Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Tele295
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Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Tele295 » Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:35 am

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.
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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by BearBoy » Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:13 am

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 ;)

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by GreenKnee » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:49 am

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Zork » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:10 am

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by eggwheat » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:18 am

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by adamrobertt » Tue Jul 27, 2021 3:12 pm

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Tele295 » Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:14 pm

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
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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by BearBoy » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:45 am

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

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by JVG » Sat Jul 31, 2021 5:20 am

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Teebz999 » Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:38 am

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.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Larry Mal » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:55 am

Shim, better bridge... spend your money on tone and functionality and not dumbing the guitar down with a Buzz Stop.
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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by SignoftheDragon » Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:07 pm

I think we need to see some pics of the VI in question as well.

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by Tele295 » Mon Nov 08, 2021 1:10 pm

SignoftheDragon wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:07 pm
I think we need to see some pics of the VI in question as well.
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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by MattK » Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:50 pm

hm, VI, fuzz, Ventura, tiki mug ... is it possible you might play surf related music?

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Re: Bass VI questions - Buzz Stops and tuners

Post by garyfanclub » Tue Nov 09, 2021 11:56 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:55 am
Shim, better bridge... spend your money on tone and functionality and not dumbing the guitar down with a Buzz Stop.
"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 :fp: 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.

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