Double Bass Romberg bevel/ gut strings

[jsf729]

Getting ready to replace the fingerboard on a 1965 Kay. I have a symmetrical fingerboard available but I may want to put guts on it one day since it seems as if I haven't lived a full life (according to some posts in the string forum) if I haven't owned a bass with gut strings. Frankly, I never owned or played guts, but I have heard the sound and it is intoxicating. Is it mandatory to have a Romberg bevel? My understanding is that the sole reason for the bevel was the large diameter of the E string.

 

[james condino]

Very few people actually use and like a gut E string, most use something like spiro EA mixed with gut DG; my personal choice for my old Kay. Smoothing out the romberg bevel usually makes for a much more modern feeling fingerboard. Your old Kay will feel a whole lot better if you also either replace the fingerboard with a much thicker one or use an ebony shim to beef up the original, and add some carbon fiber in the skinny neck. I just rebuilt three of them in the last couple of weeks like this.

Anytime you pass through Asheville, stop by for a visit and you can check out how it will feel before you make a commitment; this is one of the most common requests I get and I always have a couple in the shop strung up....

 

[krfoss]

The bevel may be more of a concern for an unwrapped gut e, but the wrapped will still need some room to move. I'll let the smarter people give you better advice.

Also, you can life a full life without going full gut. Try gut d and g first.

 

[DrayMiles]

I most definitely would not deal with the maintenance and headache of a gut E string... But then again, I'm against that bevel. It doesn't have enough benefit for me to warrant removing the wood.

 

[jsf729]

Very few people actually use and like a gut E string, most use something like spiro EA mixed with gut DG; my personal choice for my old Kay. Smoothing out the romberg bevel usually makes for a much smoother, more modern feeling fingerboard. Your old Kay will feel a whole lot better if you also either replace the fingerboard with a much thicker one or use an ebony shim to beef up the original, and add some carbon fiber in the skinny neck. I just rebuilt three of them in the last couple of weeks like this.

Anytime you pass through Asheville, stop by for a visit and you can check out how it will feel before you make a commitment; this is one of the most common requests I get and I always have a couple in the shop strung up....

Thanks James, I had hoped you would have chimed in. Thanks for the string recommendation. I'm kind of on the fence about the current fingerboard. It is rosewood and not much meat left. But- it's king of cool looking. It has a knot it it that gives a unique appearance but I imagine would be difficult to smooth out. Already ordered the carbon fiber inserts in the size that you recommended in another thread. If I do decide to keep it, it would need a shim. I've attached a pic to get your thoughts.
Thanks for the invite to your shop. One of these days I plan on taking a detour on my way to see my son and grandkids in Raleigh. I'll have the sunken belly of my '39 Kay in tow for insertion into the world's only Kay Bass vacuum press!

 

[jsf729]

Thanks guys for the gut advice. Seems as if the general consensus is plain D and G and wrapped E & A or steel E & A. Probably could have figured that out in the string forum but my concern was the bevel.

 

[james condino]

At least the knot is under a solid section of the neck, rather than hanging in space over the body.That is a cool looking piece of Brazilian rosewood. If you don't use it, I could gladly recycle it down into some very nice guitar parts!

 

[GretschWretch]

Also, you can life a full life without going full gut. Try gut d and g first.

Also, you can live a longer life without going full gut. As if my avatar ever paid any attention to me.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I've attached a pic to get your thoughts.

This variegation in the wood is why the company typically ebonized the fingerboards on the cheaper models.

I just have to put in a plug here for documenting your Kay, which helps fill out our research database and can give you a little more assurance in case of loss. PM me if you're interested.

 

[jsf729]

This variegation in the wood is why the company typically ebonized the fingerboards on the cheaper models.

I just have to put in a plug here for documenting your Kay, which helps fill out our research database and can give you a little more assurance in case of loss. PM me if you're interested.

I know they ebonized the cheaper maple, but this is rosewood. I just figured it was at the bottom of the bin. I do plan on sending you #s and descriptions of the '65 and '39.

 

[jsf729]

At least the knot is under a solid section of the neck, rather than hanging in space over the body.That is a cool looking piece of Brazilian rosewood. If you don't use it, I could gladly recycle it down into some very nice guitar parts!

PM sent

 

[Steven Ayres]

I know they ebonized the cheaper maple, but this is rosewood. I just figured it was at the bottom of the bin. I do plan on sending you #s and descriptions of the '65 and '39.

Thanks!

Kay even ebonized ebony that didn't look regular; cheaper wood helped meet relatively low price points.

 

[GretschWretch]

"Variegation in the wood": the last thing a man wants to hear from his urologist.

 

[jsf729]

"Variegation in the wood": the last thing a man wants to hear from his urologist.

Well it's better than a knot but let's stay focused on the thread cause this could go south quick!

 

[GretschWretch]

Well it's better than a knot but let's stay focused on the thread cause this could go south quick!

O-Kay.

 

[Fretless55]

I have a Romberg bevel on my Strunal 5/35.

When I had it strung with low tension Innovation Super Silvers I actually kinda liked the bevel with a big ol floppy E string.

I have Spirocore Weichs on now and it doesn’t bother me one way or another. Certainly something I don’t feel needs to be corrected for its own sake. But the general take away seems to be its pretty old skool (but I’m OK with old skool...)

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Fretless55]

Follow up question:

Does anyone know of a contemporary luthier or manufacturer who still include a Romberg bevel in their setup?

 

[bassmanbrent]

Follow up question:

Does anyone know of a contemporary luthier or manufacturer who still include a Romberg bevel in their setup?

My Chandler bass came with a bevelled board. I'm sure some suppliers have stock, so it's pretty likely that most contemporary makers could install one if that's what you want...

 

[Fretless55]

Just curious, couldn’t see specifying it nowadays.
My experience is it shows up more on Eastern European basses.

 

[jsf729]

At least the knot is under a solid section of the neck, rather than hanging in space over the body.That is a cool looking piece of Brazilian rosewood. If you don't use it, I could gladly recycle it down into some very nice guitar parts!

PM sent