Double Bass Patches buzzing

[_Aaron]

I have a 1960s Juzek that has been repaired, as far as I know, a number of times.

There is a crack for a few inches down the center directly beneath the fingerboard that was patched up. I was told there are a bunch of patches in there.

Now the issue:
Whenever I play any of the open strings or almost any note on the G string, the patches have been buzzing. I've had this bass for years and it has been doing this sort of thing off and on. When I take my left hand and press on the place where the patches are with my fingers and play open strings, the buzzing stops.

Is there an easy fix to this or am I going to need to go see a luthier and have him take the top off? It is affecting my tone quality, obviously, and is also very annoying.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Cody Sisk]

I'd be willing to bet that the crack itself is buzzing, not the cleats (patches). The crack may not have been properly closed prior to being cleated. The cleats then only hold the crack apart to allow the buzzing. I would want to take the top off and redo the entire repair.

 

[William Hoffman]

Is there an easy fix to this or am I going to need to go see a luthier and have him take the top off? It is affecting my tone quality, obviously, and is also very annoying.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Aaron, if i were you i would first explore the possibility that you're right, that the patches are buzzing. it might be possible to go in through the ff-holes with a brush with some watery and hot hide glue and brush it on, allowing it to seep into the spaces under the patches or, for that matter, into the cracks. i would ask my luthier if that is a way to go before doing the open surgery with the top off.

 

[uprightben]

You know, it may not be that particular crack that is buzzing, when you put your finger on it you effectively dampen the entire instrument a little which may be enough to stop a buzz in an entirely different place. Try rapping on it with your knuckles, if you get a rattle then there is your problem, if you get a clear, crisp sound, look elsewhere.

 

[_Aaron]

I tried rapping like you said, uprightben, but got no rattle. However, when I pressed elsewhere on the bass, the buzzes didn't stop, so I feel like it is somehow isolated to that place.

I don't know of any way to reach the place through the f-holes, as it is right next to the fingerboard on the lefthand side close to the neck (then again, I am completely untrained in that sort of thing, so it may not be hard at all...)

Thanks for the replies, they've made it a little clearer the path I should take. Thanks.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

your left hand side, or the left hand side looking from the front of the bass? if the latter, could it be that the top of the bass bar is loose?

 

[William Hoffman]

Aaron, it is often really difficult to locate the source of a buzz on a bass, even from where you are, right in the room with it. obvioulsly, from where i am it is just poking in the dark. it might sound like its somewhere in the upper bout but it is actually emanating from something loose elsewhere. if you are not sure, the best thing is to go to a luthier. good luck with the buzz, Bill

 

[MrSidecar]

The secret is in the tools you use. IN this case, we need

-a paintbrush
-a metal knitting needle or wire coat hanger
.a little mirror, preferably on a stick (used in car repairs as well, kinda like those dentists use, but a little bigger)

-and of course hide glue. If you have a question here, or better, if you don't know what this is, I'd be glad to help. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER GLUE THAN HIDE GLUE.

So, with those tools and a little presistance, it should be doable. Use the coat hanger or knitting needle to lengthen the paint brush stick, it can even be bent. Then apply hide glue onto all the sides of all the patches.

After all, soaking the patches in hide glue does not do any harm.

You can also try from the OUTSIDE if you suspect the crack itself buzzes. You can try and apply light pressure to the crack, and if the two sides of the crack move independently, it might be the crack itself. So you let very watery hide glue run into the crack, but be careful to wipe off excess fast, since it may damage the finish.

Best

Sidecar