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Double Bass Bass Bar

#2
There's much debate on this: whether to spring a bass bar or to chalk fit it exactly to the top. Aside from that, I believe that if your bass still has good arching and the top isn't sagging under the bridge, it would be too invasive to get in and replace the bass bar. You don't want to take the top off a bass more than necessary.
 
#4
David Kaczorowski said:
I was reading through some old ISB journals (the new online library is awesome!) and read an old article by Chuck Traeger about bass bars losing their springiness and needing to be replaced every ten years or so. Any thoughts on this? Anyone having their bass bar replaced every ten years?
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To me that's like saying "The 1700's belly wood on that Strad is old and worn out and needs to be replaced." Kinda silly...;)

If your top is sinking you might consider replacing the bass bar but I wouldn't suggest it as regular maintenance like changing your timing belt.
 
#6
robobass said:
Every ten years? That's hard for me to absorb. Anyone have his book handy? I'd be curious as to what he says in there.
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I hope I'm properly citing here:

"Now I will explain how I go about springing in my bass bar. If there is a self bar carved out of the top (except in a collection instrument), or if the bar is more than 25 years old, I usually replace the bass bar. The reason is that the old bar has stiffened with with time and exposure; a new bar will generally give a brighter sound and play more freely. In some cases it is apparent that the old bar was not the best length, placement or shape for good results. Sometimes the bar must be removed so that you can work on damage in this area of the belly. Except for the last, the choice of installing a new bar ultimately is up to the owner of the bass."

- Chuck Traeger, The Setup and Repair of the Double Bass for Optimum Sound​

From this, I gather that Chuck would consider a number of variables before replacing a bass bar. I have found nothing in his book mentioning regular replacement of the bass bar.

Edit- However I have not read the ISB article, perhaps he has changed his position on this subject..
 
#8
DallasStrings said:
I hope I'm properly citing here:

"Now I will explain how I go about springing in my bass bar. If there is a self bar carved out of the top (except in a collection instrument), or if the bar is more than 25 years old, I usually replace the bass bar. The reason is that the old bar has stiffened with with time and exposure; a new bar will generally give a brighter sound and play more freely. In some cases it is apparent that the old bar was not the best length, placement or shape for good results. Sometimes the bar must be removed so that you can work on damage in this area of the belly. Except for the last, the choice of installing a new bar ultimately is up to the owner of the bass.".
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What's curious here is that he starts off saying "springing", and never uses the word again nor describes the technique of springing.
 
#11
Traeger does cover springing the bar, and does mention the 10-year changeover, but at different and not very logical places in the book. Its not an easy book to find stuff in, and he contradicts himself quite often. And there are a number of things just not explained. But at the end of the day, he is always careful to say that this is HIS way of doing it, and there are other ways. Ultimately you must think carefully about the issue and do as much research as you need to make your own decision based on what YOU feel.
 
#13
Matthew Tucker said:
... Its not an easy book to find stuff in, and he contradicts himself quite often. And there are a number of things just not explained ...
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+1 I've cursed the "index" of that book more than once.

Jake deVilliers said:
To me that's like saying "The 1700's belly wood on that Strad is old and worn out and needs to be replaced." Kinda silly...;)
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I have a pet theory about this - that the bass bar losing its spring might be part of what makes instruments open up as they age. Unfortunately, I don't have any real experience to back that up. :)
 

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