| Author | Message | ||
| olieoliver
Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 79 Registered: 2-2006 |
I was wondering if anyone else has ever notice some basses having what I call a dead or flat spot at the 5th fret of the G (1st) string? I have a 76 Jazz that this is very noticable on. I have played several other Fenders and Musicman that also have this "dead spot" in the same location. I've noticed this on some ther brands too but also have played another Jazz that didn't have this. It sounds as if you had a very old set of strings on. No sustain and almost a muted sound. But only around the 5th fret on the 1st string. On some you can notice it also around the 10th fret of the 2nd string. Maybe my ears just don't like middle C. HMM | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1091 Registered: 3-2004 |
Not your ears, those Fenders are famous for that dead spot within a couple notes of that spot. It's a matter of physics. A resonant frequency of the neck lines up with the note being played and the energy of the note is absorbed by the neck. The solid maple necks are probably the worst for this. That's why materials like graphite and ebony make such great bass necks. They move the resonant frequencies outside of the range of the instrument so all the notes come through more evenly. | ||
| pas
Member Username: pas Post Number: 70 Registered: 3-2003 |
I had the same problem in the exact same location on my Guild B-302. I finally got fed up, stashed away some cash & got my Spoiler -brand new - in '85. We've been happy together ever since... | ||
| hankster
Junior Username: hankster Post Number: 30 Registered: 6-2004 |
This is a problem on Fenders or any decent Fender copy, and on some MusicMans. If you like your bass, but hate the dead spot, you can overcome the resonance by placing some weight up at the end of the headstock - a small dense piece of something glued to the back of the headstock, or even a small c-clamp at the end, will fix it even though it looks stupid. Some company actually used to manufacture a device just for this purpose, although I can't remember who they were or what it was called. These kinds of tricks can make all the difference for recording particularly. | ||
| edwin
Intermediate Member Username: edwin Post Number: 137 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hankster, you are thinking of the Fathead, marketed by Groovetubes. It was a sheet of metal that gets held onto the headstock and increases the mass. I don't know how effective it is (I do believe that they are still available). Edwin | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3535 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here is the Groovetubes Fathead. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3536 Registered: 5-2002 |
And here is the Groovetubes Fatfinger. | ||
| jlpicard
Senior Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 407 Registered: 7-2002 |
The Fathead page brings up an interesting point. They claim that the headstock mass can audibly affect the sustain and tone of the instrument. If so, does the headstock shape that we choose on our Alembic's have any effect or is it negligable because they are all probably very similar in mass? | ||
| crgaston
Intermediate Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 144 Registered: 11-2005 |
It's probably pretty negligible, because the construction of the neck, the sustain block, and possibly the brass nut already add enough mass and stiffness to move the resonant frequency of the neck above anything which would cause dead spots, which means any tone changes would be in the uppermost frequencies. I think the Fatheads are simply trying to retrofit to a normal guitar or bass what is designed into an Alembic. If anyone has one of these, it would be an interesting experiment to see how it affects an Alembic, though. (Edited to add) It looks like there might be a significant mass difference between a crown or cone and a fan or knobby headstock, balancewise, but maybe not enough to affect tone noticeably. (Message edited by crgaston on March 25, 2006) | ||
| olieoliver
Intermediate Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 141 Registered: 2-2006 |
I always wondered what caused this. I knew it was present in some of my basses but not in others. I also noticed it was worse on some that others too. I had an old Gibson G-3 that had no problem with this at all. My Kubickis don't have this flat spot either and they have NO headstock. But their necks are pretty amazing, they are made with a 34 piece of laminate (maple I belive). None of my Warwicks have this problem and on my Daions it's not present either. But my 76 Jazz and 78 Music man its as if the string is being muted at that spot. "The LEO curse" I guess. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3539 Registered: 5-2002 |
Following along the thread, on a set neck bass it would seem that a significant difference in mass in the headstock would be more noticable than on a neck through. Of course, the trade off there is neck dive. But I suppose on a well balanced body like an Excel, ordering a knobby headstock and thus getting a little more neck woods might be an interesting idea. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3540 Registered: 5-2002 |
Olie; my understanding is as Bob stated above that this problem is more common in single piece Maple necks. Not all single piece Maple necks act the same; some have dead spots and some don't. All Alembics have multi laminate necks. | ||
| 2400wattman
Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 80 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hey Olie! Just get a Badass bridge(retro-fits to body, same screw holes!) & be done. I use these on all my jazzes(I have 4) & it makes a world of difference. I also recently got a Fat Finger, but I don't think it has made as much a difference as the Badass. However I do leave it on since I bought it. This is also a lot cheaper than the alternative, which is have graphite rods inlaid into the neck(requires fretboard removal) which is not ideal for the bass if you want to keep it stock or it's a vintage piece. You should be able to find a bridge on e-bay for about $50-60.00 bucks & they're just great you'll never put your old bridge on again. Take care, Adam | ||
| crgaston
Intermediate Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 145 Registered: 11-2005 |
I actually have a Badass bridge I'm not using. I'm leaving town now, but can post a pic later if anybody is interested. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 692 Registered: 10-2003 |
I *gasp* have on occasion clamped a heavy C-clamp to the head of 811952 to even out the neck a bit, particularly when I've strung it a 4th low (low B on a 4-stringer). It contributes to neck dive just a bit. ;) It really seems to bring out the fundamental though. I use yellow pine under the clamp, btw, to leave no marks on the bass. Not nearly so noticeable on higher notes on this bass with the ultra-skinny 5-piece maple/purpleheart neck but makes a huge difference on the low stuff. Don't anybody tell Mica... John | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2351 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hey Charles, IFF (if and only if) nobody is interested your side of the pond ...I am! "Broomstick" will be "reconstructed" the upcoming year and I was looking for a second hand Badass Bridge. Paul the bad one | ||
| olieoliver
Intermediate Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 143 Registered: 2-2006 |
I have a Badass bridge on my Jazz already. It did help alot but the daed spot is still there. I've let other people play it and they don't even notice it. Guess I'm just picky. | ||
| crgaston
Intermediate Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 146 Registered: 11-2005 |
 Paul, here it is with the screws and allen wrench (about 3cm to the left of the screws; it really hides itself in the pattern on the couch). I also have 2 sets of EMG pickups I'm not using. One is a set of EMG Selects, which I think are passive. They're not wired to a jack but I have a new one somewhere. The other is a set of EMG JV's, which are active and come with everything you need. The leads for the neck pickup are disconnected, but could easily be resoldered. You can tell where they need to go if you look at the assembly in person. Since Olie has a Badass already, I'll be happy to sell it to you. I can put all this up for sale on the board, or you can have first dibs on any of it, whichever you prefer. I don't know anything about shipping stuff overseas, but it's pretty small, so I can't imagine it'd be ridiculously expensive. Email me if you are interested and we can talk about money and shipping. Charles | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2352 Registered: 9-2002 |
E-mail send | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 265 Registered: 1-2004 |
hi On the topic on dead notes on fender basses i also have a problem with mine but i either get alot of buzzing on the d string on 14th fret or on the G string 9th fret dependent on truss rod adjustments. Is this the same prob or something different i love the sound of the bass but that buzzing really ruins it for me. andrew | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 266 Registered: 1-2004 |
oh yeah this prob is alleviated somewhat by raising the action but really high too high to play comfortably. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 819 Registered: 6-2002 |
Andrew, you may just need to have some work done on the frets, perhaps having new frets installed - depending on their condition. | ||
| 2400wattman
Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 87 Registered: 11-2005 |
I agree, you might want to have your frets checked out, or look at them where you are having problems w/buzzing. Hey Olie, try the Fat Finger. It might cure what ails ya! Guitar Ctr. sells them for about $15.00 + govenor's fees. Dig in And Get Loooowww! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2361 Registered: 9-2002 |
Anybody tried this one? http://www.j-retro.co.uk/technical.htm Was highly recommended for "doing" Broomstick. Not cheap but I will not need stockings for this one ;-) Thanks for input. Paul TBO | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 192 Registered: 3-2004 |
Just out of curiosity, anyone ever try tuning an extremely short delay to resonate with the note on the dead spot? Obviously not a perfect fix, but possibly one could compensate a bit. | ||
| olieoliver
Intermediate Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 176 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thats a pretty good idea Kevin. It's worth a try. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 195 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks, every once in a while someone finds a use for me. |
