Hello to all -
I am new to these forums and have enjoyed surfing around through the various topics herein - very informative and very interesting and, most importantly, you all seem like a very amiable and helpful group.
I have played string bass and electric bass for many years and have always left setups to the experts. I have recently acquired a Kay bass (price was right - free) that is in quite good shape. I got the bass with the express purpose of learning about and trying my hand at setups: sound posts, bridges, etc., for my own amusement/continuing education. (I would never experiment on my Pollmann!!)
My question:
What I originally took to be a bit of "sinking" in the top table, E/bass bar side, actually upon closer examination turned out to be a "rise" on the G string side. I removed the strings and attempted to drop the sound post. It was wedged in so tightly that even with no strings on the bass I had to really whack it several times with a metal bar to dislodge it - I couldn't move it by reaching in with my fingers. I also noticed that where the sound post makes contact with the back table there is a round piece of of wood/particle board/ply about 1/8 in thick and about the size of a drink coaster glued to the back table. I can detect no hole or other trauma to the back that would indicate that this is a repair patch. Considering the student use/abuse of these basses, was this bit of "reinforcing" normal on these basses? I have read Jeff Bollbach's "luthier's rant" regarding tight soundposts, but this soundpost really seemed excessively tight, to the point of pushing the G side up. I guess I would like to know, "How tight is tight?" On my Pollmann with no strings on, the soundpost will fall quite easily. BTW, the Kay is a model M-1, serial #34743.
Thanks, and sorry to be so long winded.
Darrel Tidaback
I am new to these forums and have enjoyed surfing around through the various topics herein - very informative and very interesting and, most importantly, you all seem like a very amiable and helpful group.
I have played string bass and electric bass for many years and have always left setups to the experts. I have recently acquired a Kay bass (price was right - free) that is in quite good shape. I got the bass with the express purpose of learning about and trying my hand at setups: sound posts, bridges, etc., for my own amusement/continuing education. (I would never experiment on my Pollmann!!)
My question:
What I originally took to be a bit of "sinking" in the top table, E/bass bar side, actually upon closer examination turned out to be a "rise" on the G string side. I removed the strings and attempted to drop the sound post. It was wedged in so tightly that even with no strings on the bass I had to really whack it several times with a metal bar to dislodge it - I couldn't move it by reaching in with my fingers. I also noticed that where the sound post makes contact with the back table there is a round piece of of wood/particle board/ply about 1/8 in thick and about the size of a drink coaster glued to the back table. I can detect no hole or other trauma to the back that would indicate that this is a repair patch. Considering the student use/abuse of these basses, was this bit of "reinforcing" normal on these basses? I have read Jeff Bollbach's "luthier's rant" regarding tight soundposts, but this soundpost really seemed excessively tight, to the point of pushing the G side up. I guess I would like to know, "How tight is tight?" On my Pollmann with no strings on, the soundpost will fall quite easily. BTW, the Kay is a model M-1, serial #34743.
Thanks, and sorry to be so long winded.
Darrel Tidaback
