To bevel or not to bevel an ebony fingerboard?

[bryantp]

...that is the question!

I have received very good feedback and direction for restoring my old German flatback from this group.

I posted this question as part of a previous thread entitled "Advice on basebar replacement"; however, I realized later that maybe others not interested in basebars, but those having wisdom regarding fingerboards would not see the question.

The question is related to replacing the rosewood fingerboard with an ebody one on my German flatback. I was asked by the luthier if I wanted the fingerboard "beveled" on the E string side. I plan to use this bass for both jazz pizz and classical arco. More than likely, the jazz pizz will be the majority of use; however, I want to get back to arco for personal satisfaction.

What would be the best fingerboard for the use I have described, beveled or not beveled or other options?

Thanks in advance for your advice and wisdom.

pat

[Silversorcerer]

From a playability and feel standpoint, I have not been able to tell a difference when I played on one kind or the other. Other set-up factors seem more important. I think a round arch gives you a little more flexibility with string spacing and it is easier to dress the FB.

[Martin Sheridan]

The bevel was put on bass fingerboards to allow some extra room for gut strings to vibrate. It has largely disappeared because hardly anyone uses wrapped gut for the E anymore.

My old bass had a beveled fingerboard and when I went from gut to Spriocores I didn't change it and it worked just fine.

[D McCartney]

Can you find one of each to try and see which you like?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

In 1973 Peter Eibert restored an old 18th century Italian Bass I had acquired. At that time all the Fingerboard blanks were supplied with the bevel. When I got the Bass back later that year the FB was nicely rounded and slightly lower on the E side of the FB. It seemed that he took out that ridge of the bevel and rounded it off.

Up until that time I had only had beveled FBs. The rounded board felt much easier to play. From then on, the beveled board always felt uncomfortable after that.

I played everything on that Bass from Jazz to classical including some R&B on sessions where I got away with it. Playability is just that regardless of the style you play. String height should be easy enough to raise or lower for your playing style or string choice. I put some Guts on one of my Basses last year with a rounded board and it played just fine. I just didn't have the patience for the intonation as it kept changing as the temperature did in the room.

Go with the rounded board.

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The rounded board felt much easier to play. From then on, the beveled board always felt uncomfortable after that.

I had a similar experience to Ken. Now I prefer round ones too because of comfort.

There is no reason why you can't achieve the E string clearance you need with a rounded fingerboard, even with gut strings. The notion that the bevel gives you more room is a false one. You can take a beveled fingerboard and round it off and you would have the same amount of room, if not more.

[Darren Molnar]

In case someone is interested, here is the man who invented the beveled fingerboard. It's in the third paragraph, I think, along with his other inovations for the cello.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Romberg

[Bob Branstetter]

If most of my playing were arco or if I had a lighter pizz touch, I would have no problem with having a round board on my bass. However, I'm one of those players who likes to have the strings close to the fingerboad, but still likes to be able to dig in on the E string when I play. I can get far more power out of the E with a beveled board with the strings at the same height than I can with a round one. I have to lighten my touch when I play on a round board.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

If most of my playing were arco or if I had a lighter pizz touch, I would have no problem with having a round board on my bass. However, I'm one of those players who likes to have the strings close to the fingerboad, but still likes to be able to dig in on the E string when I play. I can get far more power out of the E with a beveled board with the strings at the same height than I can with a round one. I have to lighten my touch when I play on a round board.

+1
Every bass I've played with a beveled board feels better to me. My bass has a rounded board with the E between 8-9mm and whenever I give it a good whack it just rattles without much power. I don't have a terribly aggressive touch, but it is nice to have the power there when I want it. My next bass will have a beveled board if I have to change it.