Double Bass Extra thin neck on old bass

[Doug D]

I've been asking a lot of questions lately about my latest project; an older flatback upright.

this time its about the neck width at the nut.

this one measures 37.5 mm give or take....and the reference material I have states that normal is around 42mm (which is only 5 or so mm different..... but this old bass seems A LOT thinner than standard).

Has anyone heard of adding material to the side of the neck and carving it into the neck profile (I'm adding a new FB too which should help)

Only other option would be to do a scroll graft?

 

[james condino]

Doug:

Where are you in the southeast?

If you are already putting a new fingerboard on, you could flare the edges so that the profile is wider and sneak the 2.5 mm on each side.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

Are you measuring the neck width or the fingerboard width? Was the previous board shaped like james said, flaring outwards to a more standard width at the board surface? If so, it probably wasn't built like that, more likely someone "thinned" it from the sides. You could always start by adding 1/8" maple shim on top of the neck, to reinforce the neck and build it up a little, start the flare into the shim and continue into the ebony.

 

[Doug D]

measuring at the fingerboard width. the previous board has a small bit of flair and yes, definately was planning on including more on the new board but didn't want it to feel drastically different.

I worked on an old Kay factory 5 string and it was basically a wide board on a standard 4 string neck. Felt like about a quarter inch overhang on each edge of the board. not exactly what I'm looking for.

and I'm fairly sure this board/neck was reshaped because when siting down the edges, they curve in towards the nut.

including a reference picture....