Velvet Anima on BSX Allegro making noise!

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Hi TB-ers,

I bought a brand new set of Velvet Animas to use with my BSX Allegro, I love the sound of the strings, but the A string is making a buzz when playing it alone (I mean the A note alone in the A string, no left hand pressure applied to it), and I thought it was my bass making the buzzing, so I took my base to a luthier, he didn't find anything wrong with the bass, nothing inside could generate the buzzing (like the batteri comparment or cables been shaked by the A note frecuency) he widened the nut and the buzzing was still present, so we conclude that it might be the string that is deffect.

I complained to the store I bought the string set from, and we did a test: we changed the A Anima string for a Garbo, the noise was not present anymore, so the store agreed to replace the string, but they were empty for Animas, so in the meantime I am waiting for my A Anima string, I kept playing with the A Garbo I got from the store. Then my A Anima string arrives and I changed the Garbo with the Anima, boom the buzzing is present again!.

So, my BSX Allegro is not making the noise, because the noise disappeared with the Garbo, the old A Anima that was making the noise/buzzing was not deffect at all, because the new A Anima string is making the noise/buzzing as well, so I really don't know what to do, because I like the Animas more than the Garbos, the garbos are too dark for my taste.

Does anyone out there experienced something similar with the Animas? will the buzz goes away after a certain period of time?

The first A Anima string was set like a month ago, the new A Anima string was set yesterday, maybe I should wait some weeks before replacing the A Anima string with another string?

I really need some advice on this one. so any help would be apreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

[Jake deVilliers]

It sounds like your nut slots need to be dressed to better accommodate the new strings. Have your luthier check all the slots. Pinching on Velvet strings is usually fatal...

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Mmmmm he checked the nutslot of the A string, and didnt find anything wrong about it, and what do you mean by pinching?

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by cuatro_cuerdas

Mmmmm he checked the nutslot of the A string, and didnt find anything wrong about it, and what do you mean by pinching?

Pinching happens when the slot is too narrow for the string. It might not be shaped correctly either - the slot needs to fade down towards the floor of the peg-box to contact/support the string correctly.

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Ok, that's exactly what the luthier checked last time. But I think I am going to take my bass to another luthier. I am not giving up on my A anima yet!

[SeaMist_au]

Make sure they string is wound on so it's not rubbing against lithe wood. Happened to me and caused a buzzing.

[DoubleMIDI]

Since it only happens on the open A string, the nut slot for this string might be too low.
I would put some paper or cardboard between string and nut slot for the A. If the buzzing goes away, the nut slot is too low (and probably the fingerboard needs some planing below the nut under he A depending on the thickness needed to get rid of the buzz).

I think the rule of thumb is one or two pieces of cardboard should fit below the strings close to the nut.

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Thanks for the advice doublemidi and SeaMist_au, I will do the cardboard test on Monday, maybe that is just what it takes to make the buzzing disappear.

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Originally Posted by DoubleMIDI

Since it only happens on the open A string, the nut slot for this string might be too low.
I would put some paper or cardboard between string and nut slot for the A. If the buzzing goes away, the nut slot is too low (and probably the fingerboard needs some planing below the nut under he A depending on the thickness needed to get rid of the buzz).

I think the rule of thumb is one or two pieces of cardboard should fit below the strings close to the nut.

DoubleMIDI you were right, I put a small piece of paper and between the nut slot and the Astring and the buzz is gone,

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Thanks by the way:-).

[DoubleMIDI]

You are welcome.

This happens to one of my instruments too.
I still live with the cardboard solution. The regular way is a new nut (a bit expensive compared to cardboard) or putting a layer of epoxy onto the bottom of the buzzing slot and filing it down a bit if needed.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by DoubleMIDI

You are welcome.

This happens to one of my instruments too.
I still live with the cardboard solution. The regular way is a new nut (a bit expensive compared to cardboard) or putting a layer of epoxy onto the bottom of the buzzing slot and filing it down a bit if needed.

I prefer to add a thin ebony shim to the bottom of the nut and re-adjust the string slots as necessary.

You get to keep the original nut AND correct any nut slot deficiencies.