Double Bass Luthier ideas please

[Eric Hochberg]

I would check out the finish on the neck heel, as well as the orientation of the annular rings there. I wonder if the finish is a bit permeable, and if the end grain might be soaking up and/or releasing moisture faster than normal. Neck heels are all end grain; think of the science experiment most of us did in elementary school, where you put the end of a piece of celery into colored water. The color travels right up the celery stalk. It could not hurt to have a few coats of oil varnish applied to the neck heel.

Arnold, maybe bingo! There is no finish on the neck heel. All worn off. What time of year would you suggest doing this in Chicago?
Thanks!!!

 

[bassedsouth]

I would check out the finish on the neck heel, as well as the orientation of the annular rings there. I wonder if the finish is a bit permeable, and if the end grain might be soaking up and/or releasing moisture faster than normal. Neck heels are all end grain; think of the science experiment most of us did in elementary school, where you put the end of a piece of celery into colored water. The color travels right up the celery stalk. It could not hurt to have a few coats of oil varnish applied to the neck heel.

Thats interesting ! Arnold have you ever dealt with a bass with these issues before ? Do you think that a bass with no finish on the back of the neck could be susceptible to these issues ? What about the actual neck block itself ?
Lots of questions , sorry ......

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

Arnold, maybe bingo! There is no finish on the neck heel. All worn off. What time of year would you suggest doing this in Chicago?
Thanks!!!

It should not matter, as all decent shops have climate control, and oil varnish is fairly flexible. Make sure oil is used and not spirit, which is more water permeable.

 

[Gene Fryer]

havin lived in the windy city a couple of times and remembering the two seasons; July and winter- maybe now would be the better time. You might want to add some Venetian turpentine to thicken the oil varnish which could help to seal the area-you could also seal the wood with egg-white- before applying the oil varnish- it seems to me that sealing the area would be important.