Double Bass Dunlap's Disease on DB fingerboards?

[GretschWretch]

1) Every DB I have owned had the fingerboard edges aligned flush with the side of the neck. Ditto the DBs examined in shops. A smooth join.

2) Every separate (replacement) DB fingerboard I have purchased displays a 1/16" to 1/8" overlap on both sides of the neck, the presumed inference being that after the 'board is attached the overlap is to be dressed down to flush with the sides of the neck.

Then, on page 250 of Chuck Traegar's book (in David Brownell's Chapter 47), I read

In those days, the violone was also fitted with this sort of neck installation. [i.e., surface mount fixed into position with glue and nails] Referring to Baroque basses pressed into service in contemporary orchestras the chapter continues, Some of these necks have had a wider fingerboard installed for use with today's four orchestral strings . . . .

????? If the new fingerboard is wider (i.e., untrued to the neck) then it seems to me it's got "Dunlop's Disease": the fingerboard edges have done lopped over the neck since they were not trued to flush. But if the edges are trimmed back then the new fingerboard no longer is wide enough to accommodate four strings.

I have always thought than a non-flush fingerboard edge connotes either sloppy workmanship or a factory cost-cutting measure. The quoted passage suggests otherwise.

What goes on here?

 

[robobass]

Can you quote a bit more of the text? Most really old basses (and violins, for that matter) have been refitted with new necks at some point. As higher tension came to be preferred, necks needed to be longer and stronger. I would think that a violone fingerboard would be wide enough already, having usually had five strings, but a three stringer would likely be too narrow. As four strings gained popularity in the middle to late 19thC, it probably was common to see a bass with a wider fingerboard slapped on, and overhanging a narrower neck. Today you sometimes see this with a four to five string conversion, but yes, normally the fingerboard should be trimmed to match the neck width.

 

[korotkov]

Hey there,

From what I have seen, on a narrow neck the board is trimmed to match the width where it meets the neck but the top of the board is wider. I have seen this done to a four string bass to help accomodate five strings both modern and Viennese tuning. I noticed that with Viennese basses the fingerboard is also flatter for some reason.

Regards,

 

[Steve Swan]

Many owners of original 3 string basses will have a wide fingerboard put on and let it go at that. A scroll graft is expensive and a decision to expensively modify the neck on an older instrument may not make economic sense, especially for more modestly valued basses.

 

[eh_train]

Hi,

Pretty sure this is what Korotkov is describing. I've exaggerated the "fluting" a little for clarity. It does give you much more surface to work with.

Is it kind of weird for the hands? Yes, but they get used to it. Is it kind of weird for the eyes? Yes, but they get used to it.