FingerBoard-String Measurements

[Pentabass]

FingerBoard-String Measurements

In my mind, there is an Entity called the FingerBoard-Strings System.

It is a system, because it is more than the sum of it's parts:
A curved FingerBoard Surface and four (or five) straight Strings.
This is a crucial part of the 'setup' of a string instrument.

Various single and absolute measurements are usually compared between instruments, however I would like to get a better grasp on this elusive Entity, by calculating ratios and indexes, and comparing those between instruments of various sizes.

If you want to play the game, you need a vernier or a digital calliper, accurate to at least 0.02 mm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliper

For measuring your instrument, you can print out the attached file, called FingerBoard-StringMeasure-t.txt
For your convenience, that file is really the first two columns of the attached spreadsheet, called FingerBoard-Strings-01.xls

Or, if you find that easier, you can just fill out the spreadsheet and play with it. This is version one, and will improve with time.

Send me your measurements and improvements to this approach, and I will include them in the next version of the FingerBoard-Strings spreadsheet.

Ok, here we go!

[Pentabass]

I am trying to post two columns from an exel spreadsheet - to make it easy for people to contribute to a data collection of instrument measurements.

The problem I have, is that I can not post the two columns nicely into the message text, nor can I upload a .rtf file, which keeps the two columns nicely formatted.

Talkbass only allows me to attach .pdf files (fine for printing, but not good for data entry) and .txt files, which do not bring out the two columns either.

Any suggestions?

[Jake deVilliers]

Put it on your website and ask people to go there and play.

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Put it on your website and ask people to go there and play.

oh, I thought this one here is OUR website, Jake?

A guy like you must have already have a spreadsheet file similar to this, not so?

Once in a while you work on a 1/4 bass, maybe a cello, perhaps the odd 1/4 violin. Would it not be interesting to know the ratios, rather than the individual measurements, let's say the ratio fingerboard length to string length?

[Jake deVilliers]

I didn't mean it that way, I was tryin g to help you find a way to use your spreadsheet.

My fingerboard adjusting template is my eye guided by my experience, there is no 'hard copy'. I have one for guitar, one for mandolin, one for violin etcetera. Sorry.

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I didn't mean it that way, I was tryin g to help you find a way to use your spreadsheet.

My fingerboard adjusting template is my eye guided by my experience, there is no 'hard copy'. I have one for guitar, one for mandolin, one for violin etcetera. Sorry.

Thanks, Jake --
I knew you meant well.

I was afraid that you were going to say you keep it all in your head (and your eyes and your fingers) - all that experience about how to relate the strings to fingerboards, what setup works and what doesn't.

I am just trying to find a way to crystalize some of your experience into some measurements, so that we can exchange some ergonomic recipes, just as you have done with the string height poll. If you look at the answers to your poll, you will see that most people intuitively mentioned the strings that they use -- so much is determined by the thickness and material of the string. What they didn't do, was to say how long their string length is, nor did anybody mention the length of the fingerboard. With double bass shapes varying all over the place, I propose an approach where we include ALL the potentially useful measurements of the FingerBoard-String system, even though that is by far not all that is important in a good setup.

So, I am just trying to add on to your string height poll.

Now we just have to find a way that it is easily seen and shared...