Double Bass Choked String

[calum mckenzie]

Hi Y'all! I'm new to this posting thread thingy, so if I'm in the wrong place sorry. Anyway, my problem is this, deep breath! I am in the very lucky position of owning 2 Double basses and a Palatino Upright DB, The problem is my working DB has developed what I can only describe as a Quack or choke note when you fret the A string on the fingerboard and doesn't sound big and round like the rest of the bass, tried new bridge and shaving down fingerboard and hightening action, even tried small peice of rubber in string slot at nut and bridge.I have the same problem with my Palatino bass but it's over the D string, I use a Fishman BP pick-up on both basses. The annoying thing is both basses sound great but as you can imaging this choked string noize is amplified making it sound worse. What's more annoying is the rest of the band don't hear it. I would use my other DB which was my Fathers and sounds great unamplified but it's an old bass and tuning pegs are prone to go out of tune.

 

[calum mckenzie]

Hi again, Calum here again, ran out of space in last thread type post thing? Yeah! re choked string, just wondered if I am unlucky to have maybe develped a twist in my DB and the Palatino which as I have read these baby's are prone to have anyway and if so, can anyone recommend a good Luthier in my area, Scotland?
Any help would be appreciated as it's driving me nuts and making think about just playing bass guitar for easiness and a hastle free life.
Calum
Havana Swing (Gypsy Jazz band)

 

[MIKMAN]

Hello Scotland The Brave
try the Bob Gollihur's list of luthiers worlwide and you'll find someone near you. If i was in your shoes i'd look for the soundpost. A longer than needed soundpost or a misplaced one usually chokes the A string.
Good luck
Mike

 

[EggyToast]

I'll agree with MIKMAN -- my old Kay is pretty good, but when I had a local luthier poke at it, we discovered that the soundpost was jammed in so tight that he had to actually whack it with a mallet to get it to move. Getting the soundpost in the right spot (or best spot for your preferences) isn't going to give you the "best sound evar," but it will at least give you an even response across the strings and usually fixes some sound oddness that can crop up over time.

And Calum, good job on that road!

 

[calum mckenzie]

Thanks Mikman and Eggytoast, never thought about the sound post. probably hasn't moved for years or then again, maybe moved to wrong position. I will get my friend to have a quick look. Also Bob Gollihur's site gave me the name of a Luthier in Edinburgh I can use. Thanks again guys. What a resourceful site this is!
Cheers, hope to see you on the Gypsy road someday.
Calum

 

[HogieWan]

also - get some new pegs for that other DB

 

[calum mckenzie]

Hi HogieWan, Yeah! really should get the old bass "The wolf of Badenoch" up and running. I will get the sound post moved on mine first then save up for pegs and strings for the old boy, it's all money with those DB guys Thanks again for your advice.
Calum (Havana Swing Scotland)