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Double Bass Rattling hybrid - can we identify the culprit?

M0ses

M0ses

Sep 11, 2009
3,715
1,079
Los Angeles
#1
Hello everyone!
I have had this RM-200 for about a year and a half. It's my first upright bass. I had kind of hoped that the rattle was a "settling" thing and would just go away on it's own but of course that isn't what happened.



The rattle is much louder or more noticeable in person; you may need headphones to hear it on the recording but it's definitely there. It seems to occur most often when I am playing open strings but that's not a rule.

I can't find any bad seams with a visual inspection. I have eliminated the tuning machines as a possibility as best as I can by gripping them tightly; they don't vibrate at all, anyway. Is soundpost rattle a thing? It kind of sounds like it's coming from inside the bass. The bridge and tailpiece seem very firm and solid as well.

For anyone curious I am using the $30 BOYA lapel mic dangling inside the bass from the top of the treble hole. I think it sounds quite good, fairly transparent, having used it live thru my church's PA and my in-ears monitors.

Thanks in advance for your contributions. Would love to get opinions on what the issue might be and the best way to resolve it.
 
#8
100% of the time, when I experience a "rattle" on either of my bass, tightening the endpin setscrew takes care of it. All other occasional buzzes are attributable to the tuner/quiver.
 
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#9
I was experiencing a similar rattle on my bass. There was a large amount of the endpin inside the body of the bass that would rattle mostly on open strings. Tightening the endpin screw occasionally worked, but not always. I then took ~8" off with a hacksaw and never got that rattle again.
 
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#11
Wow, you guys are amazing!! I think you nailed it on the first try. I removed the endpin entirely and was unable to replicate the rattle; push it back in most of the way and there it is again. It's a bit surprising because the brass set screw and steel pin seem to connect solidly. It feels firm to the touch, and I'm always careful to make sure it actually sets into one of the indents.

So, is the solution to cut the pin? Or a new one entirely? Something as simple as a little plumber's tape? Would the rubber on the end have an effect? The stock stopper is always working loose which is very annoying.
 
#12
M0ses said:
Wow, you guys are amazing!! I think you nailed it on the first try. I removed the endpin entirely and was unable to replicate the rattle; push it back in most of the way and there it is again. It's a bit surprising because the brass set screw and steel pin seem to connect solidly. It feels firm to the touch, and I'm always careful to make sure it actually sets into one of the indents.

So, is the solution to cut the pin? Or a new one entirely? Something as simple as a little plumber's tape? Would the rubber on the end have an effect? The stock stopper is always working loose which is very annoying.
Click to expand...

Cut the pin. The weight reduction is gravy.
 
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#14
Hacksaw the pin. Any jagged edges on the inside end will be in midair unless you screw up and cut it too short. A turn or two of packing tape around the pin where the set screw contacts it isn’t a bad idea and is easily reversible if it becomes necessary for whatever reason.
 
#16
M0ses said:
It's a bit surprising because the brass set screw and steel pin seem to connect solidly. It feels firm to the touch, and I'm always careful to make sure it actually sets into one of the indents.
Click to expand...

It's the part of the endpin rod that's inside the body of your bass that's causing the rattle. Although it's always good to make sure the thumbscrew is tight and in a notch, you'll still have a problem if the rod is too long.

M0ses said:
The stock stopper is always working loose which is very annoying.
Click to expand...

This may be contributing to the rattle too. You could try some teflon tape on the threads of the endpin, or locktight (I think the blue stuff is what you want, but hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong).
 
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#17
I too have a RM200 (2018), wonderful hybrid for sure!

When I got it I experienced the same endpin rattle. As noted above, don’t be shy with getting rid of excess length. As I remember my endpin was 17” before I cut about 8” off it (I’m 5’11” and I doubt I’ll be growing…)
Another note, I wasn’t crazy about the rubber foot either, a lock washer or a drop of Blue Loctite will solve the unwanted loosing, but I found the best all around solution for me was this:
08316D87-D2DE-4757-BECF-107994440DE1.jpeg
 
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#18
I tried some tape and that didn't work, so loctite is probably the next step. My bandmate might have a bit of that lying around, too. Red would probably be overkill. The stock rubber is pretty bad (looks like the endpin is literally the only complaint one could have about the RM-200!) but I haven't been able to bring myself to spend $30 on that oval replacement everyone recommends, either.
 
#19
M0ses said:
... I haven't been able to bring myself to spend $30 on that oval replacement everyone recommends, either...
Click to expand...

Endpin rubbers are like windshield wipers on a car, you just have to replace them every so often. The alternative is to leave bare metal exposed, and risk scraping and scratching up your, and your friends, floors. Spend the $20 or $30 bucks.
 

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