Some string problems

[Crazy_Pick_Lionheart]

I just bought a Fender Jazz bass from some high guy for a hundred bucks, (seriously) But there was some buzz on the A string, and he put some paper under it on the nut to eliminate it. First off, let me say, it started off as one of the best basses I've ever played. The neck was flawless, and I could go like ten times the speed on it. Well anyway, he's a dumbass, because every string buzzed, and the strings were made up of three different sets. So I raised the strings on the bridge to eliminate the buzz, but I noticed something, the strings were too high up for me to go as fast as I first did, not a huge problem, but it kinda destroys the point of me having a different bass, because now it plays just like my others. So my question is, is it the nut, because I haven't the slightest clue about nuts, or even how to put a new one in. So, umm help?

[Jimbobntnr]

Nope, it's ruined. I am prepared to give you your $100 back for it.

Take it in for a set-up and new nut You got a great enough deal on it that it would be completely worth it. If throwing paper under the string at the nut prevented the buzzing and left the action real nice like - then the nut is probably just too worn. Nut replacement is insanely cheap.

[rh15951]

I think you can buy a pre-slotted nut, just replace it. Dead simple.

[CCR90]

first of all.

pics or it doesnt exist lol.

second. Is it buzzing on the frets? It's possible that your truss rod needs adjusting.

[Crazy_Pick_Lionheart]

Yeah I thought about that, and I started to fiddle with it, but I was afraid I would f it up, I'm just not that talented when it comes to modding or anything, except for the bridge, pickups, and wiring, well, whatever, I don't know about anything on the neck part of the bass, truss rod and nut.

I'm going to my local music store today, to pick up some strings, and a nut if I can rummage under the tons of guitar crap they got. No joke I went to a music store around where I live, and I was like "can I see your basses," and this dude was like "what?"<-- no joke.

[Crazy_Pick_Lionheart]

Oh and to CCR90, yes it buzzed on the frets, but only on the first five frets on each string, and after I raised the strings on the bridge, the buzzing stopped, but as I said, it just isn't the same.

[CCR90]

Well try the new nut, can't go wrong wiht upgrading it to something better anyways. If it doesnt work try and set it up yourself.

projectguitar.com has a good tutorial on trussrod adjustment.

[moghes69]

i think that just loosening the truss rod a little will get rid of the fret buzz.

[Peg Dizzler]

A setup should only be $30, but if you're willing to do it yourself, we'll help you out.
First you need to tell us where the buzz is. The first few frets, in the middle of the neck, or the higher frets? Or pretty much all of them?

How much clearance is there at the first fret (between the open string and the first fret, that is)?

How high did you have to raise the saddles to get it to stop buzzing?
Oh yeah, and you'll probably want to put that new set of strings on before you do anything. You said he had strings from different sets on it, so it's possible the different gauges messed with it a bit.

[Crazy_Pick_Lionheart]

well its pretty hard to do this considering I'm at my dad's house, and my bass is at my house, but the buzz is in the first five frets, as for the clearance, I have no idea as of now, and I had to raise the saddles almost double the height of what they were, and I went to get a nut, and all they had was p-bass nuts. But I'll get back to you on the clearance as soon as I can.

[moghes69]

if the first five frets buzz, then the neck doesn't arch enough. which can easily be remedied by loosening the trussrod a little. but if you don't have any experience with it/ don't trust yourself, i'd have it done by a music shop.

[CCR90]

Sometimes just putting on new strings or a heavier gauge can compensate for the truss rod adjustment.

[moghes69]

true. for some reason i didn't think of it. even though i've done it with my bass because i didn't trust myself with the truss rod and didn't feel like spending 20+ dollars for someone else to do it.

[Crazy_Pick_Lionheart]

Well I trust myself enough with the truss rod, because, I've done it a few times before, but the problem is that I don't have the right tool, I used an alan wrench for my other basses, but this one requires some strange tool which I don't have, its like a several points star shape.

[CCR90]

go into your toolbox, go find a socket and a rachet and go from there or a wrench.