Just bought a new bass. What is wrong with the sound?? (audio clip)

[matthew_r]

I just bought a new DanElectro bass. I believe it's one from their last line of basses (last year?). It's a short scale model.

 

I'm new to bass and I'm not sure if I just got ripped off...

 

Two things:

 

When I hit the strings on certain frets, there's a rattling buzzing sound.

I made a rough recording to let you hear exactly what it is (minor note: I'm playing w/a pick)

 

Also, the strings are really close to the pickups. If I hit the strings too hard they touch the pickups and it makes a loud scratch sound. I'm borrowing my friend's DanElectro (which is an older model) and the strings are about 1/8 of an inch higher than mine. Which is a lot! So has my bass been assembled wrong?

 

Thanks

[fretless]

sounds like it may need a set up and a pickup height adjustment. You will probably always have some fret noise with a fretted bass and roundwounds , it's apart of the charm , and Dano's have that cool twang , still set it up check out the Kindness setup thread ,though some Dano's don't have truss rods , not sure about yours .

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2067718

[PrestiaRules]

it needs a set up. if you are new to bass you may want to have it set up at a shop. Did you buy if from a guitar store? They should get it set up and playable for you.

[solderjunkie]

Yep... all basses can benefit from a righteous set-up.

 

It will change everything about how your bass plays:thu:

[Kindness]

Your bass is fine, it just needs some love. Give it the love it deserves.