I've got a buzz

[loon784]

I had my romainian carved bass restrung with thom spiros, and a new carved bridge. It was done at Rutmans Violin in Boston. Since then It's developed a buzz on the A string in the 9th note position. It also has a boing rubber band like sound on the same string when I slide frome the 5th to th 9th, Dose this mean my bridge is too low, did he cut it wrong or could the string be bad? Anyone know anything ...

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by loon784

I had my romainian carved bass restrung with thom spiros, and a new carved bridge. It was done at Rutmans Violin in Boston. Since then It's developed a buzz on the A string in the 9th note position. It also has a boing rubber band like sound on the same string when I slide frome the 5th to th 9th, Dose this mean my bridge is too low, did he cut it wrong or could the string be bad? Anyone know anything ...

When you say "developed" a buzz...? Immediately after the string replacement and new bridge or just a short time after? 9th note is just about at the overstand? What is different about the new bridge? Adjusters?

Perhaps the new strings are a different tension, but that is just a guess. There are other plausible reasons. Perhaps the rubber band sound is due to the newness of the strings. I always think new strings sound real twangy for a few days if not a few weeks.

Tell us more about the previous strings and why the new bridge.

[loon784]

The bridge replaced a poorly cut warped one. It had adjusters. The new one is a french hard wood with adjusters installed by Rutmans. The buzz was immediate. The action has been lowered alot and tension seems much looser. I lost about 1/4 of the volume do to this but the tone is much deeper. The old strings, I have no info on other than red on the bottom and purple on top, they were thuddy and creeked when tuning, I couldn't micro adjust thats why I had them changed.

[Bob Branstetter]

Since it occurred after the strings were lowered, the odds are that you have a high spot on the fingerboard. The setup of the fingerboard becomes more critical the closer the strings are to the fingerboard.

[loon784]

What grade/grit sandpaper should I use to smooth it out? Should I be able to feel or see the bump/high spot?

[Silversorcerer]

Well, the buzz is very plausibly the lower action and looser strings separately or in combination. Changes in volume and tone are probably the same thing;- lower tension, different strings. If it was the bridge being undercut, you could just raise it via the adjusters and see if it goes away. The new bridge is probably fine.

Perhaps try substituting the old string for the buzzing one, just as a trouble shooting measure. If it helps, look into getting a higher tension string that matches the other new ones, or perhaps a higher tension set all across. Results are not guaranteed of course, but it might restore the lost volume, maintain the lower string height and lose the buzzzz. Hopefully without getting into the complication of dressing the board.

If there is a high spot as could well be the case, you will be able to detect it by pushing the string to the board in two places perhaps 8 to 10 inches apart. Check out how much space there is between the string and board as you press it down. If it is dressed right you should be able to do this all up and down the board without the string touching the board between the two points you press it down. It will be a very small space, but it should be there.

Watch the bridge alignment when you change strings and wack it back into position if it leans toward the FB.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by loon784

What grade/grit sandpaper should I use to smooth it out? Should I be able to feel or see the bump/high spot?

Chances are you won't see or feel the bump(s) or high spot(s) and it's very easy to make things much worse if you don't know what you are doing. My advice would be to take your bass back to Rutmans or another shop and have them plane the fingerboard properly. You will probably find that the bass will be easier to play with a properly setup fingerboard.

[loon784]

thanks, this is a very frustrating as I just spent $700 on the new bridge and strings. I was very surprised that it came back to me this way. This Luthier is located right next door to Boston Synphony Hall, (3 hours from home,) I had expected perfection from such a shop.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by loon784

thanks, this is a very frustrating as I just spent $700 on the new bridge and strings. I was very surprised that it came back to me this way. This Luthier is located right next door to Boston Synphony Hall, (3 hours from home,) I had expected perfection from such a shop.

I don't know anything about the shop where you took your bass, but unless you gave the shop Card blache to fix everything, I imagine that they did what you asked them to do. Planning and dressing the fingerboard is a separate job that is usually part of a complete instrument setup. Is there something wrong with the quality of the bridge they fitted or the strings?

[loon784]

Maybe it's just me but if I had been working on a bass, after I was done i'd play it to make sure it played well. If it had a buzz I'd check my bridge adjustment to see if it was the source, at the very least tell the customer about it. I can't imagine just replacing a bridge, a custom fit job, refitting the sound post, then throwing on some strings on and just returning it to a customer without playing it. I should have played it in the shop ,however it was in the case and I was double parked... caviet emptor. I've emailed the shop with my concerns. Again thanks for all's input. Any other thoughts muchly aprieciated.

[Bob Branstetter]

I can understand your frustration, but being both a player and a luthier has taught me that it is quite possible that they may have played your bass and that the buzz simply might not have been noticed. Stronger or weaker Left hand pressure, heavier or lighter right hand touch or different angle when pulling the string can make the difference between a buzz being produced or not being produced. If the shop deals primarily with classical players, they may have used a bow to test it instead of pizz. My point is that all players (or luthiers) do not play the instrument the same way.

However, you were perfectly right to email the shop with your complaint. Most good shops will bend over backward to correct any reasonable customer complaints. If they don't, perhaps you should find another shop to handle any future instrument problems.

[Silversorcerer]

+1 to everything Bob said above.