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Post subject: Some frets louder than others (Marcus Miller J-bass)
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:59 pm
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I recently bought a 4-string Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass. It is a fantastic instrument, but I've just discovered that the 5th, 6th and 7th frets on the thickest string (and maybe a few others as well) are much louder and have much more punch than the rest of the frets. This kind of sucks. Can it be fixed, or do I have to return my product?


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Post subject: Re: Some frets louder than others (Marcus Miller J-bass)
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:42 am
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Ahlers wrote:
I recently bought a 4-string Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass. It is a fantastic instrument, but I've just discovered that the 5th, 6th and 7th frets on the thickest string (and maybe a few others as well) are much louder and have much more punch than the rest of the frets. This kind of sucks. Can it be fixed, or do I have to return my product?


Very unusual complaint. Take it back to the dealer and have them check it. Show them which frets are troublesome.

A few possibilities come to mind. The "LOUDER" frets are generating harmonics caused by sympathetic vibration causing more than one string is actually making sound. This would happen when you play a fretted E, A, D or G on a four string bass unless you dampen the open corresponding string.

The quieter frets might be dead spots. Almost every bass will have a dead spot or two. The 1st string "C" for example is a frequent dead spot.

Groove Tubes makes a product called "FAT FINGER" for Bass. They also make one for guitar. It clamps (safely and harmlessly) on the headstock adding mass (and weight) to the neck. This can cure the dead spots, or in some cases simply cause it to MOVE to another fret.

Another possibility is a wacky amp EQ, or you need a pickup height adjustment. When the pickup gets too close to the string the magnetic pull of the pickup deadens the string killing volume and sustain. This causes falling volume and sustain as you fret higher and higher up the neck. Just lower the pickups to cure that.


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Post subject: Re: Some frets louder than others (Marcus Miller J-bass)
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:51 am
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Ahlers wrote:
I recently bought a 4-string Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass. It is a fantastic instrument, but I've just discovered that the 5th, 6th and 7th frets on the thickest string (and maybe a few others as well) are much louder and have much more punch than the rest of the frets. This kind of sucks. Can it be fixed, or do I have to return my product?


Ahlers - Before you take it back to the dealer, aim your amp in a different direction and change it's location in the room. It JUST may be 'room' or 'stage' resonance which is eating some of the output audio and enhancing the others. I had a colleage have that happen at a monthly venue gig where the owner removed drapes from the sides of the stage and installed removable hard walls... it messed up the stage accoustics big time and they had several issues with "FLAT" sound in the mid ranges of the E string just as you are. They moved the walls to a steeper angle and everything was OK.

You still may have an instrument issue, but give that a shot first.

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Post subject: Re: Some frets louder than others (Marcus Miller J-bass)
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 11:16 pm
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PaducahLuke wrote:
Ahlers wrote:
I recently bought a 4-string Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass. It is a fantastic instrument, but I've just discovered that the 5th, 6th and 7th frets on the thickest string (and maybe a few others as well) are much louder and have much more punch than the rest of the frets. This kind of sucks. Can it be fixed, or do I have to return my product?


Ahlers - Before you take it back to the dealer, aim your amp in a different direction and change it's location in the room. It JUST may be 'room' or 'stage' resonance which is eating some of the output audio and enhancing the others. I had a colleage have that happen at a monthly venue gig where the owner removed drapes from the sides of the stage and installed removable hard walls... it messed up the stage accoustics big time and they had several issues with "FLAT" sound in the mid ranges of the E string just as you are. They moved the walls to a steeper angle and everything was OK.

You still may have an instrument issue, but give that a shot first.


I thought it was me given that I am some what new to play the bass. It seems that the D and G around fretts 5 to 8 seem weak. I have had my bass for 18 months now. I just thought it was me.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:16 am
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It isn't just you. My MIM J-Bass has dead spot - lost all sustain - around frets 6-8 of D string. Was strange, worked fine till i put on a set of slightly used Fender flats, then noticed the dead spot. Put the original round wound set of strings back on, still dead. Went to a set of Rotosound flats, still dead... I just readjusted the bridge height closer to spec, still dead..


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:59 am
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Guys - just remember that room accustics can possibly create this phenomena.

Play your bass without it being comnnected to an amp and if you have good low frequency hearing, see if you can hear proper operation of the bass with no amplification. You may be surprised that it is not the bass, but the room ambience and direction that the speakers are facing with respect to your own position in the room that creates the issue.

This is quite common and many basists, going into a new venue for the first time, will have the 'sound man' take relative accoustic meter readings with a 'white noise' generator as well as readings from the bass amp/speakers so the dead spots can be manipulated with slight angle changes.

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PaducahLuke

Fender Power Jazz Bass Special
Fender Standard Jazz Bass
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Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite 5
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Ibanez GSR200
Bassman 250-210
Peavy MAX115
Peavy MAX115 (II)


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