DIY fingerboard buzz mitigation?

Aaron Cohn · #1 05-27-2007, 09:15 PM

The fingerboard on my bass is buzz city, and I'm planning to take it in to a luthier for some dressing work soon regardless of what I do about the following.

One note--F on the D string--is particularly bad. It has a very pronounced buzz that messes up the sound of the note, despite that my Spirocore Weich D is at 10 mm or so. I think I've been able to pinpoint the spot of the buzz pretty well with my ears. Would I be a complete fool to try and take a little sandpaper to the spot? I'll be happy if I can get even moderate improvement and make things better for now until I can get a luthier to do the whole board. Any tips? What grit sandpaper would you suggest trying?
Thanks,

Aaron

**Matthew Tucker** · #2 05-28-2007, 12:15 AM

lay a short steel straightedge on the board at around the point where you get the buzz. If you can find the high spot, yeah give it a light scrape or sand with oh about 200 grit on a cork block.

Dr Rod · #3 06-01-2007, 01:51 PM

I put graphite under the string and play the buzzing string, the graphite will often mark the spot where it's buzzing.
The marks are not usually very clear, but on some occasions they can be very helpful.
Remember that if you press down a string with a left hand finger you will make a false mark.

Paul Warburton · #4 06-02-2007, 11:41 AM

If you do this, you'll more than likely be chashing the buzz straight up the FB. There's no quick fix. You can't replace a good DB tech. How thin is your board?

**Matthew Tucker** · #5 06-03-2007, 12:23 AM

Here's how to get the buzz out

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...98113993&itm=5

"The buzzing in Berlioz's double bass is a worry but it isn't until he and his fellow musicians are stopped enroute to their gig in a Bavarian village square that the buzzing takes on real meaning."

Aaron Cohn · #6 06-03-2007, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

If you do this, you'll more than likely be chashing the buzz straight up the FB. There's no quick fix. You can't replace a good DB tech. How thin is your board?

My board is fairly thick. I wasn't hoping to replace a good DB tech--I was just thinking I might be able to make things a little better for the mean time. Anyway, it looks like I'll be able to get everything looked at professionally before too long, and so I think I'll wait until then. As I look more at my fingerboard more, it looks like it's more of a low spot than a high spot that's causing the buzz, so I doubt I'd be able to help it along much on my own. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, though.

Paul Warburton · #7 06-04-2007, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Here's how to get the buzz out

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...98113993&itm=5

"The buzzing in Berlioz's double bass is a worry but it isn't until he and his fellow musicians are stopped enroute to their gig in a Bavarian village square that the buzzing takes on real meaning."

Ha Matthew...I love this book....it sits on my coffee table. The drawings of the DB are fabulous. Have you noticed it's a 5 stringer?