So, I got a new Yamaha TRBX504 Friday. Played with it a few times over the weekend - and I feel like I’ve regressed in my playing. I’m getting a lot more fret buzz on simple stuff I was able to play cleanly before (coming from my starter Fender PJ). It looked to me like the strings were much closer to the frets (although I haven’t measured, this was just me eyeballing it). I got the Yamaha from Sweetwater, so it went through their standard 55-point inspection or whatever. I didn’t opt for the $200 pro setup.
It did get a bit better as I played - maybe I’m figuring out the new “sweet spot” for the frets or something. Is this normal? I figured a “nicer” bass would be easier to play. I see there is a way to adjust overall string height at the saddles. Is this what I need to do? How in heck do you measure partial mm? A caliper?
It may also be that you’re experiencing the effects of upgraded pick-ups from your previous bass. That happened to me when I upgraded from my TRBX304. Better pick-ups “pick up” every little error that my ceramic humbuckers treated more forgivingly. I think better pick-ups may teach us how to play more cleanly.
That said, as to the point @Barney made , my new Fender Jazz out of the box versus after having it set up professionally and having Jazz Flats put on it…night & day difference (positive difference).
I wouldn’t trust Sweetwater to have shipped a properly set up bass.
Setting up your bass is very easy. Everyone should learn to do it, there is no need whatsoever to pay anyone else to do it. Agree with @Barney - watch the video he posted.
As much as I like them and will continue to do business, I think their 55-point check is a load of crap. They might check 55 boxes on the brochure that gets included in the box when it arrives, but not sure that they are truly doing a thorough inspection. Seems like more marketing hype to me.
I definitely plan to dive in on it one night this week and see what I can do. Everything I’m reading - sounds like my action is too low (likely from a truss rod change due to humidity). It’s pretty humid here in TN still.
I’ve bought two basses from Sweetwater, several years apart.
The first purchase (2022) arrived perfectly set up. The most recent bass (2026) arrived needing only a tiny truss rod tweak (1/16th turn) to lower the action to what is perfect for me.
Each player has specific needs in bass setups. The techs at Sweetwater set up a bass relative to what they believe most players like (but probably mostly what they like).
Luckily, setups are easy to learn and even easier to do yourself, with some practice.
Don’t get me started with that. I’m still pissed with my $3000 Yamaha “inspection”.
To be fair. Fret buzzes usually from neck relief and even if SW shipped out a showroom height and the temperature differential is significant enough you’ll need to make the adjustment one way or another, worse if the bass shipped with no tension on the neck.
is the fret buzz making it’s way through the amp? If you are practicing quietly at your home and you are getting fret buzz, I wouldn’t worry about it. But if you are playing with headphones on or through an amp and can hear it on the amplified end, then you might have an issue.
This is a cover video I made. The first 30 seconds is the camera mic and the second 30 seconds is the sound picked up by the interface. If you listen to a pro practice with their bass unplugged you will likely hear a lot of fret buzz there too.
I can hear the buzz while I’m playing through my amp from the instrument itself as I’m playing through the amp. I don’t have the volume on the amp up very loud (Fender Rumble 100). I typically play pretty low when others are home. Let me turn it up a bit and try again since no one else is home at present.
EDIT: to add - I can hear it coming through the amp too. I’ll give setup a shot and see how that works.
Their 55 point is just an inspection to look for major problems it is not a setup. Every bass plays a little different for example I started with the Yamaha TRBX304 and took the course with it and thankfully i got better and played cleaner. Then I bought a Sterling Ray5 and set it up and I had buzz from my fretting until i got cleaner with it. The TRBX504 is a great instrument take it to a good tech and get it set up or learn how to set up the bass yourself you will be a lot happier that you learned how to do that.
So I’m checking truss rod - it looks good as I can slide a standard business card under the string as indicated. I’m measuring 3mm in step 2, but I’m getting a lot of fret buzz, especially as I move up the fretboard. Should I try to raise the action a little bit?
If your truss rod is adjusted correctly and your action is that high and you are still getting buzz on the low frets, it’s possible you have a high fret. Does the buzzing stop if you go farther up the neck?
So after some more digging - it’s primarily the E string. I don’t really notice it on the other strings. It continues as I move up the neck - I start noticing it the most around the 7th fret and up. I’ve raised the action on the E string 1/2 turn. Going to tune and check that. Will report back. Appreciate the help!
