Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 07:34:46 AM

Title: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 07:34:46 AM

have an epic bass that I just got used.

Took it in for a setup and got the action decent.  about 2.75 at the 24th fret.

still have some buzzing issues on the E and D strings just at 1 fret on each string

first tech suggested a fret dress

brought to another tech for second opinion

he doesnt think I should dress the frets bc they are so low now to begin with

he also said there were a few "humps in the neck" which may be causing it,

I dont want to do anything that could ruin the bass so not sure how to proceed

what would you do?

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: jwright9 on February 21, 2018, 07:50:43 AM

How much did you pay for it?

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 08:00:50 AM

for the bass?

1300

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: Twocan on February 21, 2018, 08:12:49 AM

I've said this already - but I'll encourage you again:

-Make sure the bass is in the correct humidity (around 50-60%)
-Loosen the truss rods completely
-put on a higher gauge string and/or
-If you do not get the relief you need after a day, trying tuning the bass up a 1/2 step to a step for 24 hours

Maintain your humidity thereafter.

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 08:40:56 AM

I will try that, its weird that its just at a few frets, the strings have been on for about 5 days now and they seem to be high tension

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: mica on February 21, 2018, 11:10:21 AM

If you have the bass in hand, you should be able to see any humps in the neck yourself. Sight down (or up) the neck, and compare the distance from the bottom of the string to the tops top the frets and you aim the neck up and down. The light reflecting off the tops of the frets is a good reference.

Frets being low means they have been crowned at some point. Unless it's custom ordered otherwise, we use jumbo frets. They are not ground low when new.

If it's one side, you may also try raising the bridge on that side.

Is the string nut baseplate damaged? Looking down while in a stand, is the string nut baseplate flat?

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 11:13:15 AM

I will check this out when I get home, but it looks fine

Title: Re: can't get the action too low without buzzes
Post by: drewphishes on February 21, 2018, 11:16:24 AM

If I raise the bridge it def goes away, but then makes the action super sky high