This couldn't be good

gotsoul77 · #1 04-01-2007, 03:54 PM

Hello-
I just recently returned a nice rental which has been in my possesion for about a year and a half. i was delighted to find out that my account had accumulated some credit and i was amazed when i was able to walk out with my own (much cheaper) DB.

The next day I found that it had completely lost its tune over night and i am now having serious trouble getting it to keep its tune. The strings are old and i am sure the tuners are crappy, but what is my first plan of action? I am worried that the real problem might be the sound bar, which looks as though it is bent foward.

While it is a cheapo, it is the best that this poor college student can afford right now. I am gonna put some serious time into making this bass decent - HELP!

Michael Case · #2 04-01-2007, 05:05 PM

What's a sound bar? Do you mean the bridge (where the strings cross the top of the bass after the tailpiece)? If so that could be a part of the problem, but not a big deal. Bring the bass back to the shop and have them deal with it. If it's the strings, again, no biggie just replace them. But either way BRING TO THE SHOP WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT!

**Matthew Tucker** · #3 04-03-2007, 03:36 AM

I think he means the sound post, which would account for the tuning being unstable, as he tunes it up, the table collapses.

TAKE TO SHOP!!

clothsnake · #4 04-03-2007, 03:49 AM

hi... another bit of advice maybe... if its the soundpost... then i would keep the bass de-tuned until the shop get a look at it... even to the point of letting it (the post) fall over
he caould also mean the bass bar..? would that (being a structural element of the bass) cause this problem... in which case this is a major repair and i would be asking the shop for an exchange.

**Matthew Tucker** · #5 04-03-2007, 08:08 AM

I don't think he would be able to easily see that a bass bar is "bent forwards". The detuning is most likely a falling soundpost IMO.

gotsoul, are you there? what's goin' on?

Michael Case · #6 04-03-2007, 09:38 AM

Is the bass bar collapsing forward something anybody has seen before? What would cause that?

Man when you think of everything that can go wrong with a DB it's pretty frightening.

clothsnake · #7 04-03-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

I don't think he would be able to easily see that a bass bar is "bent forwards". The detuning is most likely a falling soundpost IMO.

gotsoul, are you there? what's goin' on?

hey... i agree... am also just surprised the soundpost hasn't already fallen... but i don't know.
i just hope he gets it sorted... i hate it when my bass is away or playing up

mpm · #8 04-03-2007, 03:23 PM

kinda reminds me of what happened to the Cremona as it slowly separated at the neck heel. Hope this isn't the case...

gotsoul77 · #9 04-04-2007, 08:34 PM

Hey guys -
sorry for my delay and thanks for the responses.
What i meant by the "bar" is the extension which holds the plastic tailpiece and from which the extendable foot releases - the knob dead center at the bottom of the body. It appears to be slightly bent foward (toward the strings) , yet remains solid.
I don't see how it could be the strings -

either way i am gonna take it to the shop tomorrow after i see my teacher about it. I am just trying to avoid being swindled due to my lack of knowledge. Maybe i should just stick to the old bass guitar...

Thanks for the suggestions.

gotsoul77 · #10 04-04-2007, 08:38 PM

I guess it is called the sound post then.

Michael Case · #11 04-04-2007, 08:44 PM

You're talking about the end-pin. Sometimes they will pull forward with the force of the strings if they are poorly fitted. It happens on many basses and generally isn't a problem. The soundpost is located inside the bass body close to the G string side of the bridge. Just bring your bass to a luthier.
Bye the way, what strings are you using, some strings take time to settle before they hold tuning. Or they could be to old to stay in tune (like you suggested).

**Matthew Tucker** · #12 04-04-2007, 08:56 PM

While you're there, check the tailpiece cord isn't slipping where it is clamped together. I've had that happen, you keep tuning it up, then it runs out of cable and BANG.

Michael Case · #13 04-04-2007, 09:38 PM

Yeah, that can be pretty bad.

gotsoul77 · #14 04-04-2007, 10:01 PM

I will give you guys the definitive answer tomorrow - with any luck - but now i am equiped with some knowledge. Thanks.

Sean Ormiston · #15 04-06-2007, 07:38 PM

I think I might be having the same problem. While we're fishing for knowledge here, might I ask...how does the falling soundpost create this problem?