Someone PLEASE give me some guidence!!!!

[BluegrassGirl82]

So, Ive been playing bass for about 3 years now, nothing major just in a little bluegrass band thing, i have a 3/4 Menzel bass, and currently it's a reck.

i am not rough at all with it but i want to know exactly what everyone thinks about this little idea i have...

I paid 800 for it from a lady who had it pre owned, and this was years ago,
1) currently the tuning pegs have rattled loose and rattle everytime i play, i have it fixed temperarley with scotch tape.... so do i replace them or can i fix them at a lesser cost? it's just the part where you put your finger on to twist it where it joins to the peg which is connected to the gear.

2) i have this insane buzz if i play a certain note long enough, usually a closed E on the top of the D string, it's a buzz, and it last for a long time, as long as i hold the note actually, people said it could be the sound post, which it does sound like it is coming from inside, but i'm not 100% sure.

3) my foot peg will NOT for the life of me stay in one spot, it has to be all the way down (techincally up)or my bass will make it go back inside, if anyone has owned or even carried a menzel bass, i find they have been typically heavier then most others, even full sizes. so if the bass wants to come down, it's coming down lol

4) my brother says the nut isn't high enough, and it is also glued tight to the fret board, we tried to gently heat it and gently pry it off but there is no way it's coming off, how would i fix that?

5) last but not least, it needs a new bridge, that is more of my personal preference becasue the strings are practically sitting on the fret board now and i like stings with high action.

anywyas, if someone can please answer all my questions, and i'm sorry if i haven't used proper terminology, i'm totally just wasted from the days work and can't think well lol, if you are unsure of anything just ask i'll try and clear it up,

what i want to know is approximatly what i can do to fix the bass i already have, how much it would cost, or assuming i could sell it as is for 800, if i just put that away and save it to buy another bass. the bass though does have some sentimental value, anywyas, thanks alot for listening and even more thanks to those who are nice enough to help a little lady in distress about her much loved bass lol.

[JtheJazzMan]

Originally Posted by BluegrassGirl82

So, Ive been playing bass for about 3 years now, nothing major just in a little bluegrass band thing, i have a 3/4 Menzel bass, and currently it's a reck.

i am not rough at all with it but i want to know exactly what everyone thinks about this little idea i have...

I paid 800 for it from a lady who had it pre owned, and this was years ago,
1) currently the tuning pegs have rattled loose and rattle everytime i play, i have it fixed temperarley with scotch tape.... so do i replace them or can i fix them at a lesser cost? it's just the part where you put your finger on to twist it where it joins to the peg which is connected to the gear.

2) i have this insane buzz if i play a certain note long enough, usually a closed E on the top of the D string, it's a buzz, and it last for a long time, as long as i hold the note actually, people said it could be the sound post, which it does sound like it is coming from inside, but i'm not 100% sure.

3) my foot peg will NOT for the life of me stay in one spot, it has to be all the way down (techincally up)or my bass will make it go back inside, if anyone has owned or even carried a menzel bass, i find they have been typically heavier then most others, even full sizes. so if the bass wants to come down, it's coming down lol

4) my brother says the nut isn't high enough, and it is also glued tight to the fret board, we tried to gently heat it and gently pry it off but there is no way it's coming off, how would i fix that?

5) last but not least, it needs a new bridge, that is more of my personal preference becasue the strings are practically sitting on the fret board now and i like stings with high action.

anywyas, if someone can please answer all my questions, and i'm sorry if i haven't used proper terminology, i'm totally just wasted from the days work and can't think well lol, if you are unsure of anything just ask i'll try and clear it up,

what i want to know is approximatly what i can do to fix the bass i already have, how much it would cost, or assuming i could sell it as is for 800, if i just put that away and save it to buy another bass. the bass though does have some sentimental value, anywyas, thanks alot for listening and even more thanks to those who are nice enough to help a little lady in distress about her much loved bass lol.

1) A bit of superglue is also a good fix to stop the rattling

2) Rattlings are always going to be deceptive, they sound like theyre coming from a spot completely different. While you play the bass get someone else to listen very closely to the bridge, the tailpiece, the endpin etc. They can be very frustrating and a real mystery. Even tap around the edges of the bass for loose seams.

just in my opinion, its worth putting money into the bass if the body is something special, ie solid wood, few decades old, has a certain sound, but it gets to the point where youre better off buying a new instrument properly set up with new hardware.

[shadygrove]

Originally Posted by BluegrassGirl82

...what i want to know is approximatly what i can do to fix the bass i already have, how much it would cost...

I have one word for you...

Luthier.


But seriously, there are so many possibilities for what could be wrong with it besides the tuning machines, nut height and endpin that you already know are out of whack and btw may not be all that expensive to have fixed. Also, never, ever, say "fretboard" on the DB side (unless you like abuse)...we have no frets Also, "action" seems to rile people up. Call it string height

You've only got $800 into it and I'd venture most basses you'd find under $1200 are going to need some of the kinds of setup and minor repair items you've described. I'd go see what $400 could buy me then if that's not enough to make it a player think about moving on.

[caillean]

Have you got any experienced bassists around you?

It would be worth trying to get someone else play it for you so you can see what's going on from a bit of a distance - plus, they will give you an idea of what they feel may be wrong with it - before taking it to someone who will charge you for their opinion! Also, they will recommend a good luthier around you. Sadly, not all of them are in it for good!

If you like that bass - and get a good luthier - you can work out a programme of improvements - get it playable, then do the little changes over time!

[Freddels]

If you don't know any double bass players, I would suggest looking up Danny Sutherland. He teaches at St. FX and lives and plays quite a bit in Halifax. He might be willing to look at your bass and give you some advice.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by BluegrassGirl82

...3) my foot peg will NOT for the life of me stay in one spot, it has to be all the way down (techincally up)or my bass will make it go back inside, if anyone has owned or even carried a menzel bass, i find they have been typically heavier then most others, even full sizes. so if the bass wants to come down, it's coming down lol...

That one's a "no brainer", buy an endpin from Johnny Atomic.

[Freddels]

Another bass player to contact in your area is Tom Easley at NSCC.