Damage to Top caused by 16mm Soundpost?

William Hoffman · #1 02-11-2011, 02:33 PM

my luthier is fitting a new sound post for the winter months and suggested using a blank that is 16mm in diameter. it is a fully carved bass with a fairly thick top and a darker sound.

i am not adverse to this, but i researched the threads here on TB on this topic and i see that some of our most experienced members have voiced concern that too narrow a soundpost might cause damage. i accept that as a theoretical possibility: the pencil thin soundpost poking a hole through the top.

my question is: has anyone has ever seen a bass top that was in fact damaged by a 16mm post? is the risk too great with 16mm? if so, why do they even make them in that size?

james condino · #2 02-11-2011, 05:31 PM

If you are really thrown off by the concept of a 16mm soundpost, ask your luthier to turn a custom one on the lathe so that the majority of the working area is 16mm as he seems to like, but then trumpet or flare out both ends so that they are the dimension you think is better to protect the top. It only takes about 5 minutes on a basic lathe, or he can just sand down a regular sized one by hand...

j.

William Hoffman · #3 02-11-2011, 06:10 PM

James, thank you. that is helpful and maybe a compromise solution. but it wasn't me being thrown off by it, i have no objection to a 16mm sound post. it's just that i saw several comments here on TB (Bob B., Arnold and others) warning about using too narrow a post. i wondered if anyone had ever seen a bass damaged by a 16mm post, is all. i wouldn't think it would be a standard size if it were too narrow, would you?

bigolbassguy · #4 02-11-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james condino

If you are really thrown off by the concept of a 16mm soundpost, ask your luthier to turn a custom one on the lathe so that the majority of the working area is 16mm as he seems to like, but then trumpet or flare out both ends so that they are the dimension you think is better to protect the top. It only tales about 5 minutes on a basic lathe, or he can just sand down a regular sized one by hand...

j.

Some people think that the hourglass-shaped posts sound "better"; brighter, if I remember right. I've tried it, but didn't notice much of an effect.

MIKMAN · #5 02-11-2011, 09:17 PM

Chuck Traeger suggests also the beveled soundpost, meaning a post with a large diameter (ie 21 mm), beveled in both ends to the point that the contact surface has a diameter of 16 mm. I tried it some times and i have the impression that it gave me better results in terms of volume and sound quality. In one particular case it improved the sound of a hybrid Hoefner up to an unbelievable level.
I also tried the "trumpeted" soundpost a couple of times, as James suggested, albeit i was not able to spot any differences soundwise.
I have got the impression that it gives the same results with a soundpost of the same uniform dimension (smaller radius).
Mike

Jake deVilliers · #6 02-11-2011, 10:04 PM

Hey Bill, I wouldn't be worried about the effects of a 16mm sound post. There should be enough area there to spread the load on the top sufficiently. And I would think that your luthier's had some experience with this, right?

Is this on your gut bass?

Matt Medlock · #7 02-12-2011, 06:32 AM

I own a Dan Hachez bass and he uses a 20mm soundpost. I asked him about it and although he was a little ambivalent about it he did admit he uses 20mm posts because there was so much pressure on such a small area.

William Hoffman · #8 02-12-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Hey Bill, I wouldn't be worried about the effects of a 16mm sound post. There should be enough area there to spread the load on the top sufficiently. And I would think that your luthier's had some experience with this, right?

Is this on your gut bass?

Jake, thanks, i will send you a penny. i guess it only makes common sense that a 16mm post can do the job, i just wondered if there was any negative experience out there. so far no one has reported any damage from a 16mm sound post. my luthier also said 16mm was not a problem, but you know me, always wanting to second-guess...

Jake deVilliers · #9 02-13-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Hoffman

Jake, thanks, i will send you a penny. i guess it only makes common sense that a 16mm post can do the job, i just wondered if there was any negative experience out there. so far no one has reported any damage from a 16mm sound post. my luthier also said 16mm was not a problem, but you know me, always wanting to second-guess...

Don't send me a penny, send me a nice photo of your Bass Spa tailpiece on the bass! I never got to see what it looked like installed...

William Hoffman · #10 02-14-2011, 12:31 PM

pm sent....