Double Bass Fingerboard radius for arco playing

[Stev187]

Hello TB:

I have been gone from here for a long time; I have not played double bass in many years. My 14-year old son has joined the junior high orchestra on double bass. The basses at school have a much more "round" fingerboard radius than mine. My bass (a Czech factory bass from 1920 or so) has a comparatively "flat" fingerboard, and he says this makes it more difficult to bow. Here's a thread about my bass from a few years ago:

Czech factory bass (B&J Salvadore De Durro)

At any rate, I have a rather complicated question.

Q. Should I have a new fingerboard/bridge installed on my bass so he can play it, or would it be better to find a plywood instrument for him that has the radius he's looking for?

The only reason I am entertaining the new fingerboard idea is this: the last luthier who looked at my bass suggested that the fingerboard be replaced some day due to an issue with the neck. I realize this would not be an inexpensive undertaking, so I want to think long and hard about it. Also, I really like the current setup of the instrument for my personal preferences (almost exclusively pizzicato). I can see how crossing strings on this bass might be more difficult for a beginning arco player, as the pivot from string to string is a very subtle angle.

I hope this makes sense. TB has always been such a helpful forum; I hope to get some good advice on this. We don't really want to buy a second bass, but it kills me that Owen doesn't want to play my instrument at concerts. It is such a lovely instrument with a very fine tone. I'd like him to be able to use it.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Dbass926]

On one hand, it's simple economics Steve - if you want to replace the fingerboard and get a new setup on your bass, will the cost of this be greater than the cost of purchasing a cheap instrument?

On the other hand, I suggest you look at a few factors with respect to your bass and the prospective Cheap Plywood Bass (CPB) you are contemplating.

• Your bass is well setup for your purposes, but it isn't flexible and versatile for someone else who doesn't play almost exclusively pizzicato. If you ever wanted to sell your bass (for any reason), you wouldn't have a good time doing so unless you dealt with the neck problem and the flat fingerboard.
• Buying a CPB would give your son an instrument to play on, but it might not be as satisfying as a well set up instrument with some history in it and nearly a century of playing in.
• Buying a CPB could easily become a money pit depending on where you purchased it, and odds are that you would need to invest in getting it set up as well, so you're probably approaching what it would cost to fix your bass in the first place.
• Selling a CPB anywhere other than Craigslist can be challenging, because it's so easy to find one new rather than buying one used. It's not going to be of much use to your son if he advances past its limitations, and it won't be of use to you because you already have an instrument.

Ultimately, whether or not you fix up your bass, consider that not every bass is created equally. You will probably derive more satisfaction by giving your bass a nice spa day makeover, and your son can play on something that has some real quality, which is a good way to help encourage him to stick with it. I would recommend Mike Shank (shankstrings.com), because it may be a hike for you but his work is really high quality.

 

[Stev187]

On one hand, it's simple economics Steve - if you want to replace the fingerboard and get a new setup on your bass, will the cost of this be greater than the cost of purchasing a cheap instrument?

Thank you for the very thoughtful reply. While I like the current fingerboard, I am very flexible and would adapt to the different radius without issue. Yours is helpful perspective, especially the CPB aspect. I had a difficult time unloading a nice carved bass a while back; getting rid of a cheap plywood would not be fun. Good points.

Steve

 

[JoeyNaeger]

The best option for your son would be getting your bass set up properly for arco playing. It sounds like that's the finest sounding instrument available. It's possible to get a well set up plywood, but you'd pay more for that than a new fingerboard and bridge. While it might play nicely, it probably won't have a very inspiring sound either. A cheap plywood will neither be setup well or sound good. Renting a bass would be a viable option as well, especially if a smaller bass might suit your son better for the time being.

 

[robobass]

+1. I think that sound is just as important as setup, even for a beginner. The nicer the sound, the more he'll be inspired to practice. Also it seems like better use of your money to invest in a nice fingerboard for a nice instrument, compared to potentially throwing pound after penny at a student instrument.