Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
- Tele295
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 am
- Location: Ventura, CA
- Contact:
Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
OK, I get it - you folks don’t like Buzz Stops. I use them, because I don’t like the strings popping out of the saddles. Yes, they change the tone, but it works for my playing.
Ive got a Buzz Stop on my L-series Bass VI, but the string tension is so high that it’s ripping the Buzz Stop out of the screw holes. What do you folks use in lieu of something like this to keep the bass strings from popping out of the saddles?
Second, where can I find some true Bass VI replacement tuners. I have old f-stamped Kluson on there now, but the plastic buttons are starting to beak off (50+ y.o. Instrument, what can you expect?) The new f-stamped tuners have a different diameter collar that requires routing, and the posts are not wide enough for Bass VI strings, although the old tuners are. Do I cobble something together with old and new, or is there a product that works better for these string diameters?
I’m tuning E-E, so these are the big strings. Jet Harris style.
Ive got a Buzz Stop on my L-series Bass VI, but the string tension is so high that it’s ripping the Buzz Stop out of the screw holes. What do you folks use in lieu of something like this to keep the bass strings from popping out of the saddles?
Second, where can I find some true Bass VI replacement tuners. I have old f-stamped Kluson on there now, but the plastic buttons are starting to beak off (50+ y.o. Instrument, what can you expect?) The new f-stamped tuners have a different diameter collar that requires routing, and the posts are not wide enough for Bass VI strings, although the old tuners are. Do I cobble something together with old and new, or is there a product that works better for these string diameters?
I’m tuning E-E, so these are the big strings. Jet Harris style.
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads - all aloha, all the time
- BearBoy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:39 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
I've got a Staytrem Bass VI bridge on my VI and have never popped a string out of its saddle.
You might hit the strings a lot harder than I do though
You might hit the strings a lot harder than I do though
- GreenKnee
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1257
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:05 am
- Location: Sheffield, UK
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
I did some work on my friends Bass VI who had the issue with strings popping out of the bridge.
I restrung with La Bella flats
I put quite a significant shim in the neck pocket to angle the neck back, this then allowed the bridge to be raised really quite far up and therefore putting a big break angle over the bridge
Set pickup height accordingly
The Bass VI plays wonderfully now, we play in quite a heavy band so the Bass VI takes some abuse and he hasn't had a string pop out since.
I restrung with La Bella flats
I put quite a significant shim in the neck pocket to angle the neck back, this then allowed the bridge to be raised really quite far up and therefore putting a big break angle over the bridge
Set pickup height accordingly
The Bass VI plays wonderfully now, we play in quite a heavy band so the Bass VI takes some abuse and he hasn't had a string pop out since.
- Zork
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1811
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:01 am
- Location: Bremen, Germany
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
I have a Mustang bridge (cheap aftermarket part, but with the correct radius) and a shim from an old credit card installed and use thick strings (newtone rounds, .024 to .100, highly recommended if you don't want flats). No problems with popping strings at all and I play some pretty heavy stuff with it.
-
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 5153
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
Buzz stops just do not work on Bass VI's as you've found out...they were never designed for them. The best bridge is the Staytrem 1" VI bridge that mimics the later Post CBS VI bridge with mustang type saddles. There are no replacement Bass VI tuners, most make do with the standard Kluson types for guitar.
- adamrobertt
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2411
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:28 am
- Contact:
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
lol buzz stops suck
I don't like strings popping out of the saddles either, but I also never have that issue on my offsets because they are set up properly, sans Buzz Shits.
I don't like strings popping out of the saddles either, but I also never have that issue on my offsets because they are set up properly, sans Buzz Shits.
- Tele295
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 am
- Location: Ventura, CA
- Contact:
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
Shimming the neck might be a good idea, now that you mention it. The action is little high.
Thank you for the tips on the Staytrem. Would they fit on a pre-CBS Bass VI as well? Their website only talks about the new ones.
https://staytrem.com/bass-vi-bridge1
Thank you for the tips on the Staytrem. Would they fit on a pre-CBS Bass VI as well? Their website only talks about the new ones.
https://staytrem.com/bass-vi-bridge1
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads - all aloha, all the time
- BearBoy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:39 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
Hmmm. I think the problem there is that they are currently only selling 9.5" radius bridges. I'm sure they used to do 7.25" ones.
Might be worth dropping them an e-mail to ask. John's always been very responsive when I've contacted him with questions
Might be worth dropping them an e-mail to ask. John's always been very responsive when I've contacted him with questions
- JVG
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1427
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
- Location: Sydney, Straya
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
They definitely used to make a 7.25” radius version - i have one on my VI build.
I agree it’s worth sending John an email to see if he is willing to make one.
I agree it’s worth sending John an email to see if he is willing to make one.
- Teebz999
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 4:38 am
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
A staytrem Bass VI bridge might be your best bet. They make it with 7.25” radius (although bizarrely I don’t see it on their website anymore). A vintage mustang bridge might also do the trick.
To solve your tuner problem, check out the La Bella bass VI set - the end that slides into the tuner post gets thinner. I have had them work fine on regular Klusons.
To solve your tuner problem, check out the La Bella bass VI set - the end that slides into the tuner post gets thinner. I have had them work fine on regular Klusons.
- Larry Mal
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 19742
- Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:25 pm
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
Shim, better bridge... spend your money on tone and functionality and not dumbing the guitar down with a Buzz Stop.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- SignoftheDragon
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2314
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:06 am
- Location: Utah, USA
- Contact:
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
I think we need to see some pics of the VI in question as well.
- Tele295
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 am
- Location: Ventura, CA
- Contact:
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
SignoftheDragon wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:07 pmI think we need to see some pics of the VI in question as well.
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads - all aloha, all the time
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3660
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
hm, VI, fuzz, Ventura, tiki mug ... is it possible you might play surf related music?
- garyfanclub
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 571
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:29 am
- Location: NYC
Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners
"Dumbing down" is a bit harsh, no? I get where he's coming from with trying the BuzzStop for playability reasons, even if the attempt was misguided. The guy's just looking for help... If this were a guitar he were asking about, it wouldn't be dumbing down, just a preference based on what he wants to get out of the instrument.
Anyhow, I agree with the shim guidance to increase downward pressure on the bridge to reduce slip. Definitely try this first, as it'll probably resolve the issue without much cost.
I've since sold my Pawnshop Bass VI but I had a hell of a time getting that low E to intonate with a standard Mustang bridge; OP I'd highly HIGHLY recc getting in touch with StayTrem on getting the correct radius if you're using something other than a purpose-built Bass VI bridge. Shit, you should buy one each (Edit: Staytrem guitar bridges!) for all of your Jags/JMs/Mustangs too while you're at it!
Last edited by garyfanclub on Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.