Set Up

damonsmith · #1 06-18-2010, 08:39 PM

I tend to really put off taking my bass in to the shop. I recently broke down and took mine in for some minor set up issues (lower action, filling in the nut on the G, regluing a neck repair, etc.) and a new endpin.

Being 6'2" I realize now that my bass had been just a bit too low for well over a decade!! Not only that my old endpin was a little janky and now the bass is way more stable.

I am pretty good at staying on my students about these things and I send them to my Luthier, but I could have been better on myself!
I think I may have overdone the "practice over gear" thing!

I'd like to hear others thoughts on it, but here are some of my basic suggestions:

1. A SOLID endpin that has a few options for the students exact height. Of course there is the big debate over straight or bent/angled, personally I suggest straight and consider the bent/angled ones an artistic choice to be made at a more advanced stage - I understand there are other veiws on it!

2. Strings the student doesn't have to fight right off, I tend to suggest Spiro weichs, solos or Corellis.

3. An adjustable bridge that is able to start low and be raised based on the musical needs.

4. A wood or carbon bow with good (real) hair.

I always suggest a carved bass. A plywood is better than nothing, though. More advanced set up advice depends on the students needs and finances.
It would be interesting to hear others thoughts.

Eric Hochberg · #2 06-19-2010, 09:46 AM

Good suggestions, Damon. The only one I'd like to hear your reasoning for is regarding the wood bow as opposed to a good carbon fiber bow.

My students come in with a variety of different quality basses and setups. Changing basses is a tougher nut to crack than changing setups, although I had one student who went from a Kay to an $18k Paesold. I've gotten students to go back to the rental shop for a different instrument and explained to them how they should have the bass set up, as theirs was basically unplayable.

String choice can be difficult. I have students that study both classical and jazz. When they come in with Bel Cantos or Permanents and the bass set up for orchestra, it can be tough for them to get a good jazz pizz sound and hard on their chops, too. I encourage them to experiment with the bridge adjusters to alter string heights depending upon what the music calls for. Besides the strings you recommend, I've found the Evah Weichs to be a good crossover string, at least at the high school level.

I have students of differing financial means, so I generally don't get into discussing/encouraging them to buy a pricey instrument. The kids from more affluent families obviously get the better basses. One of my best and most talented students only had access to a real POS bass through the school and played mine at his lessons.

damonsmith · #3 06-19-2010, 10:12 AM

Actually, I do suggest getting a wood or carbon bow. One of my BG students found a playable ply bass for $500 on craigslist, I am always for those situations.

fdeck · #4 06-19-2010, 09:15 PM

One question: Plywood and climate. A lot of older school buildings here in the Midwest have radiant heat and no humidity control during the winter. Also, instruments may be going back and forth between home and school. Are those things a recipe for disaster with a carved bass?

damonsmith · #5 06-20-2010, 12:05 AM

I don't teach in the midwest, I am still sure there is a way around it. Most ply basses are going to be harder for a beginner to get a good arco sound from. I play them on tour all the time and can make it work, from a teaching standpoint I wouldn't reccomend it but wouldn't turn away a student over it.

Eric Hochberg · #6 06-20-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

One question: Plywood and climate. A lot of older school buildings here in the Midwest have radiant heat and no humidity control during the winter. Also, instruments may be going back and forth between home and school. Are those things a recipe for disaster with a carved bass?

On the less than friendly school humidity environment, I would say, yes. I know of a case of a few new German carved basses purchased by a school here that didn't make it through their first winter without stress damage.

The other thing is that basses can get knocked around pretty well with a whole room of orchestra kids coming and going. And when the instrument isn't personally owned, how much care is being taken of it by those using it?

From a practical standpoint, it seems to make more sense for schools to go with ply or maybe hybrid. I don't know if most school budgets could handle expensive carved bass repairs.

Erik V · #7 06-26-2010, 08:28 AM

Are there any things we can do maintenance-wise as students that we really shouldn't have to bring our instruments into the shop for? It seems as if there have got to be some smaller problems that don't require the work of a master luthier, but rather just a few hours of study.

Eric Hochberg · #8 06-27-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik V

Are there any things we can do maintenance-wise as students that we really shouldn't have to bring our instruments into the shop for? It seems as if there have got to be some smaller problems that don't require the work of a master luthier, but rather just a few hours of study.

I think I'd post this in the setup/repair forum, Erik. You might get luthier responses that way. Or as a new topic here if you want.