Buzzing On a Carruther's SUB-1

[timre]

I have had a problem with the fingerboard of my Carruther's SUB-1 since I purchased it used last year. The E-string in particular has a pronounced growl; more than tasteful and not controllable- from the F to the G#. My tech has taken some material off the neck, yet when I stop the string at the first and last position on the neck, it doesn't seem to have much bow, my tech seems to think it has a rise in the first couple of positions of the neckand this is causing the buzz. I just put some new D'addario Helicores on, the sound is great but the buzzing is very annoying.
The G-string is also very low. So low that it rattles when I bow. Anyone have experience with these basses????

[Bass Boy]

I think I may have answered this on another board but just in case : Yes having a good DB luthier replane your fingerboard will help. Everyone I know with a Sub 1 (that play DB) has had this done or in my case will soon be having this done! The SUB 1 is a great EUB , it's a shame John Carruthers doesn't shape the fingerboard like a DB.

[timre]

I'm getting the repairs done this week. We'll see how it goes!

[Francois Blais]

As I've written somewhere else, you'll be surprised of the result!
I got very positive comments from the musiciens with whom I play when I switched from my basic BugBass to the Carruthers SUB-1, last fall. It sounds more acoustic.
Now that the fingerboard is planed correctly, it sounds even better!

[timre]

The luthier said that he'll try and keep some growl by going with a low jazz-type set-up. I hope I still have some growl since I'm doing mostly Celtic stuff and the growling whole note trooning is a good effect in this music!

[rablack]

trooning?

[timre]

Oh, you like that? Trooning is the onomatopaeia I use for mimiking the drones of pipes. You know, picture the pipes coming in to say...'Oh Danny Boy', and you here the slight grace note as the pipes hold a root under (or around if we're talking about tuning;but I digress) the other music.
On an upright or a fretless bass you can (of course) get very expressive usage out of whole notes and this fits perfectly with some lilting ballads and even to give a mood to some jigs and reels and hornpipes (oh my!).
Sorry, silly mood.

[Francois Blais]

Originally posted by timre
The luthier said that he'll try and keep some growl by going with a low jazz-type set-up.

It also depends a lot on your strings.
If you want maximum growl, go with Thomastik Spirocores, Pirastro Jazzers or Helicore Pizzicato. (or the Hybrids)
I have a set of barely used Jazzers if you want them. I'd sell them cheap.

[timre]

Thanks for the offer but I just bought some Helicore hybrids before I decided to do this repair. They sound really good, so I can't wait to hear them with the great set-up. I get it back tomorrow (Yeah!)