Double Bass sound post tool

[McDave]

While removing the new bridge for the umpteenth time, I forgot the sound post and it fell. Tried with limited success to jimmy it into position, gave up and made a tool. Used a 12 inch long piece of small (1/4") copper tubing and a thin bicyle derailler cable. See pictures. Worked like a charm, was able to grab it tightly, rotate it and finally release it.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Cool!

 

[skychief]

brilliant.. removal must be you let the cable slide thru the copper tube and around the soundpost (?)

 

[McDave]

One end of the derailleur cable has a molded lead button that prevents it from going into the copper tube, and the other end is just plain. When the loop is around the sound post you can pull the free end of the cable to tighten the loop as much as necessary. So once the sound post is firmly in position, just slide the plain end of the cable all the way out through the tube to release the post.

 

[danceswithbass]

McDave? More like MacGyver!!

 

[McDave]

That's me! You could do surgery with this tool!

 

[IronSpatula]

Very cool!

This is functionally similar to the automotive "grabber tool" I use to position my post. It grips the post firmly, but the retractable metal claws leave indentations on the post.

 

[powerbass]

What you have there is a sound post strangulator, like what they use for capturing snakes and alligators.

 

[bssist]

That is very cool. I'm going to add one of those to my bag.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

I guess you could do that with a guitar string if you don't have a bike cable lying around... cool.

 

[dbassnut]

Your idea's a good one. Now I just need to find a friend who has a bike that's unattended. heheh

This guy used a shoe string & clothes hanger.


I like the idea of using both ends of the shoe string to help position the sound post.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

you could always use an exacto blade mounted on a chopstick assisted by jedi mind powers.