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Double Bass Effect of the fingerboard on tone?

A

Aerdna

Dec 4, 2006
26
0
Italy
www.musicamatrimoni.it
#1
Hi all,

I'd like to replace the fingerboard on my bass. The string grooves are a little too deep now and I don't think it can be planed because it's on the thin side. Should I expect a change in tone with a new fingerboard? Also, do you know a source (possibly in Europe) for good quality fingerboards?

Thanks!
 
#2
Aerdna said:
Hi all,

I'd like to replace the fingerboard on my bass. The string grooves are a little too deep now and I don't think it can be planed because it's on the thin side. Should I expect a change in tone with a new fingerboard? Also, do you know a source (possibly in Europe) for good quality fingerboards?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I was very happy with the fb I got from Dick in Germany (Invalid Link Removed).

The "anti weight society" will probably disagree, but I love the effect that a thick fingerboard has on the lower range. Gary Karr swears by non hollowed out fingerboards as well.
 
#4
Jake deVilliers said:
Hey Rod, I'm a card-carrying (founding?) member of the Anti Weight Society, but I have an open mind.

What do you mean by lower range? Are you talking arco or pizz or both?
Click to expand...

LOL, good to have you in this thread Jake !


Well, I am an orchestral bassist so my experience is arco and our occasional classical pizz.

I guess lower range is sort of vague. What I felt was a stronger fundamental and easier arco response in the heavier strings, especially the E string. I hope this helps.
 
#8
Jake deVilliers said:
Does the solid board support the notes above the octave better?
Click to expand...

I haven't had the pleasure of trying one myself, I know Gary Karr loves them. My experience is limited to boards that I left thicker than usual but they were pre-shaped and hollowed out before I bought them.

Karr is a classical soloist, you are mostly pizz, I am orchestral.......It would be nice to have a wide range of testimonies for all the different needs.

Cheers !
 
#9
Dr Rod said:
The "anti weight society" will probably disagree, but I love the effect that a thick fingerboard has on the lower range. Gary Karr swears by non hollowed out fingerboards as well.
Click to expand...
Is this the same Gary Karr that swears that the Kousevitzky bass he was given was made by Amati when hardly anyone else in the violin world agrees?

Seriously, it's not so much a question of fingerboard weight as it is the the effect of the fingerboard's density and length on the resonance frequency of the entire neck assembly. There are occational exceptions to the rule about weight on fingerboards. I once owned a Rodier 7/8 bass which was made with an unusual heel that was much deeper and longer than in most doublebasses. I actually had to add lead weight to the end of the fingerboard to lower the resonance frequency of the neck to where it would match the resonance frequency of the body (A0-B0 matching). It's quite possible that a non-hollowed fingerboard will work very well acoustically one instrument and work very poorly acoustically on another. IMO, the odds favor using a hollowed out fingerboard on the great majority of basses.
 
#10
Bob Branstetter said:
Is this the same Gary Karr that swears that the Kousevitzky bass he was given was made by Amati when hardly anyone else in the violin world agrees?
Click to expand...

No, actually I was referring to the outstanding double bassist.

Bob Branstetter said:
It's quite possible that a non-hollowed fingerboard will work very well acoustically one instrument and work very poorly acoustically on another.
Click to expand...

I think this basic truth applies to just about everything in this field, I agree wholeheartedly with it.
 

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