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when will fender finally sell us?

stuntbass77

stuntbass77

Nov 6, 2007
1,806
1,208
#1
I like that fender has finally made a fix for A string buzzing by making a stealth retainer. Now if they would just sell them to the rest of us who dont want to do major alterations to there bass to fix this long time problem. Even if u wind your string three times chances are at some point you will get some buzz from your A string. Just not enough downward pull. I really hope hipshot or someone starts making and selling these.
 
#4
Hipshot makes the "strong arm" for them but they can not sell them.
You can do what I did.
Buy a complete set of tuners off a 60th anniversary P bass from The STRATosphere on ebay. Take the strong arm off and put it on your bass and take your flat washer off and put it on the tuners and sell them.
It cost me $5.00 to get one.
 
#6
I never knew they made such a thing until now. I have a 2012 loaded neck and it doesn't have this on it.

I wasn't aware that the A was such a big problem on Fender. That would explain why on just about everyone I've had I've had more open A and first fret A buzzing than any of the other strings regardless of how many wraps. Unless the nuts out of the factory haven't been optimal in my case.
 
#9
Yes I has this problem when I bought a used MIM jazz neck recently.
When I pushed down on the A string above the nut the buzz disappeared.
The nut slot for that string was cut way too wide and the buzzing came from the string vibrating in the slot.
I replaced the nut with an American standard nut (because it required the least amount of work to fit it correctly) and now the buzz is gone. (Buzzkill :scowl: :D)

If you're only getting a buzz from the A string make sure the nut slot for that string isn't cut too wide.

I haven't had this problem on any other of my Fenders FWIW
 
#13
Wow i am surprised that few people have had this problem. I build bass and cut almost all my own nuts ( bone mostly). I have had this problem on almost all my fenders over the years ( I've had a bunch . The problem doesn't always come on right away. I think the fact that fender makes these now is admission of guilt in a way. I play on fenders now and am in no way slamming fender, just pointing out a problem myself some others have come across over the years. A lot of people that can't cut there own nut like myself shouldn't have to deal with what is an easy fix (with the steath nut they now use). Lots of people mistake the buzzing as truss rod buzz when its not.
 
#14
3234718 said:
Don't cut the a string. Problem solved.
Click to expand...

I have to cut it. If I don't the string would be too thick to wrap completely around the post as many winds as that would produce. I usually stretch the string to the tuner past the one I'm stringing. That results in about 2.5 - 3 winds. But still on my current neck I get buzzing on the open A and first fret with any set of strings other than the heavy GHS flats I'm using now. So I'm guessing on my the nut slot is too low or too wide.
 
#15
M.R. Ogle said:
Can someone post a pic of what they're talking about... I have no idea what a "strongarm" is...
Click to expand...

y_aaf1168a.jpg
 
#18
At some point fender will probably sell these on there online store. When i cut my nuts I always leave a little more on the A string to ad in solving this problem. I always make my nut slots very tight and the E and A string should sit about half way above the nut slot, any more and it could buzz even if its a tight cut. I still think the stealth bar/strong bar is not there just for looks.
 
#20
A low nut slot can sometimes be "compensated" for by downward pressure or restraint
behind the nut. The steeper break angle causes the string to "launch" out of the slot at
a higher angle, and can eliminate buzzing on the open string.
I'm not suggesting this as a fix; the problem in this case is that the nut slot is too low.

It's just something to check before adding something like the strongarm. If the slot was
too low, the string will begin buzzing again if and when the string re-acquires it's proper
set coming off of the nut, for example if you reset the witness point.
 

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