Clarky Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 (edited) I got my old German flatback from being repaired by Malcolm Healey a week or two back and have been playing it like mad since then. Just one thing annoys me a bit (not a lot, as Paul Daniels would say) and thats a buzz from somewhere in the body when I hit the open 'A'. The harder I hit the string the louder the buzz. Doesn't happen on any other note (open or fingered) and I've checked the soundpost (solid as a rock) and the various seams (all glued). Its difficult to pinpoint where its coming from, just somewhere vaguely in the body. Is this a problem others have encountered and what did you do about it, if anything? Cheers Clarky PS, I could of course take it back to Malcolm but its a c2 hour round trip each time I deliver and collect Edited June 19, 2012 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Are you sure it really is "from" the body? I had something similar a while back with an old Precision, a dreadful rattle near the neck joint when playing open strings, and I was convinced I had a major problem with the trussrod. Turned out to be the old solder on one of the elephant ear tuners! What about the nut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I had a similar this when I knocked my bridge slightly off centre; strings we flapping against the board as teh radius was off - could try that maybe? Otherwise try damping bits like behind the bridge, tailpiece, wire, spike thingumy (technical term - sorry) tuners as well - mine buzz like hell unless I take the slack up on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 My endpin buzzes if it's not in a certain position. You could try rotating it or even take it out if it comes out to eliminate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 Thank you gents, didn't think of altering the endpin ... and I have slightly shifted the bridge (as to my eyes it was off-centre) prior to it going to Malcolm Healey so between these I may have a solution. Fingers crossed! And thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I get buzzing from my endpin and from where the barrel of my Baasmax pickup clips onto the strings behind the bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 (edited) Heh. On my double-bass-like upright I've had the A string buzz (it was the tuning peg's wings, as mentioned!), the need to mute the strings below the bridge because they seem to love echoing the notes I play (sigh!), and the mysterious buzz-when-you-fret-a-C (3rd fret on the A string). I want to believe that the latter is just me fretting ineptly, but I'm still investigating... All very intriguing. I so wish I could find the space for a real DB at home. Edited June 19, 2012 by bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Sometimes I've had an annoying buzz and it turns out to be something in the room, unconnected to the bass. Everything else seems to have been covered but how about pickup wire? Endpin is often the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Endpin is the most common for me. You could experiment with bits of foam to immobilise/damp various bits.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Occasionally I get a loose screw in one of my tuning heads, could be that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 [quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]spike thingumy (technical term - sorry)[/font][/color][/quote] Endpin - there you go - one of those, Thinking about it I sometimes get a really annoying buzzing noise when I'm trying to practice in the evenings as well but if I close the door she goes away and watches Eastenders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Pete Tyler's book 'About the Double Bass' has a section on eliminating buzzes and rattles. Problems he mentions - old strings where slackness has developed between the centre core and the outer winding, particularly where the string passes over the bridge and the top nut. Loose screws on the machine head, spade winder insecure in its handle. Worn cogs and worn shafts can also cause buzzing. The metal spike in the end pin unit is a common source of vibration because the shaft becomes loose in its casing. Needs replacing. The wire securing the end pin may vibrate and this can be fixed with gaffer tape. Bass body - check for open joints, loose ribs, old repairs, splits and that all eight violin corners are okay. If its the bass bar, pressing a finger on the front above the ends of the bar will stop the buzzing - not a cure, but a diagnostic tool. A loose back strut can be identified by tapping the fingers over the back and listening for a change in note or a rattle. If pressure on the back then stops the rattle, you've found your problem. A worn or warped fingerboard means the string may vibrate against the fingerboard. Also check your bridge is correctly aligned. Open strings buzz if the the string is not correctly fitted into the groove of the top nut. Glue a small strip of leather in the groove beneath the string until it can be reshaped. You may need a new top nut. I hope that helps - all power to Pete's book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 [sup]Thanks Sarah, I didn't get the chance to take a look at the bass last night (small matter of football) but will be doing so tonight[/sup] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKing Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 +1 on all those, it can take forever to find it. Beware the 'pressure on seam / rib' as this can fool you, you eliminate the buzz by damping whole bass vibration, even though it's buzzing somewhere else. Sometimes its the bridge feet not quite flat, quick tap of the bridge can solve it. Also check the screw head in the centre if the tuner cog. But if it's on open A and not fifth stop A, it sounds less likely it's bodywork, more likely string height, winding, nut, or bridge notch. Body buzzes respond to same frequency whichever string it comes from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I got a terrible rattle when Phil got his drum kit. He was in the attic at the time and I thought, 'What's he doing with all that tin foil?' Fixed by pressing a lever on the snare drum. Duh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 So far I've checked the headstock (tuners solid, nut good), shunted the bridge 1mm sideways and back and tweaked the bridge feet, checked the Full Circle p/u wires and jack barrel, checked the bridge after-length (which is damped anyway with a piece of rubber tubing) and shifted the endpin into a different position and tightened very hard ... and you guessed it, yes, the rattle is still there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Have you tried another string? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 slacken the tension on the other strings to change the neck relief as well - see if that makes a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 <p style="margin-left: 40px">The strings are Silver Slaps - my only other set is Kolstein Heritage steels which are utterly different in character. Would swapping the A over tell me much, as their vibration characteristics are likely to be very different?</p> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Have you checked the 'action' near the nut. I had a similar problem with buzzing from the open 'A' (the A slot at the nut was cut a bit too deep). My luthier took the fingerboard level down a bit near the nut which cured it. You could do it yourself with a file A lot depends on the 'shape' of the fingerboard near the nut in terms of giving enough room for the string to vibrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 try a bit of thin card under the string at the nut or fasten a cable tie around the neck / strings next to the nut to see if the buzz disappears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 [quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1340283769' post='1702266'] try a bit of thin card under the string at the nut [/quote] Bingo! You are the man Keith. This sorts the buzz. As Clouseau would say, ze problem is sol-ved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 Looks like change to thick gut-alike Silver Slaps caused the problem. As these are so thick compared to the Helicores which were on it before, I assume the amplitude of the vibration was bigger than the gap between string and board, near the nut. So my choices are to swap strings, stick with a shim in the A slot in the nut, or have the nut or board professionally worked on. As I like Silver Slaps and don't want to send the bass away again for work to be done, looks like its the shim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 If you can get hold of a bit of thin leather, it should last longer than the card. Glad it's sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 [quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1340347632' post='1703023'] If you can get hold of a bit of thin leather, it should last longer than the card. Glad it's sorted! [/quote] Thanks Sarah, I will try to do so. Now which pair of Mrs C's shoes shall I cut up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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