Double Bass Tailpieces rattles - fixed with rubber washers - good idea?

[PCPlod]

Hello,
My tailpiece rattles when I play around the B-C area on the A string. I tried a anti-wolf weight but this had no effect. In the end I place a couple of thick rubber washers between the tailpiece and the soundboard. This has stopped the rattle but, necessarily, is putting pressure on the soundboard.
I'm worried that this may not be such a good idea.
Is there a better way to stop a tailpiece rattle?
Thanks for your help.
Plod

 

[csrund]

Is it a rattle, or an actual wolf tone? Rattles are usually the result of the peripheral pieces and parts of the bass, or open seams (i.e. loose tuning machines, extension parts, endpin, etc.). You should be able to cure a rattle without dampening the top, which is counterproductive to producing sound.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

How can a single piece of wood rattle? If its a Strunal, the strings sometimes buzz against the inadequate string fret. Squeezing a black tie wrap under the strings as a fret cures this in an inconspicuous way.

 

[PCPlod]

Thank you for your answers.
I went back to basics, loosened all the strings and pushed the tailpiece retaining metal strap around rather unscientifically. I also moved the metal housing for the strap ends. I removed the anti-wolf as I was about it.
Tightened the strings again and at present the rattle has gone so perhaps it was due to where the strap was resting on the saddle.
Because it's all a bit hit and miss, I'm not sure I can trust it.
Thanks again for taking the time to post answers.

 

[martinc]

How can a single piece of wood rattle? If its a Strunal, the strings sometimes buzz against the inadequate string fret. Squeezing a black tie wrap under the strings as a fret cures this in an inconspicuous way.

Jake: This is interesting. Do you put a black tie wrap on top of the "inadequate" string fret...or file down the string fret and replace it with tie wrap? I am always on the lookout for ways to reduce string buzz.
Thanks.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Jake: This is interesting. Do you put a black tie wrap on top of the "inadequate" string fret...or file down the string fret and replace it with tie wrap? I am always on the lookout for ways to reduce string buzz.
Thanks.

With the the Strunal tailpieces there is often a buzz on one or two strings when you play the after-lengths. So I'll put part of a black tie wrap on top of the plastic string fret.

The real problem is that the string holes are too far back from the fret to put enough down-bearing on it. If I have the time I'll deepen the string slots to move them closer to the fret; if not, I'll add to the fret.

 

[martinc]

With the the Strunal tailpieces there is often a buzz on one or two strings when you play the after-lengths. So I'll put part of a black tie wrap on top of the plastic string fret.

The real problem is that the string holes are too far back from the fret to put enough down-bearing on it. If I have the time I'll deepen the string slots to move them closer to the fret; if not, I'll add to the fret.

Jake: OK......thanks!
I have already widened and deepened the tailpiece string slots where they end under the fret. Some strings (like Olivs) have a thicker wrap etc at the ball end and are very tight in the slot unless it is widened. I'm not sure where my tailpiece came from...I bought it used to replace the original one on my Eberle.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Some tailpieces can have very narrow slots. Opening the slots a bit more should be no problem.
I usually also file the top towards the fret to avoid a kink in the string, so the slot is closer to the fret on top but at the previous position on bottom and slightly curved from top to bottom.

Sometimes the holes are small too. It depends on the width of the tailpiece and hole distance if it is safe to enlarge the hole diameter, I think.