Double Bass What does a bass bar problem sound like?

[victorvran]

I just picked up an old German plywood shop bass, and when I finally got it home, started to notice a buzz. It comes and goes, but when it's there it almost sounds like the bass is played through an overdrive pedal.

I have spent the last two days reading bass bar horror stories, and I want to know what a bass bar problem sounds like. Apologies if this is a repeat thread, but I couldn't find this info anywhere.

So far, when the buzz is there, it's on almost every note. The top is a little bit sunken in by the bridge, but from what I understand this is fairly typical of old plywood basses. It seems to be stable. When I place a finger inside and pull the top up (away from the back) the buzz seems to go away. I can't find any glaring seams, and it isn't long endpin buzz. Bass bar? Sound post?

Any ideas?

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Once I had a buzz like that, and it was the bridge top that had wandered foreward, so that the bridge feet were slightly unflush with the top. Might not be that, but just before you suspect something more serious.

 

[victorvran]

Once I had a buzz like that, and it was the bridge top that had wandered foreward, so that the bridge feet were slightly unflush with the top. Might not be that, but just before you suspect something more serious.

Interesting, I'll check that out. It looks like the feet of the bridge are flat (not profiled to the curve of the top). Could that cause a buzz like that? I'll check the bridge angle later today to see if it's askew.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It looks like the feet of the bridge are flat (not profiled to the curve of the top).