Anyone know if something as simple as a string gauge change might correct the issue? (just a thought)
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This is what a "Dead Spot" sounds like
- Thread starter -=DanAtkinson=-
- Start date
Right, something like that is about what I'd expect. It would be cool to take a bass with a bad dead spot and stick one of those Dean Markley "hot spot" piezo pickups on the neck. I'll bet you'd see the piezo get louder when you hit the dead note.
Is it due to an air pocket between the fretboard and the neck? A loose/poorly fitting fret? What causes this?
The cause is a rather long boring story. The short version is that deadspots are an unfortunate part of basses with a bolt-on neck. The vast majority of Fenders have them, you just gotta know what to listen for.
The best method to determine if your bass has a deadspot is to play every note on the G string. Listen closely. See if any of them respond like the audio clip I posted above. They are typically between frets 5 and 9.
As for correcting them - that's a challenge. Some folks have good results by adding mass to the headstock. This will "shift" the deadspot to a different frequency (note). Best case scenario, it is shifted between two notes (like between C# and D) and thus won't have much impact. More than likely it will simply shift to a fret above or below.
Just listened to the recording on a good set of headphones. The initial attack isn't too bad, but steep drop off in the sustain is very noticeable.
It really is like the tone being sucked right out of the note. I play short scale basses live almost exclusively. Thankfully, I don't play a lot of notes on the 4th string.
It really is like the tone being sucked right out of the note. I play short scale basses live almost exclusively. Thankfully, I don't play a lot of notes on the 4th string.
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
i completely eliminated one (7th fret "G" string) on one of my basses, and posted the process i used to solve it last week. the dead spot did not appear to effect any other notes (if it did, i sure can't find it or see it on my recording or VU meter) so i'm very pleased with the result.
here's the thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/dead-spot-removal-743976/
here's the thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/dead-spot-removal-743976/
You mean, this? http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/storage/jamersondeadspot.mp3
Yeah, that's horrible. That's why I play that note on the D string!
You mean, this? http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/storage/jamersondeadspot.mp3
Yeah, that's horrible. That's why I play that note on the D string!
That sounds so rough that it seems like the engineer pulled the fader down at that point (really, from experience, that what it sounds like). Maybe James hit some sour notes just after that. Hard to think that with flats and a mute that a dead spot would still be so prominent.
- Feb 16, 2008
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you can play the dead note on another string, but i've found that it will still be somewhat dead due to the resonant frequency of the neck.
Actually, the MP3 in my original post was made using a Fender P bass with flats and a mute.
And I don't think "James Jamerson" and "sour notes" can coexist in the same sentence.
Dead spots are not restricted to bolt on necks, I've had several set necks and neckthroughs with deadspots.
I've also found that shortscale (30"-ish) necks whether neck through, bolt on or set necks have far fewer issues with deadspots and generally sound more even.
I've also found that shortscale (30"-ish) necks whether neck through, bolt on or set necks have far fewer issues with deadspots and generally sound more even.
I'm not sure how the bolt-on dead spot only thing got started, but I've played plenty of neck-through basses that had them as well. They're usually just in a different spot, more likely to be the D string area 7th-9th fret area rather than the G string.
Yeah, I've found that the same note on a different string as well as octaves can have some deadness.
I also have yet to play a bass that has *zero* deadspots. While some are very very good, I don't believe it is possible to make an instrument that has perfect response across the fretboard. Just depends on how closely you listen.
freakishly I havent come across any deadspots that I can hear on any of my basses
even my Fender!!
But I do have one on my Fender strat!
even my Fender!!
But I do have one on my Fender strat!
I've got a bass with no dead spots - my 1988 Steinberger XL-2. It's a hunk of graphite/plastic/secret compounds - totally even sound all over the place.
This is one of the reasons I still have it after all these years...
This is one of the reasons I still have it after all these years...
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
+1. IMO, a little uneveness can also give a bass some 'character', instead of sounding so even that it's kinda 'sterile'.
