Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am still in the learning phase on how to adjust my 2007 4003 for the lowest action possible. What I have learned from fretted basses does not seem to apply for a fretless.

The typical flat neck ends up with the F and G string buzzing quite badly compared to the E and A string. I am not too sure if it is a string gauge issue but for an equal amount of relief, the action on the F, G strings must be higher than the E, A. For the record, I use La Bella Deep talking 760FX.

The action as it is is very playable but my fretted basses have a much lower action.

Cheers

The buzz is not all in the string action. Without a fret, your finger has to be the stop, or witness point, to secure intonation. It has to be slightly curved, and precisely contacting the string. No fencepost grip allowed. I suggest you take a few lessons from a double bass teacher on left hand technique, including learning some of the concepts in the Simandl book regarding hand placement and fingerboard navigation, in order to develop a clean, precise technique.

iiipopes wrote:The buzz is not all in the string action. Without a fret, your finger has to be the stop, or witness point, to secure intonation. It has to be slightly curved, and precisely contacting the string. No fencepost grip allowed. I suggest you take a few lessons from a double bass teacher on left hand technique, including learning some of the concepts in the Simandl book regarding hand placement and fingerboard navigation, in order to develop a clean, precise technique.

Looks like with this simple tip, you fixed my D, G buzzing problem!

Thanks

I'd echo Scott's reply - fretless basses are much less forgiving on left hand finger technique than "fretfull" ones (as I call 'em!), but with the right song and bass line, they can draw on a level of emotion in your playing that is sheer joy. However, finger positioning needs to be precisely accurate, both in terms of position on the neck and also pressure on the string. Also, because there are no frets to help you do the left hand work, it can be useful to develop the musculature in your fingers.

Keep persevering and, as Scott says, a double bass teacher's advice can be useful. You'll get it in the end and, when you do, you'll wonder why you allowed yourself to be restricted by those pesky metal barriers all those years!

Ash

Colonel Sanders wrote:I am still in the learning phase on how to adjust my 2007 4003 for the lowest action possible. What I have learned from fretted basses does not seem to apply for a fretless.

The typical flat neck ends up with the F and G string buzzing quite badly compared to the E and A string. I am not too sure if it is a string gauge issue but for an equal amount of relief, the action on the F, G strings must be higher than the E, A. For the record, I use La Bella Deep talking 760FX.

The action as it is is very playable but my fretted basses have a much lower action.

Cheers

Just a few words here, it sounds like you have your neck too flat if your action is higher than a fretted bass especially with flatwound strings. Even a fretless bass should have a little relief in it or it will buzz too much. I assume you mean your D and G strings? My action is lower on my fretless than on my fretted bass. Like any bass your action is always a compromise between sound and playability. I like bottom on my basses so I leave a little relief in my necks and I may have my action a little higher than some people do. With a fretless depending on the action and relief you can go all the way from a modern buzzy fretless sound to an upright-like sound. Also if only one side buzzes you should try loosening that side truss rod a little and then let it set for a day or so. You do want to press them as vertical as possible, not too hard and not too soft like any bass except as they say no flat fingering