I have this problem on my new Jazz neck. The A string is the only one that rattles when played open with low action. Never had this on any other bass. If fender releases this tuner as something to buy separately ill buy one.
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when will fender finally sell us?
- Thread starter stuntbass77
- Start date
I hear it slightly when I practice unplugged, but it completely disappears when I plug in. Prolly not that big a deal, I guess. It is just annoying when I practice.
Yup - currently 5 Fenders in the house, not a problem with any of them...
- georgestrings
Electric bass is made to be plugged in - how it sounds unplugged really isn't of much importance...
- georgestrings
I've had GHS Boomers on my 97 MIA Jazz forever, and never a problem. A few weeks ago I made an impulsive switch to Rotosounds (same gauge), and *bam* instant A string buzz.
I see above that someone said that Rotosounds are already cut to length, but I did end up cutting mine (did not know that!), so maybe that's the issue. I like the Rotos, so next time I change strings I'll try not cutting the A and see what happens.
FWIW, I had a MIM Fretless Jazz that also had the A buzz.
I see above that someone said that Rotosounds are already cut to length, but I did end up cutting mine (did not know that!), so maybe that's the issue. I like the Rotos, so next time I change strings I'll try not cutting the A and see what happens.
FWIW, I had a MIM Fretless Jazz that also had the A buzz.
Jeff Berlin installed an extra string tree on his Fender back in the day because of it. Some people don't have a problem with it, but some do. I've always managed to keep it under control by cutting off only what I needed to keep the windings from overlapping and winding the string down on the post as far as I could. But it does happen if you don't do that. Changing the nut does nothing, either. It's because the headstock isn't angled back. It keeps the headstock stronger not to angle it back, but that's the tradeoff.
Changing the nut worked for me since the original had been cut incorrectly FWIW.
I never had this problem on any of my other Fenders before (been playing them since 1977) and I always cut my strings.
Others may have different problems/solutions and I love hearing about them and how they are solved. I might even learn something
Just trying to add some useful info.
I never had this problem on any of my other Fenders before (been playing them since 1977) and I always cut my strings.
Others may have different problems/solutions and I love hearing about them and how they are solved. I might even learn something
Just trying to add some useful info.
Of course, when I posted that comment above yours, I was assuming folks had a properly cut nut to begin with 
Yes of course, I figured it was the nut on mine though because the "other brand" of bass that had the same problem didn't have the break angle type headstock as on the Fender so that's what pointed me towards the nut.
Yeah, that sums it up well. I'm surprised that some people have never heard of this problem. There are other products out there for people who have problems with their A string. This one is from Hipshot:
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As others have said, a properly cut nut and winding the string down low on the tuner will solve the problem for most people. Playing style, string type etc. will all play in to whether this is a problem for a particular player on a particular bass.
BTW, I think an angled headstock is just as strong as any other as long as it isn't the typical Gibson "break if you look at it funny" design.
I have, I've just never experienced it personally. I've always thought it was a matter of how you strung it, that if you have enough wraps around the tuner post to have the string set lower on the post, the less chance you will develop the noise. I don't know, because on my three basses the A string only wraps about the post twice, and it sits higher on the headstock side that the other three, and I get no noise whatsoever.
As long as you have at least a little bit of a break angle, that usually cures it. Doesn't take much...just a little bend.
I've been playing fender and fender style basses for forty years and cant recall ever having a problem with this.
Setup is everything.
Never had a problem with any Fender I've own.
You can save yourself a ton of money if you learn to do a proper setup.
And your bass will thank you by playing and sounding great.
Setup is everything.
Never had a problem with any Fender I've own.
You can save yourself a ton of money if you learn to do a proper setup.
And your bass will thank you by playing and sounding great.
True that, could not agree more. But if the A slot of the nut is cut wrong at the factory as mine was, your choices are to replace it or string BEAD, I think.
If it isn't a problem, why do the "super" Fender clones have complete string retainers?
Sadowsky
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Lakland
Sadowsky
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Lakland
because they are charging 2-3k for them and people who buy them can't be bothered with string windings and such
I kid, love Sadowsky and Lakland, and all my communications with Roger have been great!
I've had about 5 Fenders (still have three) and encountered this problem once when I put a new set of strings on a Precision and wasn't careful enough keeping the A string wrapped so the string came off the bottom of the post to the nut. I saw what I had done, re-wrapped the string, and the problem was solved. At the time it occurred to me that the design was not optimal, but at the same time the solution was easy enough that the idea of adding hardware didn't occur to me.
Because believe it or not, many players don't know how to install strings correctly. And because many (most?) builders are using tuners with "tapered" shafts, which only help make the "problem" worse.
