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Double Bass Palatino VE-500 Problem - Buzzing Headstock

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davinci123

Jan 7, 2009
4
0
#1
I received a VE-500 today that I bought from ebay. I bought it from the original owner (at least I hope that I did).

To my dismay. after I tune the bass I can hear buzzing from the headstock when playing certain notes! For example, playing B on the G-string makes the headstock ring. It sounds like the noise is coming from the part of the machine heads that hold the stings in place.

I don't know what to do. I spent $560 on this thing and I want this to be an easy fix. I bought the thing used because of the savings over retail price. If I have to take it to a shop they'll probably charge me at least $100 to look at.



Help me! Any ideas?
 
#4
You can usually pin point exactly what is loose by hit the note then using your right hand to touch parts in the area you are hearing the rattling. When you find the loose part your rattling will stop. Then the magic comes in many forms... glue, felt, tape, screw driver, etc.

Examples: the very end of my tuning pin (part you grab on to when tuning) was loose from the rest of the tuning pin on one of my electrics... I bent the clamps tighter with some plyers (be sure you put a cloth between the plyers and metal so you don't make any scratches. I use to have a cheap metal tailpiece on one of my uprights that use to rattle... I placed a piece of velcro (the felt side) between the wood and the metal tailpiece and that seemed to do it. When you make these fixes just make sure you think them through so you don't scratch, break or make your bass look like it is a hack job. I have complete confidence in you!!! Your a fellow bassman!!! Peace, PMARCHE
davinci123 said:
I received a VE-500 today that I bought from ebay. I bought it from the original owner (at least I hope that I did).

To my dismay. after I tune the bass I can hear buzzing from the headstock when playing certain notes! For example, playing B on the G-string makes the headstock ring. It sounds like the noise is coming from the part of the machine heads that hold the stings in place.

I don't know what to do. I spent $560 on this thing and I want this to be an easy fix. I bought the thing used because of the savings over retail price. If I have to take it to a shop they'll probably charge me at least $100 to look at.



Help me! Any ideas?
Click to expand...
 
#5
pmarche said:
You can usually pin point exactly what is loose by hit the note then using your right hand to touch parts in the area you are hearing the rattling. When you find the loose part your rattling will stop. Then the magic comes in many forms... glue, felt, tape, screw driver, etc.

Examples: the very end of my tuning pin (part you grab on to when tuning) was loose from the rest of the tuning pin on one of my electrics... I bent the clamps tighter with some plyers (be sure you put a cloth between the plyers and metal so you don't make any scratches. I use to have a cheap metal tailpiece on one of my uprights that use to rattle... I placed a piece of velcro (the felt side) between the wood and the metal tailpiece and that seemed to do it. When you make these fixes just make sure you think them through so you don't scratch, break or make your bass look like it is a hack job. I have complete confidence in you!!! Your a fellow bassman!!! Peace, PMARCHE
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great advice! I tracked down the noise to the truss rod. Is this a bad sign in your experience? Which direction should I tighten the truss rod? clockwise or counter-clockwise?
 
#6
davinci123 said:
Thanks for the great advice! I tracked down the noise to the truss rod. Is this a bad sign in your experience? Which direction should I tighten the truss rod? clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Click to expand...

This is where my buzzing was coming from. The truss rod is pretty un-necessary on these basses IMO... Mine was completely loose... I just turned it clockwise to slightly engage it, and viola! Buzz disappeared :D

FWIW, I got my Jack Casady bass years ago at a steal because the seller couldn't pinpoint the buzzing and didn't want to pay for expensive repairs... Same deal!! Both basses are killin'!!

-robert
 
#7
rllefebv said:
This is where my buzzing was coming from. The truss rod is pretty un-necessary on these basses IMO... Mine was completely loose... I just turned it clockwise to slightly engage it, and viola! Buzz disappeared :D

FWIW, I got my Jack Casady bass years ago at a steal because the seller couldn't pinpoint the buzzing and didn't want to pay for expensive repairs... Same deal!! Both basses are killin'!!

-robert
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip! That was the problem. The rod was actually lose until I turned it a bit clockwise. No buzz now!
 

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