Double Bass Slat between heel and upper bout

[Matthijs]

First of all: does this black slat at the transition between the heel and the upper bout have a name?

A few weeks ago I unpacked my 1930 Bohemian hybrid after a gig and one of those slats had fallen of. I planned to glue it back whenever I had the time to prepare some hide glue, but now I’ve lost it. I blame the cleaning lady, but it was probably me that mispaced it. It shouldn’t be very hard to make a new one that looks like the one one the other side. Are there any conventions for wood type? It is a closed-grain wood with average density, that’s all I can tell.

A more difficult question is wether I should consider doing both sides in a wood type that matches the fingerboard? The fingerboard is a Surinam hardwood very similar to purpleheart, called bruinhart (brownheart). I have acces to a source, so it is a possibility. It would also probably lead to having thoughts about changing the tailpiece, so that might be a downside.

 

[BobKay]

On my basses they are made from ebony.

 

[Matthijs]

On this bass it is ‘ebonized’. As in slightly worn black paint The most work will be in matching the patina.

I do think it is logical to match the fingerboard. That’s why I’m considering the bruinhart.

 

[eh_train]

It's your choice, of course.

IMO, though, the "side-strips" should be a permanent part of the bass (especially if they're fitted nicely and match up with the linings - yours maybe not so much).

The fingerboard, eventually, wears out and will be replaced. When that happens, it might be difficult to match purple-ish pieces. With black strips that problem doesn't exist.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I’ve heard them called “fillets.” No joke. If you can’t make one that matches, make two.

 

[Matthijs]

Side strips sounds like a word one could use. I don’t know about fillets.

good argument about the fingerboard not being there forever.

 

[GretschWretch]

The brown- and purple-heart fillets are the principal revenue generator for the township of Mignon, Alabama. This is why they are sometimes called "Fillets Mignon."