Dead note

[Bob Steinarsson]

A friend of mine has a Fender Precision bass with a dead note (g-string, 7. fret). Has anybody an idea what my be wrong?

[Greg Mirken]

Several possibilities (I assume other D notes on the instrument are OK, just this one position is dead); the first thing I would look at is the 7th fret. If it's loose in the middle that could be the culprit. Tap on it with the end of a 6" metal ruler- if you get a high clear 'tink' at the ends but a lower 'tunk' in the middle it's loose and absorbing energy. Wick a little thin cyanoacrylate along it while holding the fret down tight.

[Tom Krebs]

See this thread:

http://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/p-bass-has-dead-spot

[Greg Mirken]

Well I'm glad to see someone with specific P-bass experience chime in. Shows how much I know.

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

That's a classic Fender bass dead spot, not uncommon at at all.

I've had good results converting them to 1/4-20 inserts & machine screws. I've heard of people clamping weights to the headstock.