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Post subject: Fret Buzz
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 4:06 pm
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When practicing unplugged, I seem to get a great deal of fret buzz even though I'm using new strings, that are in tune and with no apparent neck warping.

Should I be worried, or is this natural?

Thanks for the help!

mjc

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:50 pm
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mjcolucci7 wrote:
When practicing unplugged, I seem to get a great deal of fret buzz even though I'm using new strings, that are in tune and with no apparent neck warping.

Should I be worried, or is this natural?

Thanks for the help!

mjc


There could be a variety of reasons for your fret buzz, and even a combination of things. The tension on the new strings, or even the gauge can lead to fret buzz. Your action may be a little low or you may not have enough bow in your neck. You're presumably new to setting up a bass if you're asking this question, so the best advice I have is to take it somewhere for a proper set up. Also, see if they'll give you a few pointers...or if you dare, search a website like Talkbass.com on how to set up a bass (truss adjustments, set string height, intonation).

Good luck.

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:12 pm
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I like low action and all my basses have a little bit of fret buzz. And that is ok as long as you don't hear it coming out of your amp.

On a old video I saw some one asked Marcus Miller the same thing. So he played a bit unplugged and his bass had fret buzz too!

I would not worry unless it gets real extreme.

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 8:23 pm
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bassclef wrote:
I like low action and all my basses have a little bit of fret buzz. And that is ok as long as you don't hear it coming out of your amp.

On a old video I saw some one asked Marcus Miller the same thing. So he played a bit unplugged and his bass had fret buzz too!

I would not worry unless it gets real extreme.


Billy Sheehan is the same way.

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 8:35 pm
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The Ox played with some fret buzz. Some fret buzz can give you a really cool rippin' sound. I heard a snippet of John Paul Jones isolated bass playing Whole lotta Love. He had clack and buzz and finger noise and hack. It sounds like do do. BUT when in the mix--- it's Jonesy honkin on the Jazz in Led freakin Zepplin and it sounds great!


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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:30 am
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Thanks for the advice and pointers... Cheers everyone!

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:22 pm
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All the answers are great, I will add another possibility, When I play without an amp I find I play consideraly harder, and I get a lot of fret buzz that doesn't occur with an amp
John H


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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 1:05 pm
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An actual Fender bass set up is part of the design of the bass as pertaining to the sound and performance of the instrument . Leo determined the tolerances etc when designing the bass. The factory set up for a Fender bass for string height is not low. It's set to not buzz. The overall feel of a set up that I'll put on my bass does not lend itself to lightning fast playing . If I put the strings down too low they feel all loose and rubbery and the guitar doesn't sound as crisp . I go a little lower than the Fender height and that gives a little buzzing sometimes up past the 12th fret. I do use Rotosounds and that is part of the reason for some buzzing anyway. So what I'm saying is : I think a good set up doesn't have to have low action. I think the higher action makes it easier to adjust the bass in other areas- pickups, bridge , truss. Plus I think the basses I have honk and sound better without a real low string height. I can still play Donna Lee ( what I know of it) fast with a higher non buzzing string height. No biggy.


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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:30 pm
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Raginrog you are absolutely correct about my skill level and abilities... thank you for taking the time to explain.

@ SV: Thanks... I'll take a look at raising the bridge.

Thanks again for your input everyone; glad to be part of the community.

mjc

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:50 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
An actual Fender bass set up is part of the design of the bass as pertaining to the sound and performance of the instrument . Leo determined the tolerances etc when designing the bass. The factory set up for a Fender bass for string height is not low. It's set to not buzz. The overall feel of a set up that I'll put on my bass does not lend itself to lightning fast playing . If I put the strings down too low they feel all loose and rubbery and the guitar doesn't sound as crisp . I go a little lower than the Fender height and that gives a little buzzing sometimes up past the 12th fret. I do use Rotosounds and that is part of the reason for some buzzing anyway. So what I'm saying is : I think a good set up doesn't have to have low action. I think the higher action makes it easier to adjust the bass in other areas- pickups, bridge , truss. Plus I think the basses I have honk and sound better without a real low string height. I can still play Donna Lee ( what I know of it) fast with a higher non buzzing string height. No biggy.


Thank you for such wisdom in your post, we share the same thoughts about strings not having to be that low.


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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:58 pm
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It could be because of the new strings. Play the zing away down to the fundamental bass tone, and some or all of the buzz will go away. Then raise the saddle a hair at a time if needed. You may not need to.





spelling error edit


Last edited by Dalembic on Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:31 pm
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New strings always seem to have noise issues, so no worry there. Put a few hours on them.

+1 on the setup advice to use Fender numbers. I have had one bass in my life, a 63 P with a 63 J neck that I recently acquired that was set up very low and had no noise, no clicks, no buzz, darn near played itself. Took it apart to verify the parts and was never able to get it back to that perfection, nor was my tech. In fact I couldn't get it back to playable at the first and had a new nut made for it. I have to tell you, prior to taking it apart that was the smoothest bass I ever played. And the only one with a low set up that didn't give me all kinds of noise.

Low sets are not the norm and usually come with issues. Once in 50 years I found an exception. Sure wouldn't want to bet on finding another.

Use the Fender numbers and you will have a good player. Comfortable, great sound. Or try to find that nirvana my 63 had. Good luck with that. But don't worry about it until you have a few hours on your strings unless we are talking a huge obnoxious issue.

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:24 pm
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Aint that the truth. I know it's a necessity, but I cringe when I see any Fender bass taken apart for verification. I've seen some online that still had the white sawdust/paintdust un-altered. Never touched.

It changes the sound of the bass, but sometimes it's only temporary. Either way, the wood was used to that bond. Move the soundbar in an upright bass, and it ruins the tone....


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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:40 pm
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+1 to the "acoustic vs. through an amp" idea - if it is an issue through the amp, then it may need correction, but if it's only when playing unplugged that you notice then not such a big deal at all.

I often like to just play my bass "acoustically" while I'm practicing, but there is definitely something to be said for practicing through something like a headphone amp. It's probably unrealistic to practice alone at stage volume - anyway, it won't sound the same as when you are playing with a full band!

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Post subject: Re: Fret Buzz
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:58 pm
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Like it was mentioned earlier, if you don't hear it when you're going powered, don't worry about it.

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