Help with buzzing top plate?

Blandsville · #1 03-30-2008, 04:00 PM

Hey there. This is my first post here. I am an electric bass player, but decided to buy an upright. I bought a used 3/4 plywood G.A. Pfretzschner that has had the fingerboard dressed, new strings, and new bridge. However, I notice that when I really pluck the A string, there is a bit of buzzing on the top plate about half way between the top of the f hole and the top of the body. If I press on it slightly it will stop. My suspicion is that something is not glued down completely. (The top appears to be sound and not sunken in any way) Any ideas? I am planning on taking this to a reputable luthier, but I was curious what I might be in for. Is this going to be a horror story, or just a bit of an inconvenience? Also, if I get a transducer pickup will it pick up this buzzing as well. Much thanks to any who read this, and thanks for any info you can offer. Btw, I am really excited about the possibility of learning to play this.

Eric Hochberg · #2 03-30-2008, 04:12 PM

"Rap" with your knuckle around the edges of the top and back plates. If the sound goes from dark "thunk" to a bright "clack", you have an open seam at that point which can probably be easily repaired. Of course the buzzing can be due to many other things, cracks, loose bass bar, loose end pin...

Jake deVilliers · #3 03-30-2008, 04:31 PM

Could be a loose bass bar too. Time to look inside.

Blandsville · #4 03-30-2008, 04:38 PM

Thanks for the quick response. Based on my tapping, there may be slight seam gap next to the f hole. However, if I tap across upper third of the body (about half way under where the fingerboard extends, it seems as if the vibration emanates from there?) I don't suspect a crack because of the ply construction. Is that where the bass bar is located and, if so, can that be glued without massive deconstruction?

Eric Hochberg · #5 03-30-2008, 05:02 PM

The bass bar runs under the E side bridge foot lengthwise on the top plate. I'm no luthier, but if that's the problem, I think it's a top off operation ($$$$).

Blandsville · #6 03-30-2008, 05:19 PM

Yikes....well. I guess I will find out for certain soon enough. Thanks for the info. I will report back, but I am starting to get that "first used car purchase when you just started driving feeling". First the exhilaration. then that funny noise right before the hood flies open. Oh well. Thanks again.

forester · #7 03-30-2008, 07:38 PM

shouldn't be any big deal..check the sound post too.. move things around a bit..you have to try a couple things before you get all bummed..

drurb · #8 03-30-2008, 08:37 PM

Check here. Your luthier should solve this for you. Good luck!

reedo35 · #9 04-05-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blandsville

I bought a used 3/4 plywood G.A. Pfretzschner that has had the fingerboard dressed, new strings, and new bridge. However, I notice that when I really pluck the A string, there is a bit of buzzing on the top plate about half way between the top of the f hole and the top of the body. If I press on it slightly it will stop. My suspicion is that something is not glued down completely.

Loose bass bars are not as common as you might think. I had an annoying buzz recently in almost the exact place that you mention. It turned out that my bridge had moved slightly. (probably from being bumped at a gig) A small adjustment (1/8 of an inch!) got it back into alignment and the buzzing stopped. Since you mentioned a new bridge, this may be the problem that you are having.
If that doen't work, and you can't find any open seams, you may need a sound post adjustment. Good Luck!

Blandsville · #10 04-06-2008, 02:50 AM

Okay....drum roll please. The condensed report is this. I took the bass to two different luthiers and got two almost completely different assessments. The end result, however, is that for a variety of reasons, I feel that one was more knowledgeable than the other. As far as the nuts and bolts of it though, it appears that there is spot on a seam that needs some glue. Other than that, a suggestion was made that I get a new endpin and have the soundpost moved to improve the tone. All of which I will have done. Besides the fact that it has been deemed "structurally sound", three things I was happy to find out are that given the price I paid, it has a good tone, it is of a good enough quality to learn to play it properly, and that it is worth what I paid for it. Thanks all for your help and encouragement.

Blandsville · #11 04-06-2008, 04:43 PM

Just a quick followup. After reading my last post I have edited it in an attempt to make it a little less personal in describing the difference in manner and opinion of the two luthiers who looked at my bass. I am sure the luthier community is probably pretty close, and I don't want to run the risk of publicly offending or disparaging anyone so I will keep some of my opinion to myself. That being said, I thank everyone again who posted their input and well wishes.