• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Help Me Diagnose Half-Position Buzz (Upright)

fu22ba55

fu22ba55

Apr 16, 2009
2,564
2,990
#1
My D and G strings buzz in half-postion... Eb and E on the D string, Ab (and sometimes A) on the G string.



Only audible when playing pizz, not audible when playing arco.

And this is NOT the awesome "growl" that I get on my E and A strings (on F and Bb). This is an anemic buzzing sound.

Before I schlep all the way down to Kolstein's (two hours one way), I'm asking the hive mind for opinions:

I THINK I need the fingerboard planed / reshaped / something-ed (dressed) to make this buzz go away, but I want to make sure that it's not a simpler fix.

Strings: Kolstein Heritage (about 18 months old, but sound appeared about a 12 months ago. I don't THINK it's related to old strings, but I'm curious.)

String Height: G String about 6 or 7 mm off the FB at end of FB, D string about 7 or 8mm.

I tried holding down the string BEHIND where I'm stopping the note (between my finger and the nut) and that did not help.

It's not anything rattling in the pegbox, I triple checked.

It's not the body buzzing.

It's not a tuner or quiver or any other nonsense rattling.

The sound is definitely audible to my ear since I'm basically always holding my ear next to that spot. But it's also audible on recordings (with mic at brige). The sound is definitely coming from under my hand where I'm stopping the note.

I'm tempted to change the strings to see if the issue goes away, but I want to be able to replicate the sound at the luthier.

Would newer strings (or stiffer strings) make this problem go away, or does someone (not me) need to break out the block plane?
 
Last edited:
#2
I have two thoughts:

1) Heritage strings are very low tension. Maybe swap out the G only with a spiro or some such and see if that helps diagnose whether it's a string issue. A floppy string could easily buzz like that where a stiffer one might not.

2) Nut height. For years, I had a piece of folded business card seated in the nut slot of one of my strings - can't remember which - to see if it eliminated some annoying noise like the one in your video. It did, and since it was working I didn't want to drive all the way to Cincy and back just for that. So I didn't, and ended up just blacking out the card color with a sharpie. Eventually, I had to take the bass up there to the Cellar for some other reason, and they did the "build up the nut slot slightly with ebony dust and super glue" thing, which was more elegant but worked exactly the same. The business card thing is worth a shot, and virtually free.

Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: RSBBass, Winoman and fu22ba55
#5
A too-low nut height could be the problem, and it's an easy fix. Here's hoping!

If not, though, then you likely have a hump in your fingerboard just above the notes that are buzzing (e.g., at Bb or B on the G string). You can test this by using a 6" or smaller metal ruler. Rest the straight edge on the fingerboard, leaning it against the G string, and center it on Bb or B . If you have an uneven board the straight edge will show gaps at either end. If it's bad enough, the ruler will actually rock back and forth where the hump is.

If that's the problem it needs to be looked at by someone who has experience dressing fingerboards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Le Guyader and SAlcott
#6
eh_train said:
You can test this by using a 6" or smaller metal ruler. Rest the straight edge on the fingerboard, leaning it against the G string, and center it on Bb or B . If you have an uneven board the straight edge will show gaps at either end. If it's bad enough, the ruler will actually rock back and forth where the hump is.
Click to expand...

Just did this test with a 6" ruler and flashlight.

There is definitely way more light coming through in the problem areas on the D and G string (D is worse) than on the same location under the E and A strings.

Basically the first 'fret' for lack of a better term is 'scalloped' under the D and G strings.

Crap.
 
#8
Synthetic core strings like the Heritage need less force to stretch, so their vibrational amplitude is higher than similar tension steel core strings.
So the buzz might get reduced with a steel core string.

The buzz can come from a not completely pressed down string, maybe because the nut is too high, or from a high spot (a bit down the fingerboard, in front of the fingered position) on the fingerboard.

The first rather happens with thin steel core strings than synthetic core and you typically can feel the buzz in the finger used for stopping the string.
I have the problem with the a bit higher tension high C steel core strings which cut deep into the left hand fingers and are hard to press down with enough force to fix them on the board.
But I doubt that this is the problem with a synthetic core string.

For the second I strongly recommend seeing a luthier. You might want to watch their work and ask what (s)he does and why, so you might be able to fine tune the board yourself afterwards if that problem arises again.
You can easily ruin a fingerboard by taking off wood at the wrong place, so be even more slow and careful than the luthier.

BTW, use shorter straight edges of different lengths (too). The problem is local, so you may find the high spot by a shorter straight edge that wiggles a little bit at one point. This is a high spot.
Planing the high spot can lead to finding more high spots down the fingerboard on higher pitch fingered notes on the same string, you might not be done planing the current high spot then.
 
#9
DoubleMIDI said:
Planing the high spot can lead to finding more high spots down the fingerboard on higher pitch fingered notes on the same string, you might not be done planing the current high spot then.
Click to expand...

Definitely going to see a luthier, and no way do I plan to fix this myself. I don't have the patience for proper woodworking. I think the flashlight test showed me what I needed to know. The FB is modern, and plenty thick enough for some re-shaping.

One concern is this: Is it possible to remedy the issue under the D and G strings without impacting the A and E strings? I LOVE the sound and feel of the A and E strings.
 
#15
I have the same issue on the E string. Low F buzz/growls, and cannot be ameliorated with touch. F# does also, but less so. There’s a dip there, from having been played a lot on that spot since the bass was created in 1974. So I know a fingerboard dressing is in order.

All the rest of the fingerboard is fine, but I cannot see how this can be properly addressed without affecting at least the remaining E string territory of the board. Can anyone give me a ballpark of the expected expenditure for this repair?
 
#17
bullyspud said:
Did thé luthier solve this problem ?
I have exactly thé same issue and 2 sessions of work on thé fingerboard could not solve it.
I too am using gut strings or low tension evah slaps. I have tried many strings with same problem.
Thé luthier (a reputable one) could not find thé solution....
Click to expand...

Luthier did fix it for me by reshaping the fingerboard... just on the treble side. A and E strings not affected.

He checked nut first, that was not the problem, but did have to reshape the board a tiny bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveMoodie and AGCurry

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back