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Double Bass The Elusive Nut Buzz

jasonrp

jasonrp

Feb 19, 2015
996
759
49
vt
#1
EDIT: It turns out that I had a nut buzz. It happens with age



I've run a search and all I could find were posts saying cracks or slipped soundpost. I've got a fairly good amount of vibration on my open A string. I've looked all over that bass and checked the soundpost and found nothing. Any other ideas? It's driving me nuts
 
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#3
I wish I could help, because then I'd know how to fix the same problem on an open G on one of my basses. I've tried it all: new string; modified the after length; wolf tone eliminator; modified the mensure; looked for open seams and other loose parts. I'll keep an eye on this thread.
 
#4
I've heard the extra peg length can vibrate but I've always had it tightened on the same notch. I wouldn't think it would start vibrating after all this time but maybe I'll extend it and see if that gets rid of the noise. If so, out will come the hacksaw
 
#7
It's funny I was about to create a post for the same problem, then saw yours.

Can you describe
jasonrp said:
fairly good amount of vibration on my open A
Click to expand...

Are you getting rattles and buzzes or is the note just louder?

On my bass any A (but especially open A) note is much louder then any other note, but not in a good way. It produces what sounds like a low frequency feedback that makes the note just boom.
I don't really notice it and it's not a problem when playing acoustic, but amplified it's really noticeable. At first I thought it was my pick-up or the PA or the room. But same issue happens no matter what setup I have, and as of last night I concluded it's the bass.

I try to hold back any time I am on an A. I am thinking of make-shifting a wolf tone eliminator to try out next gig during sound check.
 
#8
It's a buzzing. When I hit an open A, it buzzes while the note sounds. If you ever touched your bass to something while playing a note, that's what it sounds like.

I don't think the nut slot is too wide, if anything, it might be narrow. I did sand the slots on the bridge side though for the A and D and reshaped the curve of my bridge. The strings are about 1/3 deep in the slot BUT.. my bridge is now a little over 3/16" thick. I've seen thicker but maybe it's that. I know they say no more than 1/8" inch.

thoughts?
 
#11
That's next on the checklist. I just got done thinning out my bridge so I'm gonna see what that does. I don't think I need a new nut because I don't want to deal with that and I think I have enough karma credits to get by.
 
#12
Final Verdict: Not sure but the wolf is dead

1- Cleaned up the notches and thinned the bridge to under 1/8" (heavy books on bass to keep soundpost pressure)
2- Cleaned up the nutslots : The last time I did them, I did a crappy job
3- Sanded the top of the nut: My slots had a but of a v shape at the top so I sanded down until that was gone

Not sure what was the fix but it is fixed and that's all I really care about. Thanks for the tips guys, I like to work on my bass (within reason) so it feels great to fix whatever I screwed up.
 
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#15
BTW Joey: Do you think filing the nut top down helped at all? Picture my string slot as a U with the top of the sidewalls slanted in a V a little bit. I sanded the V out except for a tiny bit of relief so there was no edge
 
#16
jasonrp said:
EDIT: It turns out that I had a nut buzz. It happens with age



I've run a search and all I could find were posts saying cracks or slipped soundpost. I've got a fairly good amount of vibration on my open A string. I've looked all over that bass and checked the soundpost and found nothing. Any other ideas? It's driving me nuts
Click to expand...

What age should I expect this to happen? Does it require a specialist?
 
#19
I feel the need to add that a luthier is the way to go unless you know what you are doing. I only do what I feel comfortable doing and I pushed it a little this time. I was sweating over my soundpost until my bridge was back on with tight strings
 

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