fingerboard profile

[eallen4]

hi folks,

i'm new to the forum and the double bass instrument and have a question regarding fingerboard profile.

the only instruments i've ever seen have a uniform radius across the fingerboard (treble to bass side).

i just received a beginner instrument that has a ridge on it. more specifically the low-E side of the fingerboard is not completely radiused, but has a ridge line that runs all the way down to the nut and is flat from the ridge to the edge of the fingerboard. the bridge height has been compensated to accommodate the difference.

the seller explained it this way - "Our basses are German style, they have the ridge under the E, this is to make fingering faster and more comfortable."

my initial web searches haven't been able to clarify this for me, so i thought i'd check with the experts.

any advice. thanks, ed

[quenoil]

I'm not sure it's a German style, or exactly what style it is. At any rate, I don't think its a big deal. Some people like their fingerboard that way, some without the ridge. I personally like the ridge. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Ben Joella]

I'm pretty sure the bevel on the E is a leftover from the gut string (pre-steel) era. I believe the e-string was very big a floppy and need the extra room to vibrate.