bad sound...

[WiCKeD_J]

hey guys...
just wanna ask a quick question.
i have a cheap beginners bass, and when i play any of about the first 5 frets on each string, it plays only a flat sound with no echoe or anything...
anyone know the cause or possible solutions?

i was thinking maybe its the string, but my bro (who is musically gifted) and his friend said something about raising the bridge or moving the neck or something--and they're gonna compare it to another bass to see of the placement of the bridge is any different...

but yea help would be aprreciated...thanks heaps..

[Spazzout22]

Sounds like the action is just simply WAY too low. When you play the higher frets do you get a rattling noise? Usually what it takes is a small alen wrench (hex wrench) and you raise the saddles on the bridge up. It could also be that the neck needs adjusting. If that's the case I would take it to your local music store and ask them to set it up for you.

On the other hand, if your bro knows what he's doin, then you could simply let him take care of it.

[bbbbass]

It is most likely the neck bow or action...my bet is that you need to loosen the truss rod.

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/relief.html

[king of suede]

man.. everyone keeps beating me to this stuff... trust rod or the bridge, take it to someone who know guitars, he'll know what to do