Effect of the fingerboard on tone?

[Aerdna]

Hi all,

I'd like to replace the fingerboard on my bass. The string grooves are a little too deep now and I don't think it can be planed because it's on the thin side. Should I expect a change in tone with a new fingerboard? Also, do you know a source (possibly in Europe) for good quality fingerboards?

Thanks!

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by Aerdna

Hi all,

I'd like to replace the fingerboard on my bass. The string grooves are a little too deep now and I don't think it can be planed because it's on the thin side. Should I expect a change in tone with a new fingerboard? Also, do you know a source (possibly in Europe) for good quality fingerboards?

Thanks!

I was very happy with the fb I got from Dick in Germany (www.dick.biz).

The "anti weight society" will probably disagree, but I love the effect that a thick fingerboard has on the lower range. Gary Karr swears by non hollowed out fingerboards as well.

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Rod, I'm a card-carrying (founding?) member of the Anti Weight Society, but I have an open mind.

What do you mean by lower range? Are you talking arco or pizz or both?

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Hey Rod, I'm a card-carrying (founding?) member of the Anti Weight Society, but I have an open mind.

What do you mean by lower range? Are you talking arco or pizz or both?

LOL, good to have you in this thread Jake !


Well, I am an orchestral bassist so my experience is arco and our occasional classical pizz.

I guess lower range is sort of vague. What I felt was a stronger fundamental and easier arco response in the heavier strings, especially the E string. I hope this helps.

[Aerdna]

Thanks for the advice Rod. Could you tell me which fingerboard you got from DICK GmbH? They have grade "A", "B" and "C".

Thanks again!

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by Aerdna

Thanks for the advice Rod. Could you tell me which fingerboard you got from DICK GmbH? They have grade "A", "B" and "C".

Thanks again!

It has been a while now, but I remember that I didn't buy the A grade (the blackest), and the FB I got had a nice straight grain.

[Jake deVilliers]

Thanks for that Rod.

The bow and I are uneasy acquaintances at best, so I'm more familiar with pizz response.
Does the solid board support the notes above the octave better?

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Does the solid board support the notes above the octave better?

I haven't had the pleasure of trying one myself, I know Gary Karr loves them. My experience is limited to boards that I left thicker than usual but they were pre-shaped and hollowed out before I bought them.

Karr is a classical soloist, you are mostly pizz, I am orchestral.......It would be nice to have a wide range of testimonies for all the different needs.

Cheers !

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Dr Rod

The "anti weight society" will probably disagree, but I love the effect that a thick fingerboard has on the lower range. Gary Karr swears by non hollowed out fingerboards as well.

Is this the same Gary Karr that swears that the Kousevitzky bass he was given was made by Amati when hardly anyone else in the violin world agrees?

Seriously, it's not so much a question of fingerboard weight as it is the the effect of the fingerboard's density and length on the resonance frequency of the entire neck assembly. There are occational exceptions to the rule about weight on fingerboards. I once owned a Rodier 7/8 bass which was made with an unusual heel that was much deeper and longer than in most doublebasses. I actually had to add lead weight to the end of the fingerboard to lower the resonance frequency of the neck to where it would match the resonance frequency of the body (A0-B0 matching). It's quite possible that a non-hollowed fingerboard will work very well acoustically one instrument and work very poorly acoustically on another. IMO, the odds favor using a hollowed out fingerboard on the great majority of basses.

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

Is this the same Gary Karr that swears that the Kousevitzky bass he was given was made by Amati when hardly anyone else in the violin world agrees?

No, actually I was referring to the outstanding double bassist.

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

It's quite possible that a non-hollowed fingerboard will work very well acoustically one instrument and work very poorly acoustically on another.

I think this basic truth applies to just about everything in this field, I agree wholeheartedly with it.