civictiger Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hey guys, a part of my bass, right near the bridge, resonates when I play some notes, even with only a small amount of force - particularly the open A string makes the most racket! does anyone have any idea what it might be that is causing this?? I have tried holding down my bridge with one hand and plucking with another and it still happens, tried holding down my strap pegs, the battery plate on the back, the control plate on the front.. even the springsthat are on the saddle's and I am lost! maybe its a saddle itself I am unsure, but its really annoying! I have an American Fender Jazz Deluxe if that helps diagnose this error! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Could be that one of the adjustable 'legs' on one of the bridge saddles is not quite making contact with the flat part of the bridge? If you've the right size allan key, just give them all a tiny tweak to feel if they are loose. It doesn't take much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 as above! make sure the saddle screws are bottomed out on the base plate. gotta be something loose on the bridge. saddle screws, springs or summink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 [quote name='lettsguitars' post='1111059' date='Feb 1 2011, 02:35 PM']as above! make sure the saddle screws are bottomed out on the base plate.[/quote] Yeah. They are the words I was trying to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 What is it with bloody basses? If something's not battened down tight an open A will always find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Another possibility could be a loose truss rod... but I'd certainly check out the bridge first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Have you tried pressing the string gently just beyond the nut in front of the machine head? Could be that the string needs winding lower down on the machine head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Also check the strap buttons are tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 I've tightened all the screws on the bridge, and made sure the legs are completely sitting.. but still, resonation city!! im thinking it may be the truss rod like someone posted, I did just downgrade from a heavy gauge string to my beloved mediums (I used heavy for a project I was in but just left).. this may very well be it? if so, any thoughts on a fix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 I've also just tried pressing down REALLY hard past the nut, so that an A# is produced and this solves the problem, whereas tuning the string to A# does not.. So im thinking the string needs more tension, possibly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 [quote name='civictiger' post='1111229' date='Feb 1 2011, 04:38 PM']I've also just tried pressing down REALLY hard past the nut, so that an A# is produced and this solves the problem, whereas tuning the string to A# does not.. So im thinking the string needs more tension, possibly?[/quote] Sounds like the A string hasn't been wound far enough down the post, producing the problem because of the shallow break angle over the nut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 It could well be what Matt said ^ but try pressing the headstock like you did the A string. If you silence it that way too then it probably is the truss-rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Another possibility I've experienced before when downgrading from heavy gauge strings is that the slot in the nut has worn slightly bigger than it originally was due to the heavy gauge strings. When you then go back to standard gauge, because the slot is slightly too big, it can cause the string to"rattle" ever so slightly in the slot. I spent a while scratching my head trying to figure out where it was coming from! Try packing the slot out a little with some paper or thin card, and see if the buzz disappears. If it does the trick, you'll either have to get a new nut or live with the piece of card (which I did in my Jazz for about 6 years!). Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Retaining collar on the machine head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 if you tap the back of the neck you will/should hear if the rod is rattling. taking up the slack in the rod will/should rectify the problem. could well also be the slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonzoooroo Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 you can check nut groove rattle by pressing a fingernail down directly on teh plaing side of the nut. go over the whole instrument with a screwdriver and jsut check everything's tightened right up. if no improvement, check if there's any tension in the truss rod... if it's completely slack, give it a tweek until you just start to feel the nut "bite"... it'll make no tangible difference to the setup, but will stop the rod nut/rod rattling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 [quote name='fonzoooroo' post='1112077' date='Feb 2 2011, 09:56 AM']you can check nut groove rattle by pressing a fingernail down directly on teh plaing side of the nut. go over the whole instrument with a screwdriver and jsut check everything's tightened right up. if no improvement, check if there's any tension in the truss rod... if it's completely slack, give it a tweek until you just start to feel the nut "bite"... it'll make no tangible difference to the setup, but will stop the rod nut/rod rattling.[/quote] I just put my fingernail down in the nut slot where the A string sits, and this pretty much stopped mostthe resonating, there is a TINY bit but there always wil be a tad I reckon.. so I think this may be the problem I guess a new nut may be needed.. althought I really wouldnt be comfortable doing this myself.. Do you think if I go to get my bass a decent setup that they would do this for me for an extra cost? The most suitable place I can think of would be a music shop called Sheehans - I dont know of any private people that do anything as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Its not too scary to do, but any decent repairer should be happy to do it. When I needed the nut on my jazz doing, I went to a local luthier who made me a bone one from scratch and only charged me £15!!! (was a few years ago mind....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Intonation spring not long enough will do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Sounds like some card is needed in the nut (or a new nut). Otherwise have you tried new strings? I had this a little while back thinking this was a major issue. Changed the strings and all fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonzoooroo Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Did you get this sorted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 [quote name='fonzoooroo' post='1131306' date='Feb 17 2011, 05:30 PM']Did you get this sorted?[/quote] I did thanks Fonzo well, I know the problem, atleast.. sorry for the late reply, been really busy! basically the higher gauge strings I used previously somehow degraded the groove in the nut where my A string sits, so I need a new nut. I'll have to wait around 5 months til I can afford one tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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