String help..

[JasonP]

I recently bought myself a new Yamaha BB614, and after playing it for a couple of seconds I noticed my (mostly the E and A) strings rattle with the frets.
After having it for a couple of weeks or so I learned to play around this,
but it's annoying (and still happens if I play at speed) and I have my first gig soon..
So my question would be if anyone could tell me what to do,
or if it would be better to just bring it to a shop and have it adjusted.

Thanks in advance:)

[Peterwgw]

raise your action

[JasonP]

Sorry for asking dumb questions, but how would one go about doing this?
(I have only been playing for 10 months, and never raised my action before..)

[Sammy_L_D]

Sorry for asking dumb questions, but how would one go about doing this?
(I have only been playing for 10 months, and never raised my action before..)

Take it to a tech, and don't try it yourself.

Never tamper with your instrument unless you know exactly how to do it.

See if you can find a tech that will show you how to do that for the future, and while you're at it, get him to show you how to check for intonation, as raising the action will throw your intonation out.

[JasonP]

Ah, ok.
Thanks for your advice:)

Would it be expensive to have it done?

[Sammy_L_D]

Nah, shouldn't be too much at all. It's a relatively quick adjustment.

[JasonP]

I'll propably bring it in this week then..
Thanks for your help:)

[Thunder Fingers]

You can not ruin your bass with raising the action at the bridge, thats impossible.

You see the screws on each string saddle on the bass(Each side of the string)? you shuld have a wrench or a screw driver somewhere that fits in this, and then you just turn the way that makes the saddles raise up.

youll probaly have to fix the intonation on it though, buy a book on repairing/setting up your bass, it will earn itself in the long run. Service unless something is broken is simply wasted money IMO..

[o b s]

Action adjustments with the bridge saddles are pretty easy and theres really no risk of damaging your bass, I've adjusted them myself since I started playing.. simple stuff like this is worth learning. My bass teacher showed me how to do it but just look up a guide on the internet or something if you aren't having lessons.

If you want to be a perfectionist about it though it takes ABSOLUTELY AGES.

[Thunder Fingers]

Yeah, as perfectionist, it may take a while.. i spent a week getting my P bass to where i like it :p (i also had a crocked nut and a way to big neck pocket to work with though)

[kilian]

Where did you bought it? I would take it back for a good setup. They shouldn't charge you for it, since they should have sold it to you in a perfect condition.

A BB is a nice choice by the way! Why did you get the active one over the passive one? :thumb:

[EADG]

raise your action

I don't recommend this, while this would most likely fix the problem, it's not always the cause


Keep in mind that the problem could be at the other end, the 1-5 fret region. If that is the case, you'll most likely have to loosen the truss rod. I have had buzz in that region so bad that raising the action couldn't fix it - and having high strings for no reason really impedes your playing.


Threadstarter, read this: (skip ramp and controls if you want)

http://garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html


That will give you a general idea of how a bass setup works. From there you can ask on here or ask a local tech if you have any further questions.

[EADG]

If you want to be a perfectionist about it though it takes ABSOLUTELY AGES.


I can have my bass fully setup (action, intonation, pickup height) in less than an hour. Truss rod adjustments do take a while but I only do one.. twice a year? Winter and summer for temperature and humidity changes

It's much faster if you take the time to learn how to do it properly.. and obviously it gets faster with experience.

[o b s]

I can have my bass fully setup (action, intonation, pickup height) in less than an hour. Truss rod adjustments do take a while but I only do one.. twice a year? Winter and summer for temperature and humidity changes

It's much faster if you take the time to learn how to do it properly.. and obviously it gets faster with experience.

I don't adjust my bass often, just when I feel I need to really. Raising the string a TINY amount then retuning and carefully checking each fret takes a pretty long time if you aren't rushing.

[JasonP]

Thanks everyone,
but I'll propably still bring it to a shop.
I'll learn to do it myself sometime, just not now..

kilian: Nederlander!:) I bought it in Keulen, which is just too long a drive to see if I can get it done for free. :p
The BB really is a nice bass, yes.
As for getting the active one, I just liked being able to change my tone this much without having to look at my amp :p

EADG: Thanks for the site, I'll try it in the future. Just too afraid of wrecking my bass right now. :p

[EADG]

EADG: Thanks for the site, I'll try it in the future. Just too afraid of wrecking my bass right now. :p


Action, intonation, and pickup height adjustments most likely won't hurt your bass at all

Truss rod adjustments definitely can though. That's why I leave them to a pro and do the rest myself

[EADG]

I don't adjust my bass often, just when I feel I need to really. Raising the string a TINY amount then retuning and carefully checking each fret takes a pretty long time if you aren't rushing.


That must be why.. I find it much easier to fine-tune my setup constantly. It seems to take less time that way, and it is a lot less frustrating.

I only do a full setup after I get a truss rod adjustment, and I don't really rush it.

[lemoley]

congrats on the new bass man :thumb:

i was gonig to sell my BB but i realised how awesome it is and have decided to keep it