Members mounds Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Okay, so I've got this jazz bass. I just restrung the thing maybe 2 weeks ago or so with D'Addario nickel wound strings. The G-string at the 4-6th frets has absolutely no sustain at all. I pluck the string and it goes for maybe 1 second then stops. all the other strings at that fret are just fine. I've adjusted the relief on the neck, i've raised the saddle all the way to make sure it wasn't fret buzz, but it still has no sustain at all. my question is this: does this sound like an instrument issue or a string issue? i'm wondering if it's the nut or something else. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rowka Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 It's the notorious "dead spot." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HORSE Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 if I recall correctly, jazz basses are notorious for dead frets just in that area. check this out: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/src=SearchDex/search/detail/base_pid/420271 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruven Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 That's a dead spot. The neck is vibrating opposite of the string and cancelling it out, basically. The notes usually ring into a harmonic when that happens. It wasn't happening with the other strings? Did you change guages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Sounds like an instrument issue common to all Fender-based designs. The G string on Fender P and J basses typically has a deadspot between the 4th and 6th fret. It is not a problem, per se, with your instrument so much as the design 50 years ago. There isn't going to be any way to really cure it just with a setup. You can reduce it, but not cure it. A string-through-body bridge helps reduce it a lot, as does a much heavier bridge ala the Badass II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members takeout Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by Rowka It's the notorious "dead spot." Yep Theories abound; I'm partial to the one about asymmetrical string pull due to the shape of the headstock being the culprit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by takeout YepTheories abound; I'm partial to the one about asymmetrical string pull due to the shape of the headstock being the culprit. I think its a combination of things. Headstock shape could be part of it, asympathetic string vibration behind and in front of the nut at just that frequency cancelling it out, neck joint solidity, the way the truss rod is mounted before tightening, etc. On any give bass, it could be one, all, or any number of these or more that I'm not aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnny6644 Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by mounds Okay, so I've got this jazz bass. I just restrung the thing maybe 2 weeks ago or so with D'Addario nickel wound strings. The G-string at the 4-6th frets has absolutely no sustain at all. I pluck the string and it goes for maybe 1 second then stops.all the other strings at that fret are just fine. I've adjusted the relief on the neck, i've raised the saddle all the way to make sure it wasn't fret buzz, but it still has no sustain at all.my question is this:does this sound like an instrument issue or a string issue?i'm wondering if it's the nut or something else.thanks. I've found dead frets on the three basses I've had. Fourth and six on my Squire P-Bass and my American Precision... the best of the three is my short scale SX! Only a slight deadness at the 12 fret on D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mounds Posted November 17, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 it's got a badass II installed, and I did change string gauges from the skinnies installed from the factory to 45-105's. looks like i'll have to live with it no biggie, just kinda driving me crazy is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigPigPeaches Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by mounds it's got a badass II installed, and I did change string gauges from the skinnies installed from the factory to 45-105's. looks like i'll have to live with it no biggie, just kinda driving me crazy is all. Was the problem there before you changed strings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by sunburstbasser Sounds like an instrument issue common to all Fender-based designs. None of the 4 I've had had this problem. 'Course, I've only had P's, never a Jazz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted November 17, 2005 Members Share Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by Sixgun77 None of the 4 I've had had this problem. 'Course, I've only had P's, never a Jazz. My own P bass had this problem, and still does. Its not a Fender, but it is a direct knock-off. The deadspot is much less pronounced on my Reverend, but still there (which is why I attribute it to the design; the Reverend has a heavier bridge already and good truss rod and neck attachment). I've also noticed that, often, dead spots DON'T show up until you go to hit that note in a band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Originally posted by sunburstbasser My own P bass had this problem, and still does. Its not a Fender, but it is a direct knock-off.The deadspot is much less pronounced on my Reverend, but still there (which is why I attribute it to the design; the Reverend has a heavier bridge already and good truss rod and neck attachment).I've also noticed that, often, dead spots DON'T show up until you go to hit that note in a band. Ah. I've had stock fender bridges on all but 1, and all 4 basses were either Fender or Squire. I must just be really lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Originally posted by Sixgun77 Ah. I've had stock fender bridges on all but 1, and all 4 basses were either Fender or Squire. I must just be really lucky. Lucky, or maybe they just aren't pronounced enough to really notice. I didn't know my Reverend had a deadspot until I'd owned it for 2 years, and with new strings that goes away as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Well, the 2 Bullet's are '82's, and the P's are late 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NeonVomit Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 I've got a dead spot on my Ibanez, 13th fret on the C string. Not too bad though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassthumpintwin Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 what about one of these? actually, I hear they dont work and are a big waste of money.... but..... on the otherhand I've heard a coulple people say that it DOES work...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigPigPeaches Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Most people that I know who have tried them have found that they just move the dead spot to another location. Might be worth a try, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 I've owned 9 or 10 Fender basses and never experienced this problem.... maybe I never let the notes sustain long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 18, 2005 Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Originally posted by bnyswonger I've owned 9 or 10 Fender basses and never experienced this problem.... maybe I never let the notes sustain long enough. Yeah, I'm on no. 4 and I have not experienced this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mounds Posted November 18, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2005 Originally posted by BigPigPeaches Was the problem there before you changed strings? not as pronounced as it is now, but it did get worse after changing strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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