| Author | Message | ||
| geddy
Junior Username: geddy Post Number: 28 Registered: 7-2004 |
On my new Orion, had it less than a month, everything is set up perfectly to my eye. After the bass made it's way down here to southern utah only a very small 1/8th turn on the rods was needed to add a small amount of relief. Everything is sweet except above the 6th fret on the A string. I get a very hollow tinny buzzing there, nowhere else. It's not like normal fret buzz and has a much hollower grating sound. The neck looks straight to me and proper string height is set. Could this buzzing be due to one rod being turned slightly more than the other? I'm asking because everything looks and plays great and I'm hesitant to make further adjustments not being 100% comfortable with the process. Thanks, Jon | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 366 Registered: 3-2004 |
Let me make sure of what you are saying... Is there a single fret at which you play and get a buzz, is it every note between the 7th and 24th frets on the A string that are a problem, or is it notes from the 7th fret to some other fret after which the buzz goes away again? | ||
| geddy
Junior Username: geddy Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yes, I see I could have been more specific. It's just on that one fret, 6th on A string. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 367 Registered: 3-2004 |
That's odd. Let me think as I type... Possibilities I can think of are: 1. The 7th fret is just a little high 2. The 6th fret is too low 3. There's something loose somewhere that vibrates harmoniously with the D# played on the A string, either on the bass or in the room if you're playing amplified (try quiet or a different room as a test of the latter) 4. The string is bad I don't see any way that setup should give you a buzz on just that one fret and that one string. Also, the fret being low/high seems unlikely as it would probably be evenly low/high causing a buzz on multiple strings at that location. If you tune up a half step, does it still buzz? How about down? Does everything that gets screwed down seem to be screwed down (tuning pegs, etc)? You could also try holding a straight edge the length of the fretboard to see what sort of bow you have in the neck, and that it is even across the fretboard. Pressing down a string at spots on either side of the problem area can simulate this fairly well. Also, you could try cutting a tiny/thin piece of cardboard or folded paper and loosen the string enough to place it under the bridge saddle to temporarily raise the string at the bridge. Tune back up and see if the buzz is still there. If it goes away, then maybe raising the bridge a tiny amount will clean it up for you. Work in tiny increments. Make sure before you go messing around with setup, cause if you're not comfy with what you're doing, it may take a while to get it back where you like it. Also, I am assuming that when you say 'new', you mean fresh-from-factory and not just new to you, so I am discounting worn frets as a possibility. Just some ideas to maybe get you closer to the problem source. It could just be a bad string that needs to be replaced. One last thing to consider is whether this ever worked to your satisfaction, or was it always a problem. If the buzz wasn't there before, what may have changed? | ||
| geddy
Junior Username: geddy Post Number: 34 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yeah, it's new from the factory. And it makes the sound uplugged as well as amped, and everything seems to be tight, but I'll have to double check the pegs. Thanks for all the suggestions bsee! I'll try what you suggested and post back how it went. Thanks, Jon | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 343 Registered: 11-2002 |
Don't discount #4 - the string. Try another one, even if from a different set, just to see what happens (or maybe look at it with a magnifying glass or zoom lens, etc.) It's about the simplest experiment, so I'd try that first. A tiny kink or bad wrap - even something you can't really feel by running your fingers over it - could behave as you describe. | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 359 Registered: 6-2002 |
Sometimes the RI bead on the wires in the control cavity, which has a small piece of foam padding attached to it to prevent rattling, touches either the control plate or one of the components, on the side where there's no foam. Since the wires keep the bead kind of suspended, a little buzz can be heard. Other than that, make sure that the nut is tightened: if I remember correctly the outer bolts go up and the middle bolt goes down - check the maintenance instructions. | ||
| jet_powers
Intermediate Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 194 Registered: 2-2003 |
Could be the gnomes and pixies from the other thread..... | ||
| mgirouard3
Junior Username: mgirouard3 Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2004 |
I had a problem exactly like that on my Irish Bouzouki. Except that it was the 10th fret. It turned out that my problem was a slightly raised 11th fret. It must have happened with the humidity changes we get out here in RI. I brought it to a reputable repair man and I hate to say it, he hit it with a hammer and the problem has ceased. I do not suggest doing this to your bass however. My Bouzouki cost only $400 which I’m sure is not the case with your bass! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1723 Registered: 9-2002 |
Gnomes and pixies ...??? Inly two persons in this club can serious and deep insight on that: Susan THE and Ken TEO. Paul the bad one | ||
| geddy
Junior Username: geddy Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yes, I think it's pixies. It was steady at the 6th fret for two weeks and I go home on friday and the buzz has moved onto the 7th fret but also decreased. For now Im writing it off to the neck settling into the drier climate, and of course the pixes and underpants-cum-alembic gnomes. Thanks again for all the suggestions. | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 363 Registered: 6-2002 |
--- Post moved to "Sharp Phenomenon" thread. --- (Message edited by adriaan on October 26, 2004) |
