Bass strings buzz at every fret when lifting finger off

[Dennis S]

I have a 74 P-Bass with D'Addario 1/2 Rounds. I'm trying to record into Pro Tools with. Every time I lift the finger from behind the fret at the end of a note, there's a huge buzz/clatter as the string is releasing from the fret. It never bothered me playing live, but it really shows up recording. I've read about stopping "buzzing", but I think all those articles are referring to low action where a different fret causes buzzing. It almost fells like there's a magnetic pull and the string is struggling to break free.

I thought it might be poor technique, but I couldn't change anything to improve it.

The bass is at the studio and I'm wondering if I should call someone there ot raise the action and see if it helps.

 

[Rokket]

I have a 74 P-Bass with D'Addario 1/2 Rounds. I'm trying to record into Pro Tools with. Every time I lift the finger from behind the fret at the end of a note, there's a huge buzz/clatter as the string is releasing from the fret. It never bothered me playing live, but it really shows up recording. I've read about stopping "buzzing", but I think all those articles are referring to low action where a different fret causes buzzing. It almost fells like there's a magnetic pull and the string is struggling to break free.

I thought it might be poor technique, but I couldn't change anything to improve it.

The bass is at the studio and I'm wondering if I should call someone there ot raise the action and see if it helps.

That sounds like the problem. Raise the action on the bridge first and see if it clears up. If not, you may have to do some truss rod stuff, which I don't personally enjoy doing...

 

[goldtopchas]

"Site" the neck... Look down the neck at the edge of the frets, and see if it looks straight. If it looks perfectly straight you might need a little "relief" put into it. This means loosening the truss rod a little to let the neck bow forward slightly. This allows for the strings elliptical shape when it's vibrating.
......try raising the bridge saddles a little first, if your action is fairly low to begin with this may clear it up. When you play through an amp, you don't really hear fret buzzes too much. But, if you play it without being plugged in,and listen carefully you can hear if the strings are buzzing much easier.

Hope this helps......good luck!

 

[Dani Pace]

The only magnetic pull you have is from the pick ups, I doubt this is your problem but just for safety's sake you might try lowering the pups a little. Most likely you need a truss rod adjustment or simply raise the bridge a little. One more thing to consider is the strings, old strings not only sound dull but they will often buzz or make other undesireable noises. You might try slightly heavier or coated strings, coated strings are generally a lot quieter for studio work.

 

[AGCurry]

This may be a matter of technique.

Most of the time, you only NEED to lift your finger COMPLETELY off the string when the next note is
a) on another string using the same finger, or
b) an open string.

(a) is relatively rare, and (b) can be avoided by choosing the equivalent fretted note, unless it's the low E.

All other cases can be handled by leaving your finger on the string but not fretting the note. This is called left-hand muting. It will not eliminate the buzz altogether but will shorten and attenuate it.

And, higher action and/or different strings may help.

 

[Chinaman]

The noise is there when you hit an open string? Or does it make a constant buzz/hum noise when your not touching anything and stops when you touch a string, tuning peg, or bridge? I was thinking maybe it's a grounding issue.

Oh wait.. "as the string is releasing from the fret". It's probably technique.

 

[cavedog101]

I would say technique as well as an adjustment.....BTW...If you RELEASE tension on the trussrod, it will bow backwards, not forwards....back = towards the player side of the instrument.I suppose its all in how you look at it.....Raise the action until its uncomfortable then crank it down a touch...Be sure and set your harmonics when you do these things as notes up the neck that are progressively out-of-pitch will also show up in a recording ....A bassist has to have strong hands and an acurate fretting of the instrument eliminates those pesky noises.Of course it could be a high fret...The way to judge this would be if the buzzing is in a particular place up the neck....this could be three or more frets....and only one high fret.Light strings and a low action can also contribute to this.I use as heavy a string as I can find and keep the action up above the rattle heighth.Be sure if you put a really heavy string on,that the instrument can handle the extra tension without causing a bunch of other problems.The best cure for this is Fender Basses.Especially OLD ones like mine.....(1956 P)