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Double Bass Linen center seam reinforcement?

KUNGfuSHERIFF

KUNGfuSHERIFF

Feb 8, 2002
10,677
6,685
50
Upstate NY
#1
Hello, all.

This is a new one on me. I searched, but did not find a previous thread on the subject.

I have a new-old-stock 2010 Shen Willow Rogeri on trial. I'm pleased with it overall, but it has a couple of quirks. The one that really has me scratching my head is the fact that the back's center seam is not cleated.

Instead, a linen strip soaked in what looks like hide glue has been used to reinforce the joint. The linen looks well attached except for the top, where it has peeled off to about 6" below the neck block. I assume the top is also reinforced with linen.

Is this their usual method or another Shen shop experiment? I haven't had the chance to look under the hood of any other fully carved Shen basses.

Thoughts on long-term durability? It wouldn't be THAT big of a deal to pop the top, remove the linen and lay cleats if things start to go awry but I'd much rather not deal with another top-off job anytime soon.

Thanks!
 
#2
Linen is great for holding things together, cleats are better at levelling adjacent surfaces.

I use both - probably 2:1 linen over cleats. If I was building rather than repairing, I'd use even more linen.

(A) It should be raw linen.

(B) It should be hot, thin, hide glue.
 
#3
Even on a center seam? I've seen linen used for many purposes including reinforcement of thin, crack-prone ribs (I am planning to use linen for that purpose on the ribs of my flatback whenever the time comes to open it up), but this is a new one on me.

If I have the time, I'll shoot and post a photo.
 
#6
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Even on a center seam? I've seen linen used for many purposes including reinforcement of thin, crack-prone ribs (I am planning to use linen for that purpose on the ribs of my flatback whenever the time comes to open it up), but this is a new one on me.

If I have the time, I'll shoot and post a photo.
Click to expand...

Even on a centre seam. Also on cracks and fractures. Sometimes I'll put linen over a couple of small cleats, to hold everything together.

A few caveats:

(1) Don't use large pieces of cloth - it shrinks quite powerfully as it dries and will wrinkle ribs/sides of instruments. Really.

(2) Use linen not cotton, as cotton will decay over time, whereas linen will be strong for hundreds of years.

(3) Make your glue a little thinner than usual - the cloth will absorb it better.
 

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