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Is this normal? Seems a bit odd...

Evil Undead

Evil Undead

Oct 31, 2009
3,844
587
#1
I've noticed that each time I slacken the strings off on my bass (either to make any adjustments or re-string) and when I bring it back up to tune, it buzzes for a few minutes, and then it's ok again.

The action is great on it... I haven't needed to make any adjustments to the truss rod, so I'm assuming the neck is going flat with no strings, and then bowing slightly with the tension.

Does this mean that the truss rod is broken? Or just too loose? I am reluctant to mess with it as I'm inexperienced, and it's an NT so it's pretty much screwed if I break it!

Thanks for any advice
 
#2
I'm not expert, so please wait for somebody else who knows more than I do to respond, but I do believe that's normal, as wood will continue to bend when tension is adjusted. Again, don't act on this advice until someone else responds.
 
#3
Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your truss rod. Truss rods don't hold the neck absolutely still, they just allow you to compensate for the tension the strings put on. So basically when the string tension is removed, the effect is a lot like tightening your truss rod a lot - the neck loses its relief and becomes too straight. You can avoid this phenomenom by changing strings one at a time. I don't actually immediately come up with any common adjustments that would require you to completely remove the strings.

So yes, it's all normal. It would be very odd if the neck didn't react to the removal of strings. And wood takes some time to adjust, that's why it takes a while for the neck to curve up and give you that relief needed for buzz free playing.
 
#5
is it fret buzz you are hearing or something else buzz?? ... if it is not on a fret, make sure you are winding your strings from the top down on the tuner post to increase the angle from nut to tuner on the strings that aren't under a string tree ... sometimes unexplained buzzing can occure if you dont have enough downward pressure on the nut ... the fact that it goes away it probably is not this, but just something to be aware of, especially on a re-string ...
 

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