Double Bass Weird buzzing sound

[Sean Riddle]

So I just took my Shen Hybrid out to practice and I noticed a peculiar buzzing sound coming from the A and G string. I've looked around and found no cracks or open seams. The buzz only affects the open strings. What could be the problem from what I've described?

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

Could be buzzing at the nut.

 

[Precision101]

Truss rod needs relief or Nut. Check the windings at the tuning machines. Should be lots of pressure on the nut.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Could be buzzing at the nut.

I would assume I would need a luthier to check this out? Also, my city just experienced a sharp weather change (hot to cold). My teacher is thinking it might be a wolf.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Put a sheet of paper (or two) between buzzing string and nut to elevate the strings at the nut a little. If the buzz is gone the nut grooves are too deep. You could temporarily keep the paper there until a luthier can look after it.

It's most probably not a wolf. (Teachers can know a lot about the construction and technical function of their instrument, but this is not always the case.)
Things like this can happen after a string change (i.e. if you use thinner strings than before).

Sometimes this happens when someone widens the nut grooves, because the edges need to be widened, but the button needs to be untouched, which is not so easy, and often the nut groove goes lower unintentionally. It also can be that the nut grooves are not wide enough for your current strings, so they sit a bit higher than at the bottom at the groove. A thinner string may reach the bottom of the groove and if the groove is too deep the string may buzz at the nut.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Okay. When I got the bass, it was strung with Flexocore Deluxe. Last week, I strung it with Zyex. Everything has been fine until I noticed the buzz yesterday.

 

[Eric Rene Roy]

Whenever someone calls the shop with a mystery buzz, we tell them to analytically go through everything attached to the bass from top to bottom. Tuning gears, screws, windings, one string touching another, string touching pegbox wall, tailpiece fret, tail gut, lifted saddle, endpin assembly, etc. You'll usually find it with this type of inspection.

We had one driving us nutsnce, ended up being a tiny wood chip living in the cavity of the bridge foot wheel adjuster...hit the right notes and it buzzed like crazy!

 

[Sean Riddle]

Whenever someone calls the shop with a mystery buzz, we tell them to analytically go through everything attached to the bass from top to bottom. Tuning gears, screws, windings, one string touching another, string touching pegbox wall, tailpiece fret, tail gut, lifted saddle, endpin assembly, etc. You'll usually find it with this type of inspection.
!

I'll do a more thorough inspection of my bass soon. The thing that's bothering me is that I used it for an orchestra concert Wednesday night, I didn't use it Thursday so the bass stayed in its bag all day, and then I used it Friday morning for a jazz rehearsal and didn't notice any buzz coming from the A and G string; it only came about in the afternoon when I was home practicing. It has just left me pretty darn puzzled.

 

[iplaydabass]

I had the same problem with mine it was the end pin

 

[Sean Riddle]

I had the same problem with mine it was the end pin

It's not the endpin. It was initially extremely long, so I cut it down to where only about an inch is in the interior of the body.

 

[PaulCannon]

Though unlikely, it may not be the bass at all. Some frequencies can make specific objects in a room, or a piece of jewelry, rattle like crazy.

 

[ErikvanD]

Though unlikely, it may not be the bass at all. Some frequencies can make specific objects in a room, or a piece of jewelry, rattle like crazy.

Yeah, I have that at home... Whenever I play an A on either one of the strings and on each bass I play, there is a rather loud buzz. It seems to be in all chambers on the bottom floor of the house, in some places somewhat louder than elsewere. Outside or at music school it is gone...

 

[PaulCannon]

I've also used a bow with a loose slide that would rattle any time I played a harmonic. Very annoying.

 

[John Sprague]

You can check the brass nut right above the end pin tip, check each handle on the machines, check the tail wire where it enters the tail piece, keep feeling around the instrument while playing until the buzzing stops, and if all else fails visit the shop.
Good luck!