How do you tell if a bass is blockless?

chris1125 · #1 07-21-2011, 09:07 PM

I've been at a couple shops looking at basses, mainly late 19th century German, tyrolean and Romanian basses and i've noticed some referred to as blockless wonders. I know obviousely this means it doesn't have a neck block which can cause a lot of problems but how can you tell by looking at the outside of a bass whether it is blockless or not? I always assumed you look at the side and if the neck is cut into the body then there is a block but if it looks like it's just sitting inthe body it's blockless, is this right?

bassics1975 · #2 07-21-2011, 10:33 PM

One way to tell is simply by knocking on the sides and back where a block would normally be. If there is a block, it would certainly be denser sounding there. The best way would be to position the bass in such a way that you could see through the f-hole up to the neck socket.

I owned a blockless Bohemian and really liked it. It was lighter and very responsive. A blockless bass doesn't necessarily indicate inferior quality. My teacher's Panormo was blockless and everyone knows what sort of quality we are dealing with such an instrument.

**Matthew Tucker** · #3 07-21-2011, 10:34 PM

The best and most sure way is to look inside the FF hole with a torch. Pretty easy to see if there's a block or not, even without a mirror.

Also, if the ribs are cut into a slot in the neck itself, it's probably blockless.

TheBassShop · #4 07-21-2011, 11:06 PM

One of the best basses I have heard was a little Blockless bass it had a really focused sound.

And as Mathew said the ribs sometimes join into the neck.

chris1125 · #5 07-22-2011, 07:47 AM

What do you mean by joining into the neck?

**Matthew Tucker** · #6 07-22-2011, 08:16 AM

there is a slot cut into the sides of the neck and the ribs are glued into the slot.

**Damon Rondeau** · #7 07-22-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

The best and most sure way is to look inside the FF hole with a torch.

This might be a good time to remind folks that "torch" is AussieBritSpeak for "flashlight". Safety first, kids: no fires inside the bass!

tstone · #8 07-22-2011, 10:37 AM

"...The best and most sure way is to look inside the FF hole with a torch..."
OK, I've got the torch, now what do I do?

chris1125 · #9 07-22-2011, 12:14 PM

So if the neck is cut into the ribs, it has a block, correct?

Daniel Baskin · #10 07-22-2011, 03:22 PM

Umm...there is also something called the end block. It is located where the endpin fits into the bass inside the bass.

Could they be referring to that? I've heard that end blocks, especially in the Italian school of luthiery where they are made extra big, darken the sound by strengthening the node where the ribs join at the bottom of the instrument.