to your liking.

That being said, make sure that the buzz is actually noticable in amplification and or maybe hindering your tone in a way that is significant to you. It might just be that you are very wary of such things now because you bought the bass new. Also an EB0 is a pretty short bass, so maybe the strings are looser and you're just digging in harder than usual by accident? Not actually sure if I just messed that up, but in my mind shorter scale basses with the same strings will require the strings to be looser.

 

[mambo4]

Seems like no one ever mentions if the fret buzz comes through when amplified in these threads.
I've had unplugged fret buzz that vanishes in real world amplified situations.

 

[micguy]

The neck looks straight, what do ya'll think?

It needs a setup - part of that will be figuring out if it really is straight. Your eyes are pretty poor at judging neck straightness, other than identifying the worst cases of twist and bow.

 

[Sanshiro]

If it's just the E string that's buzzy, it might be more of a string tension issue rather than uneven fretwork. The E string in the average set of bass strings (45-65-85-105) is the lowest tension string already, then when you combine that with the shorter scale length of an EB-0 there's even less tension on it.

Less tension = more movement from the string when it vibrates = more chance for the string to buzz and clank off of the frets.

 

[micguy]

If you're set on replacing the bridge, go ahead and do it, then do the setup.

I would definitely do that in reverse order - make sure the neck is playable before investing anything else into the thing. I'd do that with any bass, but with a set neck instrument where you can't bolt on a new neck, doubly so.

 

[gstaats]

I would definitely do that in reverse order - make sure the neck is playable before investing anything else into the thing. I'd do that with any bass, but with a set neck instrument where you can't bolt on a new neck, doubly so.

This. Don't invest money or time in a bass tbat may be critically flawed. If the bass needs fret work to get rid of the buzz or has some other irregularity in the neck, hopefully it's still in the return window.

 

[J Wilson]

Thanks guys!
So if I'm planning to upgrade to a Hipshot bridge, should I replace the bridge first and then do a setup?

Yes, install the bridge BEFORE a setup and take new strings for a trusted, professional repairman IF you don't do it yourself.

 

[Wfrance3]

I'd raise the bridge, file down the nut, and take the buzz out of the low "E."
Party on Excellent...

 

[GreyBeard]

Hey folks,
i recently purchased an Epiphone EB0 short scale bass. The only issue is a bit of fret buzz on the E string mostly. I was wanting to upgrade with a Hipshot ultralight bridge anyway. The neck looks straight, what do ya'll think?

Before you drop $150 on that bridge, try this first.

 

[Andy Marshman]

very first step is neck relief. go from there. If you can do this and the rest of the setup yourself, that's great. Otherwise, take the EB-0 to someone who can (I've own one too).

 

[bcbassman]

An Epiphone EBO is not worth the cost of a new bridge IMHO.
Just get the bass setup and play it as is. It will work essentially the same as with a new bridge.

 

[mr80htz]

Could also be a shallow nut slot that the string sits in. It depends which frets are buzzing. High up the neck = saddle adjustment, mid neck (but also has buzzing on other strings over the same frets..so maybe not your issue) is a truss rod adjustment, or first few frets on the E string likely is a nut slot issue. Or it's a fret level problem, which is the most annoying, problematic one if you choose to fix it yourself.