New bass. Is this buzz normal?

[joshstanman]

I just bought a new bass. I was initially in love, but started noticing a strange buzz or rattle. It's most noticeable at the 9th fret of the E string, but does it at other frets in the same area on the A and D strings too. I can hear it through my amp, DI/headphones and acoustically. I attached a recorded clip, please listen with headphones and tell me if you hear it too. I'm convinced it's the truss rod. The sound improves but doesn't eliminate when I tighten it, and gets worse when I loosen it.

It just got back from the manufacturer today. At first they said it was just the strings, that their factory strings are no good. They had all of a couple hours play time on them and the buzz was present with GHS Pressurewounds and DR Sunbeams too. After I told them I had tried other strings, they then changed the story to 'we couldn't replicate the sound' and sent it back.

This brings me to another point. Their customer service has been lacking at best. Not once have they said 'we're sorry you're having problems with your brand new bass!' They also told me turnaround time is the same day, then just quit responding to emails for a week. I called their number and the owner surprisingly answered. He just fed me a bunch of excuses about everyone being out on vacation. Never offered any acknowledgment that it sucks to get a $1200 bass with issues. Finally got it back today after some condescending back and forth with a sales rep. The shop that I bought it from has been great. They paid to ship it.

What's my next move? It buzzes exactly the same since getting it back. This is a brand new Reverend Dub King, bought from Wildwood.

I otherwise love the bass, making this the most frustrating new bass experience ever. Took it to a band practice and love the short scale playability, light weight and killer sound.

 

[fretno]

I don't hear it on my playback but it does have a dual action rod , so when it gets "loose" it's in the neutral position , continue turning it until it snugs up again .

 

[joshstanman]

I tightened to the point of being too straight and buzzing at the first frets the other day. It still buzzed around the 9th fret on the bottoms 2 strings, but it did get quieter.

 

[Iridescentone]

Huh. I tried listening with my good headphones, but for some reason not able to detect the buzzing. I think I may be hearing a slight chorusing effect. Try lowering the pickups?

You may also have a high fret. You can try temporarily raising bridge saddles to see if the buzz stops. If it does then look into high frets, next.

 

[Iridescentone]

Have you checked that a tuner shaft or paddle isn't rattling? Or that all the saddle height screws are making contact with the bridge plate?

 

[joshstanman]

I've tightened all hardware on the bass. The buzz comes right after the note starts to decay. My guitarist heard it immediately, hopefully he's not just being an agreeable bro. I'll try lowering the pickups, I can see how you might hear a chorusing effect. I'll also triple check the bridge screws.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I've tightened all hardware on the bass. The buzz comes right after the note starts to decay. My guitarist heard it immediately, hopefully he's not just being an agreeable bro. I'll try lowering the pickups, I can see how you might hear a chorusing effect. I'll also triple check the bridge screws.

How is the setup? You mentioned adjusting the rod but did it need adjusting? I can't listen to the clip right now. Assuming the setup is good, you could try shimming the nut with a slip of paper. Loose nut slot could cause a buzz after the decay.

 

[joshstanman]

The setup is on the high side of my preference. Reverend said they set it all to factory spec. The neck is straight. Would a nut slot cause fretted notes to buzz?

 

[Yahboy]

Setup first .

 

[James Collins]

You need to isolate where the buzz is before you can tell what to do. I don't hear buzz in the recording. I do hear a chorusing type sound. I cannot imagine how a truss rod would buzz.

Is it the strings vibrating behind the nut? A scrunchy or some foam would fix this.

Is it back buzz or buzzing behind the fretted note? A setup would fix this.

Is it sound from the pickup being too close to the strings? Lower the pickup if this is the case.

Is it poor technique? Get good.

 

[Bill Murray]

I just bought a new bass. I was initially in love, but started noticing a strange buzz or rattle. It's most noticeable at the 9th fret of the E string, but does it at other frets in the same area on the A and D strings too. I can hear it through my amp, DI/headphones and acoustically. I attached a recorded clip, please listen with headphones and tell me if you hear it too. I'm convinced it's the truss rod. The sound improves but doesn't eliminate when I tighten it, and gets worse when I loosen it.

It just got back from the manufacturer today. At first they said it was just the strings, that their factory strings are no good. They had all of a couple hours play time on them and the buzz was present with GHS Pressurewounds and DR Sunbeams too. After I told them I had tried other strings, they then changed the story to 'we couldn't replicate the sound' and sent it back.

This brings me to another point. Their customer service has been lacking at best. Not once have they said 'we're sorry you're having problems with your brand new bass!' They also told me turnaround time is the same day, then just quit responding to emails for a week. I called their number and the owner surprisingly answered. He just fed me a bunch of excuses about everyone being out on vacation. Never offered any acknowledgment that it sucks to get a $1200 bass with issues. Finally got it back today after some condescending back and forth with a sales rep. The shop that I bought it from has been great. They paid to ship it.

What's my next move? It buzzes exactly the same since getting it back. This is a brand new Reverend Dub King, bought from Wildwood.

I otherwise love the bass, making this the most frustrating new bass experience ever. Took it to a band practice and love the short scale playability, light weight and killer sound.

The buzzing sounds to me like you need to be fretting harder. It's very present during the decay after your initial attack. You mentioned the action was a bit high for you which makes it harder to fret in general but it would be especially harder for everything above the 8th fret. This and the fact that it doesn't happen on lower frets or open strings makes me think it's your technique.

Try fretting way harder than you need to and see if the buzz stops, if it does then lower the action and be aware from there.

Good luck!


Ps. Doesn't sound like a truss rod issue at all. You could also try some half-wounds or tapewounds would be easier to play and I think they'd sound amazing on that bass too.

 

[shnapper]

I hear it a tiny bit as the note decays, you are plucking the string pretty hard and it's barely audible. Have you done all the measurements with a feeler gauge? It doesn't sound bad to me, it's not the truss rod buzzing IMO.

 

[Element Zero]

I hear it a bit. Check the springs on the bridge. The springs rattle a bit on my Fodera for some notes and the open B and E strings rattle a bit behind the nut.

I'm gonna be totally honest with you here my man… in the mix with music, you'll NEVER hear that rattle.

 

[joshstanman]

Poor technique? Probably, but that's not what's causing this. I have strong hands, I'm a blue collar working grunt. I'm fretting plenty hard enough. This is a short scale too, so the lower tension should make it easier to fret, right?

Haven't put the feeler gauges on it yet. I'll be going through and trying all of your recommendations this weekend.

I do really like the way the pressurewounds sound on it.

A few of you being unable to hear it has me questioning my sanity. It's so obvious to me, you hear the note, then as it decays a buzz or rattle comes through. It's not loud, but enough to irritate me badly on a new bass.

 

[joshstanman]

I hear it a bit. Check the springs on the bridge. The springs rattle a bit on my Fodera for some notes and the open B and E strings rattle a bit behind the nut.

I'm gonna be totally honest with you here my man… in the mix with music, you'll NEVER hear that rattle.

You're absolutely right, I won't notice that in the mix. But I do notice it when I'm practicing with headphones, so should I be ok with a $1200 bass rattling?

 

[jd56hawk]

Hope you solve the problem.
You have a great bass there and hopefully someone figures out what's wrong.

 

[Bill Murray]

You're absolutely right, I won't notice that in the mix. But I do notice it when I'm practicing with headphones, so should I be ok with a $1200 bass rattling?

Noooooope

I love reverend though, so it's worth trying to work out

 

[jd56hawk]

I definitely hear a slight buzz at the point the note starts to decay.
Have you considered something like D'Addario black tapewounds?

 

[Bill Murray]

I definitely hear a slight buzz at the point the note starts to decay.
Have you considered something like D'Addario black tapewounds?

Underrated strings for sure!

 

[jd56hawk]

Underrated strings for sure!

I only ask because one of my Dean Exoticas had a similar problem with whatever strings were on it when I bought it.
Put on the black tapewounds and problem solved...not even necessary to tweak the truss rod.
I have the D'Addarios on two acoustic basses and GHS black tapewounds one five other basses, including my Reverend Thundergun.
I'm big on black tapewounds!