Double Bass 1 buzzy note

[SunneyBoy]

Well as the title says I have a single buzzing note at eb on the g string at the heel of the neck and its driving me round the bend.

I have tried the following
- check the bridge alignment and. grooves.
- raised the action considerably
- changed the string
- raised the height of the nut temp. To see if it might be buzzing behind the stopped note.

All to no avail so I fear the board has worn a little because this note is one of my go to landing spots/reference points.

Is there a way I could do something myself to the board in this spot because the only luthier I know in my area who has built a bass realised when fitting his bass's top that he had carved the integral bass bar on the wrong side of the bass. (Fail) so I am a bit apprehensive about sending my bass to him.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mirwa]

It definetly sounds like the board is worn or warped, when you play the string and slide down to that position does it do it as well or only if you finger that position.

Let me start by saying, visit a luthier. That now said, the fact your asking means you intend to do it yourself.

To plane your board, its important to have a nice big piece of flat wood or steel at least half the length of your fingerboard, it must be straight, I cannot re-interate this enough, attach some 220 grit sandpaper along the length and under the weight of the ""tool"" move it back and forth , visually site your board as your doing it, I also mark my fingerboard out with a pencil in a criss cross fashion so I can see easily which part of the board is being sanded down.

Slow and steady, is the key, dont force the tool onto the surface.

Again, my recommendation is to find a good luthier who is fair on his prices and get them to do it, its a dirty job, and ebony dust is not good for you.

Steve

 

[SunneyBoy]

Thank for the advise.

I was naively hoping there would be a quick fix like a little rub down with some steel wool or something. But if I need to plane the whole length of board I will definately seek out the help of a pro.

 

[mirwa]

If you look down the length of the neck, you should be able to see the hump or bump or deviation etc,

If you have a low action and it buzzes on specific notes, then sometimes you may not see it, but it reveals itself whilst being planed.

 

[Jack Clark]

You don't keep a little clip-on tuner on it, do you? I once had a buzz on a few notes for two months before I realized that I was leaning my tuner over so that it was just barely contacting the wood, making a buzz on certain notes. Sure made me feel like a dumb ass, but that's all it was.

 

[drurb]

You don't keep a little clip-on tuner on it, do you? I once had a buzz on a few notes for two months before I realized that I was leaning my tuner over so that it was just barely contacting the wood, making a buzz on certain notes. Sure made me feel like a dumb ass, but that's all it was.

Two in one day, Jack! Surely someone else out there has a buzzing tuner. It's a good suggestion, though.

 

[Jack Clark]

Yeah. I'm hoping not to be the only one who ever did that.

 

[iammr2]

Have a luthier check the frets.

 

[Cody Sisk]

Thank for the advise.

I was naively hoping there would be a quick fix like a little rub down with some steel wool or something. But if I need to plane the whole length of board I will definately seek out the help of a pro.

This is your best course of action. Fingerboard work is not easy for even experienced luthiers. If you can't find someone local, it is worth your time/gas money to go to someone who has experience working on basses. Fixing DIY work gone wrong on a fingerboard will cost you more to fix.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Is there a way I could do something myself to the board in this spot because the only luthier I know in my area who has built a bass realised when fitting his bass's top that he had carved the integral bass bar on the wrong side of the bass. (Fail) so I am a bit apprehensive about sending my bass to him.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

If you need a luthier, contact bassists in the symphony or instructors in the local college for their recommendations.

I'm not sure a guy who's even making a bass with an integral bar is the right guy to see, especially because he put it on the unintended side!

 

[SunneyBoy]

Thank you for the all the input I have done some searching and have found a few violin luthiers close to me so I will give them a "buzz" tomorrow to see if they might be able to do the work needed.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Try and find a bass specialist if you can.

 

[iammr2]

You won't have to plane the whole board. It's one note, so it's probably only one fret causing the issue.

BTW, violins don't have frets. Find someone who works on guitars and basses.

 

[Treyzer]

You won't have to plane the whole board. It's one note, so it's probably only one fret causing the issue.

BTW, violins don't have frets. Find someone who works on guitars and basses.

Dear Iammr2,

You're obviously lost. This is the double bass forum; Bah-bye!

 

[iammr2]

Dear Iammr2,

You're obviously lost. This is the double bass forum; Bah-bye!

You're right, I am! Don't know how I got in here. Buh-bye

 

[Jack Clark]

You're right, I am! Don't know how I got in here.[i.e., on the double bass side of the forum.] Buh-bye

I'm going to take a guess: You clicked on "New Posts." That will bring up everything new on both sides of the board unless you have selected otherwise in your settings.

 

[iammr2]

I'm going to take a guess: You clicked on "New Posts." That will bring up everything new on both sides of the board unless you have selected otherwise in your settings.

That is exactly it. Thanks for letting me know about this, Jack.