Bass rattles on and off

[Kafkaesque]

I have a cheap bass so I'm not surprised I have issues with it but I can't afford a new one so I would really like to try to work out what is wrong with it. It has served me well up until recently.

It's a Yamaha RBX170. I've had it for around 2 years.

The problem I've started having is that sometimes when I go to play it it rattles horribly no matter which string I play (open strings and fretted strings, so it's not just me failing at playing it). So I'll leave it for a while and pick it up a week or two later in the hope the problem has magically disappeared... and it has..

Then I'll pick it up 3 days later to find it rattling awfully again. I'm at a loss as to what it could possibly be. I don't understand why it doesn't rattle every single time I pick it up. I keep it on a stand in a corner of my room that no one goes near so there's no chance of it being knocked or anything.

I can't really tell what is causing the sound. I thought that it might just be the strings hitting the frets but I don't think it is.

I've noticed that the sound stops when I put my hand under the neck at the bass of the headstock and push up when I play, but the neck isn't loose at all. The neck and body seem as solidly bolted together as anything.

If it were the strings hitting the frets it wouldn't stop when I put pressure on the top of the neck would it? And it would do it every time I played, not just sometimes...

Anyone got any ideas as to what it could be?

EDIT:
I had it lying on the couch next to me as I was writing this. The couch has very low arms on the ends of it and the middle of the neck is rested on the arm of the chair.. I just plucked the strings and no rattle with it lying like that either.. Not sure what putting pressure on the neck is achieving.. I mean it stops the neck vibrating so much... is it possible the truss rod or something inside the neck could be rattling? (Please don't shoot me for asking stupid questions. I'm a beginner bass player with not much clue as to the precise anatomy of my bass guitar.. I know the bits and pieces of how it's made up but anything that isn't visible on the outside of the guitar I've no idea how it is attached/connected) :S

[makkE]

Either it's fret buzz, or worse, a rattling truss rod.

In both cases, the fact that the problem "magically" appears and vanishes, could simply have to do with changes in the weather.

How is your neck relief? You could simply try to adjust the truss rod to give it a bit more relief. Is your action relatively low? That would also speak for fret buzz. If the action is high and it rattles, it's probably not just the neck relief/setup.

[purpletornado]

Loose tuner key? Is the neck plate tight? Give it a shake and listen for a loose washer in the cavity?

[Bobster]

If you tap the back of the neck with your palm and get the rattle, it's likely the truss rod. This can be worked around with truss rod tension, but requires upkeep.

The most successful permanent solution is drilling a small hole through the fretboard and injecting silicon, but I'd recommend going to a luthier for that, if needed.

Bob

[matt descending]

Try pushing on the truss rod cover. They rattle sometimes

[BogeyBass]

Have you changed the strings or string gauge lately. or dropped tuned a single string or all strings

Sounds like a simple truss rod adjustment. Their is not enough relief or overbow.....which would cause the neck to buzz around the 1st or 2nd fret.

Check your bass with a tuner to see if you tuning is high enough
the bass might be tuned to low. or check your tuners the screws will sometimes become lose.

a change in weather or string tension will affect the neck over time, in most cases the neck needs to be tightened, in your case the neck sounds like it needs to be loosened. like i said this would be caused by less tension on the neck, caused by switching to lighter strings, or light strings being tuned to low.

should be about 1/4 turn......retune the bass to check....if not another 1/4 turn....retune...and so on.....should not need more than a 1/2 turn. If you remember how many steps you took you can return the bass to its original start point. Its very important to constantly retune or stay to standard tuning, to check the proper tension on the neck.

[Kafkaesque]

Hi guys, thanks for your responses.

The tuner keys and neck plate are fine.
I've tapped on the back of the neck with my palm and there's no rattle.
I haven't restringed the guitar since I bought it. (That's probably overdue!)
The tuning is fine.

Recently it has been a lot more humid down here than it normally gets, but if the weather had affected it wouldn't it be a constant problem rather than an on and off problem?

Thanks again for the help! It's muchly appreciated

[Thumpin_P]

It's the "rattle gremlin"!!!!

[Kafkaesque]

Oh noes D:

[darkstorm]

Time for little truss rod tweak due to weather changeobver for summer starting. That rattle stops when headstock is resting on something indicates most likely a need for tiny bit more relief in neck due to weather change. Imo