Two Questions for our Esteemed Luthiers (an anyone else with an answer)

[musicman5string]

#1: My bass, a 100 year old German carved, sounds and feels much better in the colder and drier months. I've heard this may have something to do with the soundpost tightening up in the winter and hence having a tigher feel. It's been suggested I need a different soundpost in the warmer months to compensate for humidity, etc. Does this sound reasonable?


#2: Right now, I am loving the way my bass sounds and feels setup wise, except for the E string: it's got a wonderful sustain, but if I pluck it like the other strings, I get a nasty rattle against the fingerboard. I don't mind some rattle, as I like that sound, but this is too much. And I don't want to lighten up my attack on the string because that's not the issue. Could it be the fingerboard needs planing?

Any suggestions and or lures to a repair shop are welcome.

[Chasarms]

I don't know that it is just the sound post. I have found that all of my acoustic instruments sound better in the lower humidity months. The bass, of course. But also, my acoustic guitar and mandolin sound better in the winter months. My Gibby ain't got no post!

I would guess the absence of moisture in the wood makes it more resonant.

Of course, the post may indeed be a factor for the bass. But I would not limit it to that.

[Jeff Bollbach]

i think Charles answered yer post query well. The board could need planiing but it could be the way you are firing the E. Most players have a tendancy to fall off the edge of the board[you cant on the other strings]. This sends the e up and consequently down in a more exagerated way than a true parallel fire.

[musicman5string]

Originally Posted by Jeff Bollbach

i think Charles answered yer post query well. The board could need planiing but it could be the way you are firing the E. Most players have a tendancy to fall off the edge of the board[you cant on the other strings]. This sends the e up and consequently down in a more exagerated way than a true parallel fire.

Jeff-
It's not really an issue of the attack; that comes out clear. It's the after attack sustain of the notes, whether it's the open E or any fingered note; the note is plucked, the note is sounded, and on the sustain the string will vibrate against the board after 2 seconds.

[D McCartney]

Originally Posted by musicman5string

#1: I get a nasty rattle against the fingerboard.

Hi MM,
Does it sound like growling buzzing or slapping?

[musicman5string]

I would say it's a rattling of the string against the fingerboard after the note has already been sounded.
1. pluck
2. note rings
3. after 2-3 seconds, string rattles against board

[PoorPlayer]

Does the bridge have anything to do with the E string issue? I mean, isn't the reason for an adjustable bridge to be able to adjust for climate changes?

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by PoorPlayer

Does the bridge have anything to do with the E string issue? I mean, isn't the reason for an adjustable bridge to be able to adjust for climate changes?

Yes, to some degree. However, if you have to raise the bridge to an uncomfortably high level to prevent the string for clattering on the fb, the fingerboard is likely to need a little TLC from your friendly neighborhood luthier (or even your grouchy neighborhood luthier if he has skills)

[jsbarber]

When you pluck the string you are causing the string to vibrate parallel to the fingerboard; then the string induces vibration into the bass through the bridge; which in turn induces vibration back into the string through the bridge; but the bridge is then exciting vibration modes perpendicular to the fingerboard which causes the buzz. (i.e. the same effect suggested above by Jeff Bollbach, but not activated directly through your plucking).

Just a guess,

Jim