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Double Bass Resetting a Neck

Eric Hochberg

Eric Hochberg

Jul 7, 2004
6,343
2,457
Chicago
www.erichochberg.com
#1
I have a bass with a low overstand (3/4") and bridge (5.5"). I'm not happy with the playability of the instrument and have been considering having the neck brought out. The bass has a raised saddle, but even so, has a tendency to get tight at times.

My questions relate to the results of bringing out the neck. Is it inevitable that the instrument will get tighter feeling due to a more acute angle across the bridge causing more pressure on the top? Can the neck angle be reduced to counter this?

I'm also concerned with the sound of the instrument after the reset. Any generalizations here? I really like the way the bass sounds now, it's on the dark side with a nice fat G string.

Any comments, especially from luthiers who have a lot of experience with this will be appreciated!
 
#4
If the bass is already tight with a low bridge and raised saddle, it makes me wonder. Is the top pretty thick? There are two types of tension. One is from the angle over the bridge. The other is the top thickness. I've had French basses with very thick tops that actually FELT like there was less tension when the angle was increased because the more tension was needed to load the thicker top. If the top is not thick and you want more standover, make sure that the angle of the reset neck is adjusted so that there is the same or lesser angle over the bridge.
 
#6
ehochberg said:
I have a bass with a low overstand (3/4") and bridge (5.5"). I'm not happy with the playability of the instrument and have been considering having the neck brought out. The bass has a raised saddle, but even so, has a tendency to get tight at times.

My questions relate to the results of bringing out the neck. Is it inevitable that the instrument will get tighter feeling due to a more acute angle across the bridge causing more pressure on the top? Can the neck angle be reduced to counter this?

I'm also concerned with the sound of the instrument after the reset. Any generalizations here? I really like the way the bass sounds now, it's on the dark side with a nice fat G string.

Any comments, especially from luthiers who have a lot of experience with this will be appreciated!
Click to expand...

The standard desired Neckstand from what I have seen is about 35-40mm. Yours at 3/4" is only about 19mm which is about half. I have had Basses lower than that but when corrected and moved out, were much easier to play and Bow especially with a higher Bridge which helps to clear the C-Bouts when bowing. A higher Bridge can also improve the volume and tone of your Bass.

My English Mystery Bass is getting its new Neck soon and last week we took some measurements. We will go for a 7" tall Bridge with the Strings at 4-5mm at the G so it will be no lower than that. With the upper Bouts being 22" wide and the middle almost 16" we (Biase and I) measured it at close to 1 3/4" or so to go over 40mm. This way the angle will not be too steep and will be easy to get over the Shoulders easier. This is a big/long Bass and will sit high on the body even with the Endpin pushed in all the way. The Neck needs to be out a bit so I can get over the shoulders. Although this is an Orchestral Bass being way too big for playing solos I still see parts taking me way up into thumb position. Even Beethoven's 5th takes you up to high C so it might as well be easy to play up there as well. We used a large 7/8ths Guadagnini Bass almost as big as my Bass that had a 7" Bridge on it to compare Neckstand and angle pitch. The Guad had slightly more arch in the Top but my Bouts were wider. This helped us to make good guesses as to what will work best.

Playability is the Key. More angle on the break points might mean more tension on the Top. The Luthier will have to figure that in when setting the Neck because its not just the amount of Neckstand but the pitch angle combined as well.

I think that 6" is a minimum for Bridge height to Bow a Bass unless its a small instrument. Take the Bass to the best Bass set-up Luthier in your area. I travel about 3 hours/160 miles each way to get my work done with the exception of the Mystery bass in NYC which is just under 100 miles or so. Go to the place that is best for your Bass and get it done right the first time.
 
#8
ehochberg said:
Tonewise, any specifics you can think of, brighter, darker, deeper, fuller...?
Click to expand...

Well both my Martini and Gilkes had higher Bridges after their Restorations. Both Basses were louder and deeper but many many other things were done as well so it's hard to attribute the improvements to just the Neck re-set.

Ask Arnold as I am sure he has done just re-sets with no other restorations other than a needed higher bridge.
 

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