Double Bass most likely location to split

[Steve Killingsworth]

I recently had a conversation with Nashville luthier David Harvey about hybrid basses and the potentially abusive bluegrass festival environment. His opinion was that a carved top shouldn't be the source of worry since most of the cracks he repaired were on the backs of basses. For some reason I have always thought that most cracks would be on the softer tops rather than the harder backs.

Are backs more prone to splitting or is David's experience an anomaly?

 

[Bob Branstetter]

Are backs more prone to splitting or is David's experience an anomaly?

In my experience the spruce tops are far more likely to crack/split than the maple ribs and back. This seems to be true in all the members of the violin family of instruments. However, the backs of flatback basses cracks/splits more often than carved backs.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

In my experience the spruce tops are far more likely to crack/split than the maple ribs and back. This seems to be true in all the members of the violin family of instruments. However, the backs of flatback basses cracks/splits more often than carved backs.

Ditto!

 

[toman]

My bass was made in 1998, and has aquired several cracks. Apparently it has a rough life... But all the cracks are in the top, none in the sides or back. I think the spruce is much more likely to crack than maple. Maybe it's different as the wood ages or something, but thats my experience anyway...