I am new to the double bass. When I get all the strings up to pitch I see that the neck is pulled upward so that the space between the strings and the fingerboard has increased. The luthier from whom I bought the bass says this is OK. I surely would like to have other opinions and observations on this topic. Many thanks!
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Double Bass Neck bend with string tension
- Thread starter jimconklin
- Start date
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
Jim, a bit of bend forwards is common. It's not ideal, but if you can play the bass without too much difficulty, its probably OK. But if you're having trouble pulling the strings onto the fingerboard, it's probably not OK.
You're 87? You probably don't have the grip strength you used to so you need to have a bass that's nice to play (heck, everyone does)
There are four easy things to check for starters
1. At the end of the fingerboard you should have a gap under the strings going from E across the G of about 10mm, 9mm, 8mm, 7mm respectively for steel strings. If the height is much greater than this the bass may be harder to play.
2. Press each string down at the first position and at the end of the fingerboard. A gentle curve and a gap under the string is normal. But a gap much greater than the width of the string probably means that the bass needs some work for you to be able to enjoy playing it.
3. At the nut, the strings should be less than 1mm off the fingerboard. More like half that. If they are more than that the bass will be harder than it needs be to play.
4. Check the neck/body joint for cracks. if the neck is pulling forwards this way, not good news. Needs to be reglued. Don't do this yourself.
All can be fixed by a competent luthier!
Good luck.
You're 87? You probably don't have the grip strength you used to so you need to have a bass that's nice to play (heck, everyone does)
There are four easy things to check for starters
1. At the end of the fingerboard you should have a gap under the strings going from E across the G of about 10mm, 9mm, 8mm, 7mm respectively for steel strings. If the height is much greater than this the bass may be harder to play.
2. Press each string down at the first position and at the end of the fingerboard. A gentle curve and a gap under the string is normal. But a gap much greater than the width of the string probably means that the bass needs some work for you to be able to enjoy playing it.
3. At the nut, the strings should be less than 1mm off the fingerboard. More like half that. If they are more than that the bass will be harder than it needs be to play.
4. Check the neck/body joint for cracks. if the neck is pulling forwards this way, not good news. Needs to be reglued. Don't do this yourself.
All can be fixed by a competent luthier!
Good luck.
When I am new to something, I put as lot of emphasis on things I do not understand, or have only a little previous experience with. So, with the bass, I assumed the fingerboard would be straight and from what I have read, many of them are. Mine has a slight upward curve in the lowest two inches or so. The luthier said that is the way it should be, although one of the posts here said he prefers straight. I also assumed, without really thinking about the various stresses, that the neck and fingerboard would remain straight with the strings all up to pitch. Apparently, that is not always so. I became especially concerned because I replaced the original tuned-in-fourths set with a tuned-in-fifths set. The C is a real monster, it looks like it could be a ships hawser. When I became aware of the neck tilt I thought the tuned-in-fifths set must be exerting too much stress on the neck and the joint to the body. In my first post on this subject I reported hearing cracks and pops, but now I think those were just from the bridge sliding around on the top plate.
I guess my worries can be put away. Now I have to settle down to learning how to play this thing!
I guess my worries can be put away. Now I have to settle down to learning how to play this thing!
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
I find a lot of basses have a little too much bend in that thinnest part of the neck; it is often a result of the neck bending under pressure, but also i think from a luthier trying to eliminate the E string rattle in low positions. It will work, but it also has other consequences on playing further up the neck.
I think, but I could be wrong, that a proper fifths string set should be correctly balanced with about the same tension as a fourths set.
I think, but I could be wrong, that a proper fifths string set should be correctly balanced with about the same tension as a fourths set.
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
- 607
- Disclosures
- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
The Spirocore 3/4 Fifths Tuning set has quite a bit LESS tension than the 3/4 Weich set:
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The set of strings I got, after inquiring one of the major dealers, is Pirastro Obligato. Maybe I ought to try the Spirocore. I sure would feel more confident if I thought the strings were not overloading the neck and adjacent structure.
Do you come from an electric instrument background or acoustic guitar background where there is an adjustible truss rod? Going from an instrument with an adjustible truss rod to a fixed neck stringed instrument that reacts with the strings can be quite an adjustment to the player.
The Obligatos are probably fine. They are a "medium" tension string. If you want really light weight strings, there are several to choose from, not only Spiro Weichs. There are Velvets, Innovations, Corellis, Helicore lights, and a couple of others.
Your bass is probably just fine. I would suggest you have another conversation with your luthier to see if you can get the action down somewhat, just for ease and comfort, if you so desire. Be confident that the interaction of everything as you have experienced is normal. Some of the creaks can be as the string goes over the nut or bridge, so I would loosen each string in turn and take a soft pencil and graphite the nut slots and bridge slots liberally so each string tunes smoothly.
Welcome to DB!
The Obligatos are probably fine. They are a "medium" tension string. If you want really light weight strings, there are several to choose from, not only Spiro Weichs. There are Velvets, Innovations, Corellis, Helicore lights, and a couple of others.
Your bass is probably just fine. I would suggest you have another conversation with your luthier to see if you can get the action down somewhat, just for ease and comfort, if you so desire. Be confident that the interaction of everything as you have experienced is normal. Some of the creaks can be as the string goes over the nut or bridge, so I would loosen each string in turn and take a soft pencil and graphite the nut slots and bridge slots liberally so each string tunes smoothly.
Welcome to DB!
Thank you! I have had a little experience with violins and cello, but with no other stringed instruments. I like to know how things work, the mechanics, and that slows me down a lot when I get into the realms of art and sensuality.
