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Post subject: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:37 pm
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My bass player has a 2010-11 Highway 1 P-bass and it's developed a wicked truss rod noise. Through the amp the Open A string sounds like a blown speaker. Anyone having this trouble?


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 11:42 pm
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I notice that kind of rattle mostly in bubinga/wedge necks.

That vibration is the first thing I check for in a bass, new or used. If it's rumbling down around the low G I put the bass back right away. The noise usually kicks in right about halfway through the note's sustain(this is a differnt sound than fret rattle). But there's probably a way to fix it...

The neck could just be too straight. The best way I know to fix the problem is to let the neck bow forward a bit. You can do this by letting the neck naturally move over time and season..or get a heavier gauge of string/higher tension. Don't tighten or loosen the rod anymore, or at least for a long while.


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:02 am
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Setup on this bass is spot on Fender specs. It never was so bad it came through the amp untill last week.


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:58 am
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a loose tuner will rattle- a spring on a bridge saddle screw will rattle-


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:05 pm
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The first thing I did was check the whole bass for loose, missing, or damaged parts. It's the truss rod. It almost sounds as if it's broken.


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:24 pm
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yeah- I guess you could stick your ear right on the back of the neck and tap on it and see if you can tell where the rattle is-- like by the nut or wherever . It would seem that if the truss rod was broken or if the rod was stripped ...... wouldn't the tension of the strings be pulling the neck and making way too much relief? Like you could drive a truck under the strings?? Okay a "Smart Car" ?

I've had rattles and vibration buzzes before that would drive me nutz and it would turn out to be either a nut on a tuner or not enough angle of the A string over the nut----- or saddles barely touching------- or even loose strap locks. I'd snug all screws and nuts (within reason) and that usually fixed it. Heck - a pick guard can rattle. A bass is all about vibration. When you say that a certain note makes the rattle more noticeable, it makes sense. You'll have that..


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:47 pm
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Did the 2010 Highway 1 basses have the same truss nut(at the body end) that is used on the American Standard? That little thing tends to rattle...alot.


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Post subject: Re: Truss rod death rattle
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:35 am
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Open A string only? Sounds to me like the break angle at the nut isn't sharp enough, usually because of there not being enough wraps on the A string tuner post.

To confirm, press lightly just behind the nut on the A string while playing and see if it stops.

To fix, re-string and try to get the string wrapped as close to the bottom of the post as you can. If you've cut it too short there's not a lot you can do.


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