Double Bass setup fingerboard

[Rovic]

Hi everyone!

Sometime ago, I bought a nice old french bass and took it about 2 weeks ago to a specialist for a new bridge, new soundpost and modifications to the fingerboard. The sound and speaking off the bass improved a lot. Only negative point was that the strings were a bit high ( G: 0.9 cm D:1.2 cm) and that the string buzzed against the fingerbord above the place I put my finger to stop the D harmonic on the second string.

Today I went back to have the strings lowered, so the bridge was adjusted and so was the fingerboard. The luthier made a really nice bend in the fingerboard so the string wouldn't touch the fingerboard while ringing. After some testing there still wasn't improvement..
We made the bend bigger and bigger, tried another nut, marked where the string could touch and removed more from the fingerboard, but still the buzz above the stopped note is there. Is it possible to stop the string vibrating on the "wrong side" of your finger or any other helps?

Thanks a lot!

 

[bassface747]

Holy crap that's high! My D is half that height.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

On my personal Basses that I play on the scoop from the nut to the end of the fingerboard is under 2mm in the center of the bend. At the nut, it is under 1/2mm. At the end of the fingerboard I use from 4-5mm/G and from 7-9mm/E height. For spacing I use from 26mm spaced evenly to 27.5 (or 1.10") depending on the Bass. I have used 23.5mm - 25mm or about 15/16"-1" in my earlier Jazz days for bridge spacing.

It sounds like you need a different set-up guy. If he is good, it should be right the first time, not after several tries. Sounds like he is learning as he goes along. In the mean time, you will loose your fingerboard if not your Nut and bridge as well while he keeps chopping away.

 

[KrisH]

Only negative point was that the strings were a bit high ( G: 0.9 cm D:1.2 cm) and that the string buzzed against the fingerbord above the place I put my finger to stop the D harmonic on the second string.

Today I went back to have the strings lowered, so the bridge was adjusted and so was the fingerboard. The luthier made a really nice bend in the fingerboard so the string wouldn't touch the fingerboard while ringing. After some testing there still wasn't improvement..
We made the bend bigger and bigger, tried another nut, marked where the string could touch and removed more from the fingerboard, but still the buzz above the stopped note is there. Is it possible to stop the string vibrating on the "wrong side" of your finger or any other helps?

When this happened on my BG (back-buzz), it turned out to be a slot in the nut worn too low. You mentioned trying another nut, but was it cut the same way?