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Double Bass Distance - fingerboard to bridge

E

Ed S

Nov 14, 2019
1,984
3,033
#1
I was surprised that on my new Upton, the distance between the (non-solo extension) fingerboard was 2" less than the same distance on my Englehardt. 5.5" compared to 7.5"

As I work on my negligible bowing skills, I found my bow creeping close to the bridge, or over the end of the fb.

I was wondering if there was any "standard" regarding the distance between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge, or what the relative reasons/merits/implications might be for different distances.
 
#2
I’m sure there is a formula somewhere but most 3/4 fingerboards are about 34” long. 33.5” will go to a high B and I have a bass with a fingerboard length of 34.25 which hits a C, given a 42” mensure.
Going too long, especially if it is wide can cause interference with the bow so it can be scalloped or cut at an angle to make the low side shorter.
 
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#4
It might help to have the strings closer to the edges of the fingerboard. That means enlarging the string spacing on the bridge.

I have an EUB that was rebuilt to a 5-string by putting on a wider 5-string fingerboard which was probably meant to be used on a longer string scale as most 5-strings are 7/8, 4/4 or even larger with a longer scale.

So the fingerboard on this instrument is also close to the bridge. But the string spacing is rather wide and the only problem I might get is playing at the very end of the fingerboard when that part already got a lot of rosin on it from playing lower position before.
 
#6
james condino said:
The money notes are on the other end....:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's what I count on! Any time I venture past the heel, all bets are off!

My question resulted from my getting familiar w/ this 7/8 bass. To bow between the fb/bridge, I feel as tho I need to bend forward a tad more. If I extend the pin to accommodate, the nut is up over my head causing me to stretch my LH up.

I don't notice it pizz, as I just place my RH where it is comfortable, w/o paying attention to how close it is to the end of the fb.

Hell, for my uses, I could chop a good foot or more off the end of the fb! :D
 
#9
Ed S said:
...I found my bow creeping close to the bridge, or over the end of the fb.
Click to expand...

Ed, you are describing my challenge. Very-wrong bow placement results in very unpleasant sounds, while suboptimal placement means that I can't produce the volume and tone that I should. So many things to concentrate on, so practice on subsets of those many things is the only way I see to get it right.
 
#10
Heck - you didn't mention the always fun angled bow, such that your tip whacks either the upper or lower end of the C-bout when bowing the G. And my personal fave - banging into the music stand on the upbow!
:D

Like I've said, tho - I do perceive incremental payoffs. Last week I bowed (poorly) some ensemble pieces I only tried pizz before. And - for the 1st time in months I tried to play melodies up the neck on a bunch of BG tunes in D, and found the laid out very nicely. So I'll keep sawing away - tormenting my poor wife and dog!
 

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