Something new that's not from x-mas!

[British Kid]

Here's my new (to me) Tribute by G&L SB-2. i won it on ebay last week, but with the holiday's it's been caught up in the UPS system. It's amazing. i really like the pickups in it. however, there is one problem with it. when i play the E string open, there is this wierd vibrating/rattling sound. the note comes out a bit muffled from the amp. i think this might be because the string might be hitting the first fret. any ideas?

enjoy the pics! :thumb:

http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/7956/sb20033mf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img305.imageshack.us/img305/471/sb20014oa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/9832/sb20020zd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

edit: sorry the pics are so huge and blurry..... they looked fine on my comp before....... argh......

[edgebass5]

could be fretting out, could be a fouled bridge saddle (a common problem among G&L bridges). Does it buzz/vibrate/rattle on all frets and the open note as well?

[British Kid]

it only buzz/vibrate/rattles on the open E string. all other strings and on frets are fine.

[Jimbobntnr]

nice bass, is that E string sitting in the nut securely?

[Mr_Soup]

I like the finish, is it sparkle?

[sixner]

nice finish, i dont like the fendery body though......... meh.... seems pretty cool though...

-sixner

[edgebass5]

try removing the E string from the tuning peg and winding it closer to the base of the peg, that should increase the downward angle as the string breaks across the nut and hopefully cause enough of a pressure increase to remove the rattle.

[da_s_man13]

What is it with people taking pictures of themselves in the mirror?

[Alma]

What is it with people taking pictures of themselves in the mirror?

heh. :lol:

[FunkMetalBass]

If Edge's idea doesn't work, you can always add little (VERY little) slips of paper underneath the string to make it fit more snugly in the nut.

Also, ALWAYS make sure to wind your strings as Edge suggested.

[Your Tourniquet]

That's one sexy bass! (I'm a sucker for sparkly colours... call me a homo but I don't care :p )

Not too keen on the headstock though...

[kilian]

Congrats :thumb:
How much did it set you back?

[British Kid]

for all that asked: yes it is a sparkle blue finish.

about the mirror: sorry, the mirror thing is a bit cliched but i didn't know how else i could take a pic like that by myself

the rattle problem: i tried the rewinding, paper in the nut and a few other things. i've come to the conclusion that i have a bad string (if that's possible) when i tried a different string, the problem stopped. i'll put a different set on there soon so i'll live with the problem for a few more days.

also, before i got it i wasn't sure that i was gonna like the finish and i considered repainting it when i got it. i was thinking a hot pink, then i'd replace the pickguard with either a checkered one or a white perloid one. i still might change the pickguard, but i think i'll keep the sparkly blue finish for now. also, the cost with shipping was $640.09 (weird ebay bid)

[Esp Griffyn]

Not keen on it at all, hope you enjoy it though.

[Linkinbassist]

Enjoy it, man, those are good basses...

[Psychopsilocybin]

never seen a G&L like that before, but it looks like a solid bass. congrats

[godzillarator]

nice finish, i dont like the fendery body though......... meh.... seems pretty cool though...

-sixner



well thats mostly beacause its designed by leo fender

[DavetheGrumpy]

Doesn't ANYONE know how to resize pictures anymore? :upset:
Beautiful bass, though. :thumb: As to the buzz, it may not be the string itself - try putting your hand over various parts of the bass - particularly the tuners and other hardware like that. Sometimes they rattle when you play a particular note. My bass has this weird rattle, only on the open A, and only when it is laid flat. :confused:

[pukeboy66]

:upset:

i dont like you .... i love that bass

[DavetheGrumpy]

:upset:

i dont like you .... i love that bass
There, there.

[kaiser]

you look sexy...

the bass is nice too :)

-Jonas

[British Kid]

well, after trying a few more things, i'm positive it's the string. it did the exact same thing on my geddy lee. I'll order some strings off MF since i need to restock anyway. However I have experienced another small gripe, the pots are really scratchy when i turn them, especially the j-pup volume knob. how do i clean them (or is there something else that could be causing the problem?

[groundzero]

well, after trying a few more things, i'm positive it's the string. it did the exact same thing on my geddy lee. I'll order some strings off MF since i need to restock anyway. However I have experienced another small gripe, the pots are really scratchy when i turn them, especially the j-pup volume knob. how do i clean them (or is there something else that could be causing the problem?
The quick way that only works about half the time is to just turn them back and forth really quick a bunch of times. Sometimes it works out the dirt.

Also it's a nice looking bass, but I think a white pearloid pickguard would look even better than the white; but it might be just a bit over the top with the sparkle.

[Jimbobntnr]

douse them with this (http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/35-176-specialty-cleaners/electrical-contact-cleaner-101056.aspx)before turning back and forth quickly

[British Kid]

ok, thanks. i've got some electrical cleaner that i can use. first, i've gotta figure out how to get the pots out of this thing! lol. the knobs really don't wanna pull off of the pot shaft. i guess it's a really tight fit.

[Jimbobntnr]

don't pull the knobs off. Unscrew the pickguard and spray them through the crevices in the rear.

[British Kid]

don't pull the knobs off. Unscrew the pickguard and spray them through the crevices in the rear.
that will work? that's what i thought about doing, but then i thought it would work better if i went straight to the source and took the pots out completley.

[Jimbobntnr]

that will work? that's what i thought about doing, but then i thought it would work better if i went straight to the source and took the pots out completley.
I'm use to cheap electronics with crevices on the pots, it may be so or not. But yeah it always works on mine.
did you check for an allen bolt that holds the knob on?

[British Kid]

yeah, i checked for allen bolts first and the knobs are just push-on (at least i think so, are there any other types of knobs?).

[Jimbobntnr]

friction and bolt on are the only ones that I know of.

[British Kid]

ok, so then i should try to first keep the pots intact in the pickguard and then if i can't get the electrical cleaner (e.g. WD-40?) in there, then i should take the pot out of the pickguard?

[Jimbobntnr]

please don't tell anyone that I recommended wd40. There is an actual electronics contact cleaner.
I don't personally think that completely removing the pot will give you any more access than removing the knob and/or pickguard.

[British Kid]

hah, sorry, i didn't mean it like that. I use WD-40 on electronics and stuff all the time. it's just a habit of mine to bust that stuff out on any/everything. however when it comes to stuff like this i use more *ahem* "speciallized" tools and products. well, as for pot access, i'll see how well just unscrewing the pickguard works.

[groundzero]

ok, so then i should try to first keep the pots intact in the pickguard and then if i can't get the electrical cleaner (e.g. WD-40?) in there, then i should take the pot out of the pickguard?
Oh god, do NOT use WD-40. The electronics cleaner he mentioned is not flammable; WD-40 is HIGHLY flammable. I wouldn't spray that near wires with current running through them, no matter how little.