I was doing a minor adjustment on my soundpost, and it looks like I split it accidentally. This is the original soundpost (50+ years old) on a roundback instrument, on the end touching the back. The bass still sounds good, I am concerned the post will continue to split under tension. Is this a concern that needs immediate attention, or can this wait until I get it in for routine maintenance (seam repair, etc.)?
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Double Bass Accidentally Split Soundpost
- Thread starter John Crosley
- Start date
Did you loosen the tension on the strings prior to moving the soundpost?
If not, this is why it split. Without pics, hard to say if it needs immediate attention. I would have a qualified luthier inspect it, just to be safe.
If not, this is why it split. Without pics, hard to say if it needs immediate attention. I would have a qualified luthier inspect it, just to be safe.
At first , no. I loosened the strings after I realized it wasn't moving. Long time since an adjustment had to be made, and I forgot basic mechanics of the instrument. Not sure if I can get pics, I don't have a scope.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
Some old Kay soundposts have an intentional "split" in them, more like a saw cut about half way through.
If it's really the original soundpost, I would consider a new one. New instruments typically need a longer soundpost once they have been broken in.
split...or a splinter off of the side? if its just a small splinter (and you are not excessively scrupulous) take your SP tool and "flick" it into oblivion...that way there is no chance it will turn into a buzz.
As to the affect on the bass, it has gotten significantly louder, but the strings have tightened up, and seem a lot stiffer as well. Will the stiffness go away after awhile?
if your adjustment was to pull it toward you..it may have had the effect of raising the top and hence the bridge some, as long as the SP is not too tight and you have improved on the sound, both you and the tightness should settle in. i move my SP as much as anybody,sometimes it's just a mood thing or i get bored with the present sound, that's the fun of knowing half of what i should.
Yeah, that's what I figured. The post was quite a bit south of the bridge foot, and more toward the center of the bass. I (attempted to) put it below the treble foot and one SP width down. Originally it was set directly behind the bridge foot, and I moved it to the south central location. Gave the bass a nice tone, and looseness of the strings, but dropped the acoustic volume, but was bothering me that it was (or seemed to be in the wrong spot, which is why I moved it this time.
- Dec 9, 2003
- 369
- 45
- Disclosures
- Kontrabass-Atelier, Lando Music (Germany), "The Double Bass Book"/"Das Kontrabass-Buch"
That's interesting. Never have seen this. Which direction did they cut? And what's the idea behind this?
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
- 607
- Disclosures
- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
Hey Jonas, if you're interested, I have photos of the saw kerfs on Kay sound posts on the 'Kay Bass Viol' page of my website.
Nobody actually knows why they did it... I've never seen any sign of setting tool marks in the slots or anything like that, so feel free to speculate!
