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Vibration Problem

E

EveryBroken

Dec 24, 2008
18
0
#1
Hello everyone. I just got my bass today, and it seems when I pluck the strings, that they vibrate against the metal fret and make this weird sound. I know they're not suppose to make that sound when they hit the fret. Also, when I let go of the fret I'm playing on, it vibrates and makes the same noise, like rubbing a spring on the edge of a counter.

Is this a problem, or am I just hitting the frets wrong/not muting properly?
 
#4
Zooberwerx said:
Not enough information to make an on-the-spot diagnosis. Has the bass been set-up properly (relief, intonation, nut, string height, etc.)?

Riis
Click to expand...

I haven't done relief, I don't think. Everything is fine, just when I pluck a note towards the first fret up to about the ninth, it buzzes against the metal strip and makes this strange . .well . . .buzzing noise right after the note. I hear the note, but when I let go, it buzzes and vibrates still against the metal strip.
 
#5
that's a tough one. how long have you been playing? if you are a new player, is your bass in tune? is you bass new or used? if it's in tune and new, you should be able to take it back and get it adjusted for free, if it's used and you're not sure what to do, take it into a reputable guitar store and get them to do a set up for you. if it buzzes only in certain spots, you may have a high fret, if it buzzes all over, chances the action is too low for your playing style ... make sure when you finger the note that your finger is just behind (the headstock side ) side of the fret and you are using adequate pressure to keep the string pressed firmly against the fret ( don't kill it, you'll just hurt your fingers and hands ) experiment by lightly fretting a note and plucking it, then gradually increase the pressure until it stops buzzing. i hope this helps
 
#6
johhn smith said:
that's a tough one. how long have you been playing? if you are a new player, is your bass in tune? is you bass new or used? if it's in tune and new, you should be able to take it back and get it adjusted for free, if it's used and you're not sure what to do, take it into a reputable guitar store and get them to do a set up for you. if it buzzes only in certain spots, you may have a high fret, if it buzzes all over, chances the action is too low for your playing style ... make sure when you finger the note that your finger is just behind (the headstock side ) side of the fret and you are using adequate pressure to keep the string pressed firmly against the fret ( don't kill it, you'll just hurt your fingers and hands ) experiment by lightly fretting a note and plucking it, then gradually increase the pressure until it stops buzzing. i hope this helps
Click to expand...

I'm a new bass player. I tuned my bass, and it is brand new. I'll try and change my positioning of my fingers on the frets. When I change frets and lift off, it makes the buzzing noise, also. I'll try adjusting my feel, and report back if I still have problems.

Thanks, everyone.
 
#9
maybe you're not letting the strings up fast enough, i'm sitting here with one of my basses and trying to duplicate what you are saying and i find that if i really lag when letting the string up it buzzes a bit, but the natural muting of your fretting finger being lifted should take care of most of that ... hmmm... what happens above the 9th fret?
 
#11
johhn smith said:
maybe you're not letting the strings up fast enough, i'm sitting here with one of my basses and trying to duplicate what you are saying and i find that if i really lag when letting the string up it buzzes a bit, but the natural muting of your fretting finger being lifted should take care of most of that ... hmmm... what happens above the 9th fret?
Click to expand...

It doesn't buzz too much at all. I lifted up earlier and that works, just when I play the E string, I don't press it down enough, so it buzzes. I press a little harder, and it doesn't buzz during the note, but afterwards. I don't know if it's me or the bass, really. But what you said helped up the fretboard a lot. It really happens when I play notes on the E string.
 
#12
Are you absolutely sure it's the strings buzzing against the frets?

If the action is high enough, you could still get what sounds like fret buzz. I had a bass that did that and it turned out one of the keys of the tuning pegs was what was actually buzzing, even though I was sure it was fret buzz. The sound vibrated through the whole neck, giving the illusion the sound was coming from the neck itself somewhere.

But yes, if you don't know how to do it, have someone give that a proper setup.
 
#13
Sundogue said:
Are you absolutely sure it's the strings buzzing against the frets?

If the action is high enough, you could still get what sounds like fret buzz. I had a bass that did that and it turned out one of the keys of the tuning pegs was what was actually buzzing, even though I was sure it was fret buzz. The sound vibrated through the whole neck, giving the illusion the sound was coming from the neck itself somewhere.

But yes, if you don't know how to do it, have someone give that a proper setup.
Click to expand...

I'll look into getting a proper setup. I can't today, but I'll look into it.

I've got it to the point that it's ONLY when I lift off now. I listened closely and looked, and it looks like the string it making the noise from one of the metal strips.
 
#14
keep playing and you'll find that your hands will get stronger and you'll be able to fret the notes easier on any string, but i would still take the bass in and get it checked out. if it is the bass then you may find that nothing that you do with your hands will help it entirely and may be causing you to work harder for no reason.
 

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