I have a little mini concert thing at school tomorrow so I am trying to practice my double bass but it is making horrible buzzing quite high pitched noises no matter what note or string I play. It sort of sounds like a tambourine. This has happened before and when I have got to school it has magically sorted itself out but I don't know what's causing it and it is really off putting when I'm practising. Anyone got any ideas? Please .

Check that your adjusters arent to far out, ie adjust it so they are halfway in and the note is perfect, you might also need to tighten the spike screw.

I'd say it coudl be a wolf tone, but if its on all strings it won't be.

I have a bolt on the inside end of my spike that rattles sometimes. It stops when I pull the spike the whole way out firmly then push it back in.

Adjusters aren't loose at all. Tried spike just now, the screw that holds it in place is as tight as possible as if not it slips into the bass. Thanks anyway . Anyone else?

It sounds as though you might need to get it looked over. Sometimes the seam can be coming open, not so much that you'd notice it, but enough for a luthier to spot that it was. It might be aggravated more by different temperatures in different rooms....Hence magically disappearing when in a different climate.

Sometimes you can work out what it going on yourself.- Bow your cello while holding on to the seam bit by bit all the way around. It can be tricky - especially if you're not a natural contortionist

Also grip the endpin while you bow, then the tailpiece, and each adjuster in turn. In fact try every part of the cello you can - clamping down with one hand while bowing with the other. It might just be a set up problem.

Best to get it checked over when you can though.

Good luck
Iona

A nice 6th former sat down with me on Friday lunch and worked out it stopped making the noise when she clamped the C string adjuster but because there is nothing visibly loose it might be inside the tailpiece or just how it is fitted. Now it has stopped ringing so I am going to tell my teacher in my lesson although you can't blame her for not believing the extent of the noise it makes if she can't hear it so I think I'll ask the head of music to pop in during my lesson and mention it as she's told me that it's not fair and it's been going on long enough now.