fingerboard shape

[bob jackson]

can someone tell me why the fingerboard is shaped flat on the e string side of my bass.feel like i have to stretch to finger notes on e string,also the shape of the nut doesnt look and feel uniform.can this be easily and inexpensively altered to standard setup?

[Silversorcerer]

There was a fellow who started that beveling business years ago. The name escapes me. It is now considered obsolete, but there is not a big difference playing on either one, beveled or arched. A new nut cut with the strings at proper spacing is not a huge thing, but taking the bevel off of the FB really depends first on whether there is enough wood there to work with. It requires re-arching the board, or replacing it, which is beyond simple fingerboard dressing.

[mojoluthier]

The Romberg (sp?) Bevel is a convenience to the set-up person, and makes no meaningful impact that I am aware of on the player. It is a matter of aesthetic taste to the player, and makes my life easier if I want to be really accurate in my work. The E requires proportionately more relief than the other strings, and the Bevel allows the curvature of the G/D/A portion of the fingerboard to be treated as a constant, while still variying the relief, and then the E portion to be addressed separately. This can be done on a curved fingerboard, but the curve must be tightened. All this is to keep the bow break angle identical from string to string on the bridge. Tastes vary!

[Mike Goodbar]

I always thought it was done to accomodate the wide travel of the E-string.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodbar

I always thought it was done to accomodate the wide travel of the E-string.

If the oscillation travel is tangent to a arch vs. parallel to a bevel, there would actually be more room tangent to the arch I think. But in an indirect way, the bevel allows easier allowance for the wide sweep of he E in that it can be scooped or cambered deeply more easily, which is what mojoluthier was talking about.

[bob jackson]

re fingerboard shape.still slightly confused on one hand its suggested that the bevel is obsolete,and on the other hand its a big job to change it with little benefit.surely to convert to the curved shape must have merit,apart from the expense.thanks for the replies.p.s. bass is only 5 years old ,chinese solid top

[philip sirois]

I think the bottom line to what the esteemed gentleman are saying is that it really doesn't matter all that much, that having a bevel or not is a matter of taste, that getting used to either fingerboard is not a huge adjustment, and getting rid of it might not be worth unless you really have a problem. In other words, try to find something else to obsess about (and if your like the rest of us, you certainly will). There's always the string quest!

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Some pizz players prefer the bevel because it may allow a better E string when plucked hard.
You should take it to a good luthier and discuss your options. Certainly, there may be other issues to correct at minimal expense.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by philip sirois

I think the bottom line to what the esteemed gentleman are saying is that it really doesn't matter all that much, that having a bevel or not is a matter of taste, that getting used to either fingerboard is not a huge adjustment, and getting rid of it might not be worth unless you really have a problem. In other words, try to find something else to obsess about (and if your like the rest of us, you certainly will). There's always the string quest!

Totally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!