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Double Bass Bumpers

Ampig

Ampig

Feb 9, 2000
1,261
351
Manteo, North Carolina
#1
I've been using furniture runners with adhesive type backing on the side of my bass. In the hot summer months they tend to get soft and slip around or fall off. I'm thinking of making my own out of wood and gluing them on. What do you use? If I go with wooden bumpers what should I use as a glue?
 
#3
Bijoux said:
I have ghetto bumpers! I got a fan belt from the auto store, cut into pieces and glued with just generic glue. once in a great while they fall off and I just glue them back together. It works great.
Click to expand...

i think that this is the way to go. the thick leather will give you a little cushion as you lay it down. ive heard of people using contact cement to adhere them in place, probably fine if your finish is laquer, id be a bit hesitant with a real varnish though.
 
#4
I put fan belt bumpers (6) on my main bass because it has already been re-edged once in its life and I want to protect it the best I can. The fan belts don't look quite as nice as some I've seen, but they don't look bad and offer a little cushion on the ribs.

There are other threads on this, but the process is pretty simple.
-Buy a small fan belt with a perfectly flat wide surface (some are curved).
-Cut sections 1.5-2" long. I use a utility knife at an angle replicating the side angle.
-Put them in a vise if necessary to get the proper curve to match your ribs.
-Glue? I've had good luck with bottled hide glue.
 
#7
Bijoux said:
I have ghetto bumpers! I got a fan belt from the auto store, cut into pieces and glued with just generic glue. once in a great while they fall off and I just glue them back together. It works great.
Click to expand...

Actually, I came up with this idea about 25 years ago and spread the idea here at TB in about 2003. Also the idea of getting the curvature set by vising. I liked the idea that they were shock absorbent.
Blah, blah.
"generic glue" is a bad idea for obvious reasons. (I hope).
They need not come off..(unless you want them to)..ever, if you use the correct type of glue. (lookit clinks post).
And "ghetto bumpers!" is NOT my terminology.
Mine is, uh....fan belt bass bumpers.
Jeeze, you guys....do some TB search research. (Like clink kinda suggests).
If you wanna get all OCD or hide the fact that they ARE F-belts you can paint them flat black and make people think they might be ebony.

Just sayin'......
 
#9
Paul Warburton said:
Actually, I came up with this idea about 25 years ago and spread the idea here at TB in about 2003. Also the idea of getting the curvature set by vising. I liked the idea that they were shock absorbent.
Blah, blah.
"generic glue" is a bad idea for obvious reasons. (I hope).
They need not come off..(unless you want them to)..ever, if you use the correct type of glue. (lookit clinks post).
And "ghetto bumpers!" is NOT my terminology.
Mine is, uh....fan belt bass bumpers.
Jeeze, you guys....do some TB search research. (Like clink kinda suggests).
If you wanna get all OCD or hide the fact that they ARE F-belts you can paint them flat black and make people think they might be ebony.

Just sayin'......
Click to expand...

Hey Paul, I didn't know it was you! I've heard this from a a lot of different people.
But I guess that now thinking about it... hmmm... I should have known ...!;)
 
#14
Yes, the fan belt might be better than the wooden ones for obvious reasons......shock absorbtion....and if one of those wooden bumpers gets caught on a doorway or the like you risk taking off a piece of your instrument.

I guess one could go retro and use Ford Model A or 1939 John Deer belts......
 

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