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Double Bass I got my first Bass today... need opinions please...

T

ToeJamFootball

Feb 27, 2005
81
0
37
Melbourne, Australia
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi guys, I normally hang out of at HCBF, but I see there is more Double Bass players over here...

I got my first Upright today and I am super excited. But I was just wondering if the Fingerboard is right?

It is a 1960s Hofner so It does have a fair bit of wear, it seems like it's not ebony at all though and just like a lacquer on top of rosewood or something??:crying:

here are some pics, any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

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Here's a pic of the whole bass just because :D

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#3
reedo35 said:
Sure Looks like rosewood, but don't despair. Lots of decent basses have rosewood boards, they just wear out faster, and that one looks pretty worn, could use a good redressing and restaining.
Good luck with your new old Bass,
and let me be the first to say... get a teacher!:)
Click to expand...
OK thanks man, I was under the impression they all had Ebony boards for some reason. I won't worry about getting it fixed up too soon. I only just managed to pay for the actual bass :D

I am still in the Process of looking for a teacher... thanks again.
 
#6
It looks like rosewood with a dark stain that is wearing off. It's fine if it plays ok don't mess with it until it doesn't. It's not unusual for that to be rosewood on that bass.

Enjoy it.

Excellent crib btw. Looks very nice where you live.
 
#8
JtheJazzMan said:
dont feel compelled to restain it either. its nice to see a rosewood board unstained
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'm not really, it's playing fine AFAIK :D

Mike Shevlin said:
wow -it's hard to tell from these photos. I'd like to say it's macassar ebony, but we need a Hofner expert for this one.
Click to expand...

Cheers.

Uncletoad said:
It looks like rosewood with a dark stain that is wearing off. It's fine if it plays ok don't mess with it until it doesn't. It's not unusual for that to be rosewood on that bass.

Enjoy it.

Excellent crib btw. Looks very nice where you live.
Click to expand...

Hahah, this freaked me out at first... then I remembered I had put up photos. I just moved here, my mother wanted to see the place :D Thanks!

Andrew McGregor said:
Looks standard for Hofner basses of that period (a bit after mine). Might need a dress, but other than that they're perfectly serviceable.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks man.

One more thing, It feels very sticky when playing. Mostly on the right hand when playing Pizz. I think it is from the board. Is there something I can clean it with so it isn't so sticky?

Thanks again guys.
 
#9
I used to have a shop bass with a fingerboard made from pear wood, I believe. At some point I decided I should upgrade the bass with one made from Ebony, despite having my doubts that it would actually pay off, but it did! It was not a spectacular bass in any way, but the money invested in the new FB paid itself off in increased tone and playability. I have played a Höfner once; it was a solid enough instrument. Maybe they have different grades or something, but if you find yourself holding 1,5k in your hands, think about it.
 
#10
It's sticky? There are tons of different ways of cleaning your bass... acetone is good for the fingerboard, although it MIGHT dry out and crack if you overuse it over time. And be careful not to let it drip on the varnish. I use almond oil; also cleans things up and leaving the bass all greasy and nice. 8)
 
#13
If you take the strings off and carefully sand the black crap off the fingerboard (BY HAND!), that will leave nice clean rosewood. sometimes a bit of steel wool and meths (carefully) will dissolve and clean the black lacquer. As long as you don't rub too hard in one spot, or spill meths on the varnish, you can't do much harm. A little oil rubbed into it afterwards will make it nice. If, however, the surface of the fingerboard is badly worn, and you have little grooves where the paint has worn away, or rough bits and ripples, you'll need to get it properly replaned by a luthier.

Also, if you take the strings off, the soundpost may fall over. Then you're in for some fun.
 
#14
If it feels sticky, it probably has years of hand gunk built up on the fingerboard and neck. The other suggestions here (acetone,meth(?), alcohol), are for if you want to strip the board
down to the original wood. To just clean it up I prefer #0000 steel wool and mineral spirits. Almond oil will work,as well as boiled linseed oil, but they are both very oily and must be used sparingly.
Matthew, did you mean mentholated spirits?
 
#15
Unless you plan to completely refinish, no alcohol or acetone or methyl anything.
Try something like this:
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This type of cleaner for rosin build-up and general cleaning and will salvage what may be good about your bass finish when you get it clean. A cleaner like this will treat your bass (fingerboard included) well. The stickiness on your bass is probably rosin, unless someone has tried to use organic solvents on it already. .
RD
 
#17
Acetone will ruin the lacquer finish on the bass and the fingerboard. Turpentine is the natural way to remove rosin, its the other half of the sap.

The board is probably sticky under your left hand because of the black lacquer - you'd be much happier without it. You could do as Matthew suggested but please, 150 grit and up only!

I really like your garden - my wife's a big McLeod's Daughter's fan and your kitchen kinda reminds me of the show. :)
 
#18
Jake deVilliers said:
Acetone will ruin the lacquer finish on the bass and the fingerboard. Turpentine is the natural way to remove rosin, its the other half of the sap.

The board is probably sticky under your left hand because of the black lacquer - you'd be much happier without it. You could do as Matthew suggested but please, 150 grit and up only!

I really like your garden - my wife's a big McLeod's Daughter's fan and your kitchen kinda reminds me of the show. :)
Click to expand...
:D Thanks man, I like the garden too. I am in the process of cleaning it up...

The board is actually only sticky the most under my right hang. Should my fingers even be hitting the board at all when playing pizz.?

Cheers.
 
#19
That depends on how low/high your strings are. Also, how close is your pizz hand to the end/bottom of the fingerboard? In general, pizzing down there results in a bigger/punchier sound (at least IME). Oh yeah.. get a teacher!

Also, if the strings are covered in rosin and other crud, get some very, very fine steel wool and use it to scrape all that gunk off.
 

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