Double Bass E string rattles even with high action

[Jazzkuma]

Hey
so im playing this bass which I haven pickd up in a long time and all the strings are fine but the E string.
The action is high on the E string and lower going to the G string but I could not find a solution to the problem, since most of the time the cause is low action i didnt know what to do. What are the causes of string rattlin on the E string?

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

Are you sure that its rattling against the fingerboard? If there's any loose material in the pegbox or string ends touching the side it could very well make a buzzing sound. Could also be a tailpeice issue is theres a crack in the tailpeice or the string end isn't seating properly.

 

[debassr]

Is it tuned an octave low? Bum string?

 

[Lo-E]

Check for any loose hardware, especially on the bridge (rattling hight adjustment screws are really good at making you think the problem is somewhere else!). Be sure to check for loose electronics that could be rattling as well.

If that turns nothing up, check to see if the neck has warped while the bass sat unplayed. With the right warp or twist, a fretboard can rattle, even with a high action.

Good luck!

 

[Cody Sisk]

Check to see that the buzz happens on fingered notes. If it doesn't, the groove in your nut is likely to blame..

Otherwise try putting on an old string and make sure the string itself isn't the culprit. (you do keep your old strings right?)

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

Check for any loose hardware, especially on the bridge (rattling hight adjustment screws are really good at making you think the problem is somewhere else!). Be sure to check for loose electronics that could be rattling as well.

If that turns nothing up, check to see if the neck has warped while the bass sat unplayed. With the right warp or twist, a fretboard can rattle, even with a high action.

Good luck!

Is it just me or are we getting more electric players than ever commenting on DB threads?

 

[debassr]

Is it just me or are we getting more electric players than ever commenting on DB threads?

Oops. Why must TB's home page mash both together? Aggravating for me as well.

 

[Jazzkuma]

Yeah its on the fingerboard because it does happen on fingered notes as well, about up to the B on the E string. I cant change the strings either, Someone told me to sandpaper the fingerboard but im not sure about that, I dont know if that will mess up the tuning or something else. Mainly because my bass has a curve on the board but I have played other basses with less curve so Im not sure if I should just sand paper it.

 

[Jazzkuma]

Actually, I do think it could be the grooves on the nut. How can i get a quick fix from that? I have seen some people put tape around the tring on the nut and it makes it a bit higher.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Mainly because my bass has a curve on the board but I have played other basses with less curve so Im not sure if I should just sand paper it.

You probably need a pro bass luthier to do this. It's a very skilled operation to do correctly. The amount of "scoop" can be changed to your liking by someone who knows what they are doing. If it's the nut, ditto for that, too, although you could try a piece of paper under the string and see if that helps.

 

[Jazzkuma]

i just need a quick fix, i got a gig in less than a week and im actually pretty sure its the nut now that I think about it. You think some tape around the string at the nut groove would help?

 

[shadygrove]

Check to see that the buzz happens on fingered notes. If it doesn't, the groove in your nut is likely to blame..

Otherwise try putting on an old string and make sure the string itself isn't the culprit. (you do keep your old strings right?)

^ He's a luthier and I'm not, and I don't think this contradicts what DallasStrings said, but in my experience a nut groove that's too high can also cause what you describe with fingered notes although when I had that the buzzing was only up to maybe G# on the E string. All the way up to B huh?

Maybe you know what you're doing more than I would, osmarokuma, but I wouldn't take sandpaper to my fingerboard unless I was very confident I knew exactly where the problem was and that I could correct it. If you sand off too much then you create new problems that could require a lot of work to fix. Who told you to sand your fingerboard and how knowledgeable are they about double basses ?

I'd get a second opinion from a luthier before taking any sandpaper to my fingerboard. You do need a certain amount of "curve" (relief) in the fingerboard. How much is too much is a question best left for the pros IMO.

 

[Jazzkuma]

Actually no one told me. I went to a luthier once and saw him doing that to a bass and I asked him what the problem was and he said it was buzzing. Anyways, I think my idea of using sandpaper on the board is not going to happen anymore because I think the problem is in the nut groove, i didnt think about until it was mentioned. I still dont know if i should just tape the string on the nut groove to give it a temporary height. I dunno, im also playing it without my realist pick up set up so maybe that has lowerd the height a bit, im going to set up the pick up and see if it improves.

 

[shadygrove]

Good thought on the Realist. That foil's pretty thin but it's worth checking out. If your bridge was set up with the Realist on there it could make a difference.

I've seen people use parchment paper on other stringed instrument such as fiddles when the nut slots were too low. Some folded paper or tape would be a cheap experiment towards figuring out your problem and probably would get you through your gig till you can get the nut fixed if it works.

 

[wayne holmes]

for a double bass buzz or raddle- my experience has been that it is in the nut if the string is high. If it is not the nut groove-check for an open seam-If this is an electric-forget it ---- the seam part.

If it is the nut - take some epoxy wood filler -the type that dries in just a few minutes(lowes, home depot,or do a search on woodworking fillers)
and that you knead before application- once kneaded well roll a small bit into a little turd and push it into the groove-when it's almost set up(3 min.) take either the string or something round the same dia. and push it into the filler-wet it first with water so it won't stick- hold it in place-***(careful to not have the ends of the groove bigger than the string)the buzz usually comes from the groove being too wide at either end. Let it dry completely. I would wait a few hours to make sure. Trim off excess. Sand smooth, dye it. **Careful to not open it wider so the string will fit snugly. This will close it and most likely stop the buzz. A raddle is often the string slapping against the board. If you have adjusters on the bridge ---you can work with them until the raddle goes away- then after your gig, take it to a Luthier and get a permanent fix. IME,IMO don't forget to check for an open seam. If the bass has been setting up for a time, this would be a good possibility.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!

 

[Cody Sisk]

If you have that buzz happening on fingered notes as well, the nut is not the culprit. Your fingerboard scoop is likely the issue. There's really no quick fix there, you will have to have your fingerboard dressed by a luthier. With all the tension on necks these days, with the higher tension strings being a popular choice, fingerboards on many basses will need to be redressed periodically.

The sandpaper thing won't help either, you'll be sanding for days to take the amount of wood off necessary to put scoop in the board. Also, finding the perfect amount of scoop is something that I'm still working on perfecting and I do it for a living! No small task for an amateur. I'm afraid you'll just have to wing it until you can get it to a luthier.

 

[Elias_Mohr]

I had a similar problem with the A string and just took a small piece of a post, put it under the string at the nut and problem solved. I'll have to take it to my luthier for a proper set up but at least I'm not out of comission.

 

[RSBBass]

If the buzz happens when you finger a note, it probably isn't the nut slot. The only way it could be is if it is a back buzz. If you dampen behind the fingered note and it stops, then that is your culprit. You could chalk the board. If the string is buzzing on it it will remove some of the chakt, showing the high point.

 

[David Potts]

Will a thickish calling card fit under the E string at the nut? If so the nut probably is not the problem. Have you changed strings or string brands recently (different tensions)? Has the front of the bass started to sink on the bass bar side, shown by the wings of the F hole twisting up/down? Or has the bridge had a knock that has pushed the bridge sideways, out of place? Check the bridge marks on the bass front.

A temporary fix in the E string clearance might be to deliberately move the bridge sideways towards the bass bar side a little after letting some tension off the strings (don't drop the sound post). This will quickly raise the E string because of the lateral curve in the fingerboard. Of course, so long as the bass sound is not too badly affected and the G string does not start rattling.

Best wishes for the gig and keep safe,

DP