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Double Bass Bass bars

Eric Jackson

Eric Jackson

Apr 9, 2003
651
9
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
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#1
It seems most older basses that have undergone restoration have had the bass bar replaced.
What is it that necessitates bass bar replacement? Does a bass bar 'sag' over time? Does it lose its ability to adequately support the top? Or is it a matter of needing a larger, stiffer bar to withstand the tension of steel strings?

My Czech bass ('20's- '30's vintage) is showing signs of top sinkage at both ends of the bass bar. It definitely needs a post patch, should it also have the bass bar replaced? If so, should the top be cast and pressed back to its original shape first? I'm sure the reshaping procedure would be expensive, and as much as I love the bass I don't know if it would warrant such an investment.

It still sounds good, with no buzzes. Should I just not fix what ain't really broke?
 
#2
Eric Jackson said:
It seems most older basses that have undergone restoration have had the bass bar replaced.
What is it that necessitates bass bar replacement? Does a bass bar 'sag' over time? Does it lose its ability to adequately support the top? Or is it a matter of needing a larger, stiffer bar to withstand the tension of steel strings?

My Czech bass ('20's- '30's vintage) is showing signs of top sinkage at both ends of the bass bar. It definitely needs a post patch, should it also have the bass bar replaced? If so, should the top be cast and pressed back to its original shape first? I'm sure the reshaping procedure would be expensive, and as much as I love the bass I don't know if it would warrant such an investment.

It still sounds good, with no buzzes. Should I just not fix what ain't really broke?
Click to expand...
Generally, bass bars are replaced as part of a top repair when there are cracks around the bar that need to be taken care of, or when there is significant re-arching to be done. Minor sinkage at the ends of your bass bar is probably not a problem. On the other hand, if your bass was built with a weak bass bar, and this is affecting the sound or compromising the top arch, it may need to go. I think most cases of sinkage at the bass bar ends is the result of "springing" the bar in place, a controversial practice that many luthiers still engage in.
 
#7
I´m not sure yet, but I think I might have a case of loose bass bar. Yesterday when I was playing my gig bass at home, I noticed a buzz playing A note, both in A string and other strings. I located the buzz to bottom end of the top, and started inspecting the bass in hope to find an open seam.
I couldn´t find anything visible, nor did any of the bouts give a different sound when knockin around the edges.
I then put a wine bottle cork between the top and the tailpiece for trial, and the buzz stopped.

The last few weeks have been very humid, and there´s been more rain than in years, so my bass is kind of soaked. Also I took it to a fest and played a lot outdoors, which might not be of any good either. I now suspect that the glue has come loose in the bottom end of the bass bar.
Is there any means to find out if it´s really the cause of the buzz?? Thanks for help.

R2
 
#8
I think there is an archived thread about buzzes. You might want to check it out...

Most buzzes aren't caused by loose bass bars, but tiny open seams, open cracks, bad nuts, bad strings, loose linings, loose purfling, etc. I'm not saying that a loose bar wouldn't buzz, but 95% of the time it's something else.
 
#12
O dear, here I go with another pompous British, nay English, post. I've had a couple of bass bars replaced and they were both for different reasons. The first was because it was an old bass which I had converted form 3 string to 4 string. According to my information 3 stringers were made originally for gut strings, and obviously only for 3 of them, and therefore to protect the top from experiencing undue pressure, it was best to replace the bass bar. The other was just because my luthier thought the bass bar was way too thick and wouldn't let the bass "speak". People have different ideas about the thickness of bass bars, bass tops. I t seems to differ from luthier to luthier, and thats how it should be?
 

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