So I've been playing a Shen Rogeri for a number of years (a decent bass but too long for my liking) and I've been encountering a buzzing sound that comes and goes. It has been coming more than going these days. Mostly it occurs playing the open A string especially when playing pizz. At first I thought endpin, but as I always play standing I noticed that pressing my leg up against the back of the bass stops the buzzing. I checked very closely for an open seam but can't find one. I also get a slight wolf on the A at the octave on the A string. I don't know if the bass is just reacting to some sort of harmonic imbalance or there's a repair issue like sound post setting or bass bar loose. It does seem to come from the back of the bass and only under a lot of vibration, but I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas. I plan on seeing my not so local luthier soon, but was hoping I could get some ideas of how to figure out the issue or what I'm looking at replacing so I can plan on the repair bill. Thanks!
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Double Bass Buzz...
- Thread starter Zach S
- Start date
That model tends to buzz. For some, it is found that the hole in the tailpiece is too wide for the tailgut. You can shim it with toothpicks. Try that first.
I'm pretty interested as well. I had a noise like this pop up the other day.
I was in the studio last week and I was getting a buzz on the open A. It was fairly terrifying. This session was in the works for a long time and we hired a good engineer, who was not cheap. The last thing anybody needs is to have equipment problems at $2/min.
I suspected the tailgut so (at lightning speed) loosened the strings a bit, wiggled the assembly around, removed and reseated the endpin, wiggled the bridge, reseated the strings at the nut and tail, then sternly told my bass that this was not the time for passive aggressive behavior. One of those fixed it; I'm still not sure which. I dunno what caused the buzz in the first place, although I suspect dragging the girl around in a not-airconditioned truck, in the record-setting heat, without a case, then into a not-well-airconditioned studio probably is at least a factor. It certainly hasn't reappeared since we retreated into the a/c.
I was in the studio last week and I was getting a buzz on the open A. It was fairly terrifying. This session was in the works for a long time and we hired a good engineer, who was not cheap. The last thing anybody needs is to have equipment problems at $2/min.
I suspected the tailgut so (at lightning speed) loosened the strings a bit, wiggled the assembly around, removed and reseated the endpin, wiggled the bridge, reseated the strings at the nut and tail, then sternly told my bass that this was not the time for passive aggressive behavior. One of those fixed it; I'm still not sure which. I dunno what caused the buzz in the first place, although I suspect dragging the girl around in a not-airconditioned truck, in the record-setting heat, without a case, then into a not-well-airconditioned studio probably is at least a factor. It certainly hasn't reappeared since we retreated into the a/c.
(1) Are the bridge feet both flat on the belly. Make the buzz happen then press the top of the bridge towards the tailpiece with your thumb and try again.
(2) Has a string winding broken? Pluck each string just above and just below the bridge and listen.
(3) Sometimes a sound post not quite fitting?
(4) Sometimes the purfling of old instruments can loosen and cause a buzz. Probably not your problem.
(5) A loose bass bar tends to rattle, not buzz. Expensive!!
(6) The patches on the long vertical center seams of the front and back can work loose. Expensive!!
(7) Any other patches or open seams. Again probably not your problem.
A wolf note will find buzzes because it roughs up the vibrations of the front and back. Will the buzz get worse if you bow or pluck the A octave harmonic or the same A higher on the E string? Or can you stop the buzz not by pressing the back of the bass but by having someone press various parts of the front as you pluck or bow.
These are just of the top of my head.
Good hunting!
DP
(2) Has a string winding broken? Pluck each string just above and just below the bridge and listen.
(3) Sometimes a sound post not quite fitting?
(4) Sometimes the purfling of old instruments can loosen and cause a buzz. Probably not your problem.
(5) A loose bass bar tends to rattle, not buzz. Expensive!!
(6) The patches on the long vertical center seams of the front and back can work loose. Expensive!!
(7) Any other patches or open seams. Again probably not your problem.
A wolf note will find buzzes because it roughs up the vibrations of the front and back. Will the buzz get worse if you bow or pluck the A octave harmonic or the same A higher on the E string? Or can you stop the buzz not by pressing the back of the bass but by having someone press various parts of the front as you pluck or bow.
These are just of the top of my head.
Good hunting!
DP
Thanks guys! Some really good stuff to try out.
So I get the buzzing sound with pizz or arco on the open A string. It's more pronounced on a pizz but there's zero buzz no matter how loud I play the A stopped on the E string. It almost seems to be stopped as long as there's something dampening either the top or back. I'm a bit worried it's going to be on the expensive side of things. I will experiment a little more today and see what I can come up with.
So I get the buzzing sound with pizz or arco on the open A string. It's more pronounced on a pizz but there's zero buzz no matter how loud I play the A stopped on the E string. It almost seems to be stopped as long as there's something dampening either the top or back. I'm a bit worried it's going to be on the expensive side of things. I will experiment a little more today and see what I can come up with.
Scratch that it only changes by dampening the back. I suspect I must have a loose seem or something because specifically if I place my knee or hand while someone else plays the A string right on the back by my C bout it stops the buzz/rattle. It will stop with dampening the back behind the sound post and behind the label or in line with the bass bar too. Looks like as soon as the car is out of the shop I'll get it down to my luthier and get everything taken care of.
Do you know how to find an open seam? Tap around the top and back edges where they meet the ribs. A knocking sound means solid, a clacking sound means open seam.
By touching the corpus you're only robbing it of energy, not isolating a problem. The cure will require a closer look.
(9) As it's only the open A, it could be the shape of the top nut A notch. To test, loosen A string, place some paper below it (in the notch) & re-tune. Or just wedge your nail between the string & a side of the notch (at the FB side) while playing the string. But damping removing the buzz, suggests that it is a body resonance rather than something like this.
(10) I've seen a buzz in the FB too, excited on some notes. Try tapping the free end of the FB towards the top. Do that while damping the strings & not tapping the strings. Tap not too wimpy, yet still lightly so that the free end vibrates. (The tone you should hear is one of the main body resonances.)
(11) To make sure it's not the end pin, take out the pin completely & re-try. Make sure the adjustment screw doesn't buzz.
(10) I've seen a buzz in the FB too, excited on some notes. Try tapping the free end of the FB towards the top. Do that while damping the strings & not tapping the strings. Tap not too wimpy, yet still lightly so that the free end vibrates. (The tone you should hear is one of the main body resonances.)
(11) To make sure it's not the end pin, take out the pin completely & re-try. Make sure the adjustment screw doesn't buzz.
+ 1 for the A-string slot on the nut! I had the exact same problem on my bass - open A string buzz, no buzz when A is played on the E string. The guys at Upton fixed it by re-filing the A string notch on the nut. Easy and inexpensive!
