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Old 01-29-2012, 09:42 AM
Pino Cazzaniga Pino Cazzaniga is offline
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Default Buzz...

Well, I just set an instrument of another maker.
Cornerless, handmade, well done and nice overall, loud.
After a fingerboard dressing and a new bridge, I still have a sort of buzz problem.
The feel is that the string moves the finger, despite any pressure on the board.
You can't hear it from a meter of distance, but it's boring while you play.
It happen everywhere on low and medium positions, but the worst is on the A string.
The other unusual thing is that if you press down a string on the board and move it crosswise it make a scratch noise.
Wood of the fingerboard is ebony, but softer than usual and somewhat flamed. Difficult to work, but I found it before, and it didn't create the same problem.
Strings are Evah, string length is 104 (41).
Bass bar is far more sloped than usual, but still, I found it before.
Did somebody find this problem before? Any clue?
Thanks for any help!
Pino
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:43 AM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
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Default

I'm not sure I really understand the problem, but from what I can gather it sounds like the fingerboard may be too flat in the lower positions. Is there any scoop in that area when viewed with a straightedge?
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Old 01-30-2012, 06:57 PM
Pino Cazzaniga Pino Cazzaniga is offline
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Yes, the scoop is 1,3 mm (more or less) from nut to half of the string.
The scoop overall is almost 3.
String heights are 6,5 8 10 11

I try to explain the problem more clearly (my english...)
The string doesn't seem to hit the fingerboard:
-right after the finger
-between the finger and the end of the fingerboard
-for resonance between the finger and the nut.
It seem to vibrate under the finger, even if I press down the string strongly.
I play the string and the string moves my finger.
It happens only while bowing, not when you pizz.
Does it make any sense?

I gave back the bass to the customer, as he needs it, but I promised that I would have thought about it.
As the neck is rather thin (neck + fingerboard is 37mm to 44 mm), I thought that maybe the neck wobbles under string vibrations, but I do not want to charge a new fingerboard if not needed.
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Old 01-30-2012, 09:38 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Question ??

Evahs? Might be the strings as they can be noisy and flabby with the bow. How high are the strings sitting up in the nut **** from off the fingerboard? I cut mine almost down to the FB so I can have a better camber in the board. If the slot it move that a piece of paper or two, it makes the camber feel bigger when playing. Also, Evah's need only slightly more room in the nut. I measure all strings when installing as compared to the previous set on a bass. If more then a few .000", I adjust the slots but only after putting the string IN the slot to see first and looking around to see how well it is seated.
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Old 01-31-2012, 08:08 PM
Pino Cazzaniga Pino Cazzaniga is offline
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Thanks, Ken, I said to the musician to try a change of strings.
He told me that he will do it anyway within two weeks, as he will have to study for solo playing (he's a student).
He will use a set of solo Spiros (yellows) which are very different from Evahs, so I will have some evidence about the string thing.

As I did a fingerboard dressing I lowered the nut. I don't use paper to check the overstand, I look from the side the light between the tuned string and the fingerboard, but I guess that results are similar.

Probably solo Spiros will be too thin for the slots, but it wll not be a pain to change the nut if open strings will get noisy.

We'll see...
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Old 02-26-2012, 03:04 PM
Pino Cazzaniga Pino Cazzaniga is offline
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After a change of strings the problem is still there.
When the customer will give me back the bass I will try a change of fingerboard anyway, for a thicker one of good ebony.
Wondering wondering...
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Old 02-26-2012, 03:22 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pino Cazzaniga View Post
After a change of strings the problem is still there.
When the customer will give me back the bass I will try a change of fingerboard anyway, for a thicker one of good ebony.
Wondering wondering...
The quality of the Ebony matters as this wood can be a problem. The best quality will move less over time. I used to have my strings so low the G was 3mm at the end of the FB and never made a buzz. Now, I play for mostly Orchestra with the G at 4-5mm. It will only Buzz if I play very hard but I draw the bow rather then press down. A good bow also makes a difference as I don't have to press hard to get the sound. I have my Boards with total relief about 2mm maximum from end to end, almost flat the second octave and maybe 1mm-+ the first octave. The strings in the Nut almost touching the wood. The first slight camber being the only lift of string off the wood.

The music is hard enough so why fight the instrument to play it?
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