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Post subject: Dead spot on MIM Jazz
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:09 pm
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I recently had my MIM J Bass set up and noticed that on the G string on the 7th and 8th frets that my tone and sustain have gone away. I asked this question on the HC Bass Forum and was told that this is just the way Fender necks are. As time has gone by (a couple of months) it seems that the sound is even worse than it was when I first noticed it. I checked a few Fenders at my local GC and, while not as bad as mine, there was a noticable tonality difference on the G string between the 7th and 9th frets. The Geddy Lee bass did not seem to lose the tone and sustain though and the MusicMan basses I tried didn't have this problem. (I tried those to determine if this was just a Leo Fender design problem or not). Does anyone know what might be causing this and how to correct it without adding an ugly weight to the headstock to move the dead spot farther up the neck? I was considering adding a BadAss II bridge to this bass, but as it is right now, I can't use it for performing because of the dead spot.


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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:15 pm
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Welcome to the Forum.

Possibly a set up issue. Have you done a full set up on this bass?

A BadAss II is an excellent aftermarket bridge and would make a fine upgrade to your bass.

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Post subject: J-Bass dead spots
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:11 am
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Don't listen to CA Feathers. The set-up and bridge are not the issues. This is an inherent design fault on ALL Fender basses... some worse than others, some on different frets (6-9).... but it's there. The only cure is more mass at the headstock. Groove Tubes makes an aftermarket device (chunk of brass) called the Fat Finger that clamps onto your headstock. Not pretty, but they work. It's best to just learn to live with this "feature" instead of trying to eliminate it. If your in a band just don't play on that spot if it's a long sustaining note


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Post subject: Re: J-Bass dead spots
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:28 am
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Bassman '56 wrote:
Don't listen to CA Feathers. The set-up and bridge are not the issues. This is an inherent design fault on ALL Fender basses... some worse than others, some on different frets (6-9).... but it's there. The only cure is more mass at the headstock. Groove Tubes makes an aftermarket device (chunk of brass) called the Fat Finger that clamps onto your headstock. Not pretty, but they work. It's best to just learn to live with this "feature" instead of trying to eliminate it. If your in a band just don't play on that spot if it's a long sustaining note


That was quite rude. Did you actually read my post? Did you not see the word "possibly" and did you see I said that a BadAss II would make a fine upgrade.?
Nowhere in my post did I say that those things were a cure for his issues.

As for this being an issue on all Fender basses, well, I don't know about all because I have not played all Fender basses. My personal Fender MIM Jazz Bass does not have this issue.

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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:33 pm
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:P I had the same problem with my MIM standard Jazz Bass (fretless) A massive annoying dead spot on the G string! The string that came with it was a Fender Stainless Steel Flatwound 9050M, Gauges: (.055, .070, .090 .105) so I replaced the strings with a Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Flatwound standard guage, WHEW! Yeah! And the dead note was gone!


Last edited by markbass4444 on Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:20 am
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Thanks for the info guys!!! I just ordered a Fat Finger so we'll see how that goes. And I'll give the Rotosound (my fav strings) Jazz 77 strings a tryout as well. If I can get rid of, or at least minimize the dead spot, then I'll have no choice (at least that's what I tell my wife), than to get the BadAss II bridge :P .

I did try an American Standard Jazz Bass at GC yesterday and found no dead spot, so I'd have to say that not ALL Fenders have this problem, but evidently it is a well known problem as evidenced by the description of the Fat Finger from the one web site I found that actually had one in stock. Here's a snippet of what they said....

"...The Fatfinger's mass lowers the frequency of the harmonic imperfections, or nodes, of any stringed instrument. These dead spots are moved below the audible range, and so are effectively eliminated! It's an incredible "fix" for that Fender Jazz Bass with the "disappearing C note" syndrome!..."

I love the fact that they mentioned my problem (except mine's the D note) and my Bass by name.

Again, thanks for the info and support and I'll let you guys know how well the fat finger works.


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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:12 am
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oc5CwHc2ns
Puckdude, check this out, I haven't tried this but this is what it says: Groove Tubes Fat Finger for bass in chrome finish. The Fat Finger is a clamp made of bell brass that easily attaches to any bass headstock without modification. The extra mass on the headstock fills out your tone, adds sustain, and eliminates dead spots. The secret weapon of some of today's top players like Joe Satriani and Billy Sheehan. Includes tone tips and instructions. you can get it at this link http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gifts_otherbass.htm


Last edited by markbass4444 on Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:07 pm
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Sometimes a slightly different setup will alleviate a deadspot somewhat; board deflection (bow) can move it also. If you know it's there you can use it to your advantage by the difference in sound quality, though not for sustained notes.


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Post subject: dead spots...
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:34 pm
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...woody texture under my thumb. The rosewood fingerboard had perfectly crowned vintage-style frets. I found no dead spots....

From a Bass Player revue of a Fender bass.

Most bolt-on neck basses can have a problem within the second position.

It will vary from bass to bass.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:40 pm
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The Fat Finger worked!!! :D I no longer have a dead spot on the neck. So I guess now I'll be picking up a Badass II bridge :P . Thanks for the help guys. My next dilemma is what bass to get next. I've heard rave reviews about the 2008 American Standard Jazz Bass. ( a couple have even compared them to the '62 and '75 jazz basses as a breakthrough year.) I was going to put off getting an American Standard until after I bought the MusicMan Sterling, but now I'm not so sure. I may end up getting the Fender this year and the Sterling next based on the 2008 feedback. Again, thanks again for the help!


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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:18 pm
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puckdude66 wrote:
The Fat Finger worked!!! :D I no longer have a dead spot on the neck.

That's good, but usually what these devices do is move the dead spot rather than eliminate it. I've never had any luck with them on my vintage Fenders, but sometime they move the dead spot somewhere between fretted notes so they become much less obvious...and sometimes you just luck out.

One of the purposes of the graphite neck in the MIAs is to lessen or eliminate dead spots. I'm not sure it's really possible to totally eliminate them from traditional Fenders. Some basses are much worse.

Quote:
So I guess now I'll be picking up a Badass II bridge :P .


Count me among the many traditional bassists who detest those things and the way high-mass bridges thin a bass's tone, though they often cover up some resonant problems and do increase sustain at the expense of tonal complexity.
Quote:
My next dilemma is what bass to get next. I've heard rave reviews about the 2008 American Standard Jazz Bass. ( a couple have even compared them to the '62 and '75 jazz basses as a breakthrough year.)

That's a load of expensive hype, period.

I just bought one and it's simply not all that. It's OK, not earthshaking.

The thinner finish is pretty, but EXTREMELY fragile. I don't know how the floor models are going to look at GC after being pawed over for a few weeks. :( There's definitely an "instant relic" factor there that you have to be aware of. I'm dismissive of the claim that this finish has any practical audible effect on tone -- how you hold your bass has more damping effect than any finish can. Think about it.

I don't care for the new bridge, but its "high mass" is fortunately exaggerated.

I would have liked to see better fret detailing (like RECROWNING, maybe?:roll:) and better wood on mine. The neck wood is pretty bad. All the others I've seen were better, but I don't think mine should have shipped. I may see about getting it replaced under warranty.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:07 pm
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I'm glad you got rid of the dead spot, check out my MIM with a badass II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYNnxTQLq4


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