To me a fret stone would be part of a full set up, solving this issue as well.
But; the neck may have moved - and some people are into extremely low actin where every bit CAN make a difference.
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But; the neck may have moved - and some people are into extremely low actin where every bit CAN make a difference.
I wouldn't say ulterior motive -- if they're good folks, they'll fix whatever the issue is. The only critical conclusion for him was "should we pay to take it back and fix it." The details aren't so significant -- they'll find out the nut doesn't fix the issue, then they'll find the real problem and fix it. It would be more helpful to you as an instrument owner to know the real root cause, but that's not really their concern. If THEY had proposed you upgrade the nut to fix the issue, then I'd say that was their ulterior motive -- bait and switch. But it sounds like the upgrade was your idea...but it also sounds like their assessment of the problem inspired your desire for an upgrade, so in some way they could be considered ethically culpable for that, but maybe there was no intent. And he definitely guessed -- without the instrument in a tech's hands, they can only make educated guesses as to the root cause. But I don't use "guess" negatively there -- that's the best he can do, and it's a reasonable way to start reviewing the issue. Everyone in this thread is also guessing -- we all have limited information. Just consider having them fix the problem WITHOUT upgrading the nut -- any tech can upgrade the nut for you later, and your baseline (pun not intended) expectation should be a working bass at the price you paid, not one that requires an immediate upgrade to make it playable.
Right the up grade was my idea. If we got this problem from a cheap nut and the nuts are a topic of discussion on cheapness I figure why not get rid of that problem altogether. Also looking into an up grade on the tuners. I've seen the plastic O rings in them fail. If I did not really dig this bass I would not be considering it.
You can hear in the video that the fret buzz on the first fret is massive, it's choking out the note, but not the other frets. The only way I see that being possible is if the first fret is too low or the second fret is to high. That's not a setup problem. That's a repair job. A brand new instrument shouldn't require repair jobs. If I were you, I would send that piece of garbage back for a refund.
Hell yes. Well, by altogether you mean a totally different brand and model? I would go with a different seller. One that is more careful, like Sweetwater, where you can pick out the exact instrument. Then it's safer to get the same brand or model.
EDIT: LOL. I deleted that post so I could respond to you properly through quotes. So, that's why the posts look out of order and redundant.
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If you were up to speed on setups, I'd say, "Yes". Since you aren't, I'm going with, "Maybe". Do you have anyone local that can take a look at it? Don't get any work done because that would likely void any return policies.
The people that did the set up should told you that there was some fret buzz because x reason and that the solution is x extra work, the only time I paid for a set up the guy did not even asked me how I preferred the action, when I received the bass I found that the action was too high. Since that day I setup my basses.
OP I should probably mention I haven't been able to watch the video, sounds like you are quite right, the issue goes beyond a set up. Only thing I'd say is most stores I go to, set up does not mean fret level. I'd be concerned that replacing the nut will not fix your bass' problems.
Hopkins
Commercial User
He is a bad tech if he thinks the nut can cause a buzz on a fretted note.
Hopkins
Commercial User
I love all the advice given by the armchair techs on this forum.
Take most of it with a grain of salt. I seriously doubt you need a new bass, and you damn sure don't need to go through a different vendor even if this one is defective. I would still put my money on it being in a slight back bow vs a high second fret. The only way it would buzz out like that, across all four strings is if it some how left the factory with a different sized fret wire on the first or second fret, which would be easily noticed by looking at it.
Take most of it with a grain of salt. I seriously doubt you need a new bass, and you damn sure don't need to go through a different vendor even if this one is defective. I would still put my money on it being in a slight back bow vs a high second fret. The only way it would buzz out like that, across all four strings is if it some how left the factory with a different sized fret wire on the first or second fret, which would be easily noticed by looking at it.
They just need to send me a working bass, I'm really easy to get along with if what I pay for in the add is what I get.
If the bass was set up to specs of the manufacturer it would not be so high as to notice it's really high. Who was the guy who did it? Local music store? Internet sale?
I can do a basic set up but the only time I did a complete set up was on a bass with a really messed up neck. There is local Fender dealer but when I asked about price on a Bass it was 200 more then anywhere else. When I asked about maple vs rosewood the price went up an additional 99 dollars. I don't do business with someone who tries to take me for a beginner who was born yesterday so the bass won't enter his shop.
From what I understand, and this is not the way things were when I started playing but now a'days we are to expect that imported basses may have little issues that need to be fixed. I find the same to be true of firearms. It's just the way the world is now I guess. It's not like it was a Jackson pro shop custom bass.
They will let me know what the deal is I guess when they get it.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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there are several things here to talk about ...
1 - Humidity changes can make a perfect setup buzz badly in 24 to 48 hours. A decrease in humidity will cause front bow, an increase in humidity will cause back bow.
2 - How good was the neck before the setup? Some necks never flatten out.
3 - Maybe the nut is cut too low. The nut is cheap and often overlooked in a setup.
4 - Do the frets need leveling?
5 - Bass players really need to learn to setup their basses. This means learn how to adjust the truss rods, learn how to shim a neck, learn how to adjust the bridge. These skills are really helpful. I took it a step further and learned how to level and dress frets, and how to work on the nut.
I've never hired anyone else to do a setup for me, but I've seen friends' guitars after they had been setup "professionally" at a shop and it is always disappointing. If you have any spare time, then I would advise you to learn how to setup your own guitars, because it's always a waste of money to pay someone else to do it. If a proper setup does not resolve the fret buzz, it may be the fret itself though.
No, completely unacceptable. You paid for a service and it was not delivered in full.
Not to start a dispute, or derail the thread, but I just want to offer a vote to the pros. I do all my own guitar work and agree that it's a great investment in yourself to save money and get your instruments ideally setup for yourself. That said, the vast majority of pros I've dealt with over the years have been better than me at doing setups -- setups are as much art as science, imho. With so many variables (nut, relief, neck pitch, bridge/saddles, fret condition, intonation, string gauge, pickup height, how you wind your strings ffs, and god help you if you have a floating trem) and how, ultimately, a good setup has to factor in YOUR playing style...it's a long road for a novice to learn to do as well as a pro. I am in the camp that thinks every bassist/guitarist should know how to maintain their own equipment. But I can still find plenty of techs who can do a setup that's worth every penny.
When you pay for a professional setup, you are the one who decides what's kosher. The guitar tech should set up the instrument to your specifications, your requirements and your instructions. The remedy, if any, is whatever you and your tech agree to...or preferably, had already agreed to - prior to the start of the job.
MM
