Creaking bass.

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

well, i resist answering here with composing a new sentence that contains "creak" and "lube your nut"





(and i hope my english is good enough to make a play of words in your language)

It is. And on behalf of all the readers of Ken's forum, thank you for resisting...

[Richard Prowse]

Can't I leave you guys alone for ten minutes?
My knees don't creak - they're probably the only part of me that still works properly!

"Temperature and humidity fluctuations could account for it coming and going if it is in fact a loose joint someplace. "
Thanks Thomas, I've been wondering this too.
I'll do more stand up practice today and see if the creak rears its ugly head again. If this happens, I'll try to locate it.

Please try and behave while I'm away!

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

It is. And on behalf of all the readers of Ken's forum, thank you for resisting...

Thanks a lot dave.

[Matthew Tucker]

it's so well behaved in here. Tea anyone?

[Richard Prowse]

I've just done thirty minutes practicing/working out some C licks - standing (arco). I've been listening for creaks and swinging the bass around on purpose. No creaks today.
Okay, what have I changed? The only thing I've changed is my endpin height as I've experimented with various seating positions. It's obviously now back on the fourth notch (for standing).
There are only two variables:
1) The weather. It has been very hot Down here (NZ), probably with a fair bit of humidity. Today is a tiny bit cooler, with a wind from the southeast. Southerlies are the cold winds Down here (NZ).
2) My endpin. Normally, when I change the length of my endpin and get ready to play (weight on endpin), there is a little bump and the bass drops like the endpin screw is finding a position in the groove on the pin. I always stop and tighten the screw a little more and there is no more movement. Maybe there is a bit of play in the endpin that I'm not aware of? Maybe, just maybe, the position of the endpin screw could cause the creak?

Well, that's where I'm at. Perhaps I'll return to practice and the creak will decide to join me? Here's what I'll do - I won't unscrew my endpin again until I have to take the bass out (I think my next gig is around the 23rd). If the creak returns, it might look more like a weather thing. Still, if it does return, I'll try to locate it with someone else holding the bass. At least I should be able to rule out the endpin.

[Richard Prowse]

The bloody creak is back! It returned after about an hour and a half of playing. I got my wife to hold the bass and make it creak (pushing on the that L shaped thing at the back of the neck) while I sniffed around. I can tell you that it's definitely not the end pin. It's somewhere in the body. Probably time to consult a local luthier.

[Bin Hire]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

it's so well behaved in here. Tea anyone?

Sorry Matthew, we double bassists certainly are more refined. I've never thrown a TV set out of a hotel window.

Richard, sorry to hear about your creaking problem. It does sound like your solution might require professional help.

[Terry McDougal]

Bin, if you have any trouble with those bass guitar guys you just turn the power off at the wall.

[Terry McDougal]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

it's so well behaved in here. Tea anyone?

Matt, I just read your profile. You're one of us. Sounded like you might be a bass guitarist for a while there.

[Matthew Tucker]

I was a bass guitarist for a while there! But quite a long time ago :-)

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Richard, sounds like your neck joint is a bit loose. Lay the bass on its side and push gently up and down on the neck while holding the body steady. If you see any movement around the area where the neck meets the body, you need to get it glued up.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Richard, sounds like your neck joint is a bit loose. Lay the bass on its side and push gently up and down on the neck while holding the body steady. If you see any movement around the area where the neck meets the body, you need to get it glued up.

Arnold, thank you.
Yes, this makes good sense. I did it to the endpin, but never thought to do it to the neck, where I can make the bass creak.
It's early morning here and people (wife and daughter) are still sleeping, but I'll try this later this morning - no sense in waking the women folk before time.
There's something else I forgot to mention. I have a violin shaped bass. I noticed ages ago that the violin shape pointy bit at the top of the cut away (front of bass - where I tend to lift the bass from) is not glued properly. Maybe the front is badly glued near the neck too? Anyway, I'll get it to a local luthier soon. Thanks again Arnold.