Open string buzz on delivery...please help!

[rob]

Hello all
 
Well, I just received my 36 scale 5 string Series I w/SII electronics, so I am a very happy man right now (for a pic, see Rob's Custom Series II in the FTC section). It's quite amazing, but I am having open string buzz on the A and D strings. Can someone who knows what they're talking about let me know if this sounds like a nut adjustment or a neck adjustment? (I'm new to this adjustable nut thing) If neck, would it be both truss rods since it's the middle two strings?
 
Thanks for any info!
Rob

[effclef]

Hi, Rob! Fear not...several people will jump in on this. I'll take a first shot: open string buzz is usually at the first fret, which means NUT.
 
Fret all the strings at the first fret and see if the buzz goes away.  
 
If it does, you may want to raise the nut a little. Loosen the center screw (which fastens it down) and then raise it with the two outside ones. The Alembic owner's manual page has info:
Good luck - EffClef.
 
http://www.alembic.com/support/care.html
 
Brass Adjustable Nut
 
Our unique brass adjustable nut is featured on  
every Alembic guitar and bass. There are three  
adjustment screws on the string nut. The center  
screw locks the nut in place and must be loosened  
before attempting to raise or lower the nut. The  
two outer screws determine the height of the nut.
 
The 5/64 hex driver supplied with your  
instrument is required to make these adjustments.
 
Here's how to do it properly:  
 
Detune the bass a little bit.  
 
Loosen the center locking screw.  
 
Adjust the outer screws to the desired height.  
When you tighten one of the screws, the height  
increases on that side only.  
 
Tighten the center screw once the optimum height  
is achieved.  
 
You will need to change the string nut height  
when you change the gauge of your strings.  
 
Smaller gauge strings will rest lower in the nut  
slots than larger ones. If you dramatically  
change the strings, you may need to order a new  
nut than can be slotted to your new string size.  
 
You also need to raise the nut if you have a  
persistent buzz on open strings.
 
The nut does not need to be adjusted equally on  
both sides. You may want the nut to slant in  
certain situations. For cleaning, see the brass  
care section of this document.

[keavin]

you might want to adjust height on the nut & maybe raise the bridge.

[xlrogue6]

I'd check the truss rod first--don't know where you're located but most likely source of the problem is that the neck moved in response to differing atmospheric conditions between the Mothership and your place.

[bob]

Two questions: is it really only the open A and D (no fretted notes), and are you sure it's string buzz and not some other noise?
 
I agree that the most likely shift in transit would be the neck, but I'd hold off on messing with either the truss rods or bridge until you're sure it's not something simpler. (These aren't difficult, but it's good to take things slowly, one step at a time.)
 
It seems a little odd that your neck would have straightened just barely enough to give you open string buzz but none on any fretted notes. So raising the nut slightly, mostly on the G side, would be a great place to start.
 
Also be sure to snug up the lockdown screw (center) when you're done, and check the two outer screws to make sure neither is loose - they're not likely to rattle in a way you would confuse with fret buzz, but you never know. Often a new bass ships with the nut all the way down (so it doesn't look broken to the uninitiated), so the outer screws might not actually be holding up the nut - in which case you should still snug them up so they aren't loose.
 
If that doesn't work, let us know, and provide any further observations you might have. Good luck, and enjoy.

[David Houck]

Hi Rob; congrats on an absolutely wonderful bass!