Edge Bumpers

anonymous12251111 · #1 10-24-2007, 11:12 AM

Is it true that edge bumpers will dampen the side of your instrument slightly? My bass is in need of them as it's getting slightly scuffed up on the sides. Also, is there a material for them that works well? I would get a luthier to do this BTW.

Thx!

KSB - Ken Smith · #2 10-24-2007, 11:27 AM

I had Arnold put them on my Gilkes. It never sounded better. Perhaps it was the Bumpers that improved the tone after the restoration!

bassist14 · #3 10-24-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Is it true that edge bumpers will dampen the side of your instrument slightly? My bass is in need of them as it's getting slightly scuffed up on the sides. Also, is there a material for them that works well? I would get a luthier to do this BTW.

Thx!

some interesting and funny posts about bumbers you can find here

Bass bumpers
Coloring Fan Belt Bumpers
ebony bumpers
Strange knobs

anonymous12251111 · #4 10-24-2007, 06:47 PM

Roughly, do you guys know how much I should be paying for these to be installed? The store I go to (Heinl's) charges about $80.00 per hour of labor.

KSB - Ken Smith · #5 10-24-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Roughly, do you guys know how much I should be paying for these to be installed? The store I go to (Heinl's) charges about $80.00 per hour of labor.

I had mine done during a massive restoration so I don't know the actual individual cost for the bumpers. The labor rate sounds fair to me. It is not a huge job but must be done carefully so as not to damage the Bass and so the Bass lays even on the floor with the Bumpers. Most old Basses are twisted to it takes some experience to get it right. How much are the edges of your Bass worth?

Mark Carlsen · #6 10-24-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

I had Arnold put them on my Gilkes. It never sounded better. perhaps it was the Bumpers that improved the tone after the restoration!

Ken , are those Arnold's Leather Bumpers? He does those very well...I charge $75 for leather in my shop and of course quite a bit more for Ebony or Rosewood as the leather is flexible and easier to fit.

KSB - Ken Smith · #7 10-24-2007, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Ken , are those Arnold's Leather Bumpers? He does those very well...I charge $75 for leather in my shop and of course quite a bit more for Ebony or Rosewood as the leather is flexible and easier to fit.

No, I don't think so. I think it is some type of Maple, possibly English to match the wood of the Bass.

Mark Carlsen · #8 10-25-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

No, I don't think so. I think it is some type of Maple, possibly English to match the wood of the Bass.

Makes sense...I don't like leather on expensive basses.

Bob Branstetter · #9 10-25-2007, 10:30 AM

There was a long discussion of bumpers back in 2004. My good friend Paul Warburton suggested using segments of rubber fan v-belts for bumpers. I've tried them on several basses and when dyed flat black, they look just like ebony from a distance of more than a few inches. While carved wood bumpers might look a little more elegant to the eye, IMO the leather and rubber bumpers are less likely to crack a rib if they happen take a sharp hit. However, on my personal bass I have never used any type of bumpers and probably won't in the future.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #10 10-25-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

There was a long discussion of bumpers back in 2004.

That was a good thread. On page 3, I described some inexpensive rubber bumpers that came on my laScala when I bought it. While I'm sure the description sounded cheesy, they actually don't look half bad, and they do cushion the blow of setting the edges down very nicely. here's a pic (ignore the sleeping bald guy):