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Double Bass Soundpost Adjustments

#21
This soundpost stuff is pretty close to the heart of the matter -- I believe in Italian they call it the "anima", the soul.

Spoken as an advocate for informed DIY, I really don't like messing with the thing. At my level of experience, it could initiate DAYS of messing around until I got it settled where I want it.

If I ever wanted to do some serious messing around with the sound of my bass I'm taking it to a pro.
 
#22
Am I correct in saying that there is a position where the sound post should be and that moving it from that position is less that optimal? I always thought it was supposed to be located about an inch or so under the right bridge foot and centered for the most part. Or is it that anywhere within a certain area is ok for the position...?

The curvature on the underside of the top is not constant on basses, so that a post that fits perfectly one place can have big gaps when the post is move a fraction of an inch away.
Click to expand...

Great point. So moving around the post you already have can in a way be a bad thing right? Since it has to be fitted for a certain spot and any other spot you try will have a slightly different curvature to the top of the dowel...
 
#23
Originally posted by metron
Am I correct in saying that there is a position where the sound post should be and that moving it from that position is less that optimal? I always thought it was supposed to be located about an inch or so under the right bridge foot and centered for the most part. Or is it that anywhere within a certain area is ok for the position...?
Click to expand...
Each bass is different. There are areas where the soundpost typically goes, but a lot of it depends on the sound you are looking for. If the bass doesn't play evenly across the range, moving the post can change the sound to favor the treble or bass end among other things. David Gage has a good article Link Removed
 
#25
There are also dancing soundposts. I like to test both posts and bridges by tossing them onto the floor or table. Some land with a thud, some hop a couple of times and then stop, and some go dancing around and sing, making little pinging noises. An old friend called them fast posts and slow posts. He thought that fast posts should be used on thicker tops and slow posts on thinner tops. I always prefer the fast ones for good basses, same with bridges.
Maybe Bob and tell us if there some IO, MO or BO or A1 sauce involved here?
 
#27
There is a great bit of information at the Band of Loosely Associated Bass Luthiers of America website (www.blabla.com) about soundposts and densities.

What hasn't been said yet is that lunar phase and the bass-bench placement are key factors. For example, a north-facing bass-bench will always produce a brighter, more nasal sound. South and eastern facing benches align the bass with lower frequencies. But, if the moon is waxing, the soundpost fit should be loose. Waning moon=tight fit.

It's really quite amazing. All of this information was the result of a 41-year experiment done by Italian luthier/scientist Giorgio Pastaschutta. Being deaf was of no hinderance; an assistant provided much of the translations, and his original notes are located in the basement of the Alamo. (www.basementoftheAlamo.com)




300postsandcounting...
 
#28
Nick,
I'm sorry but I can not agree. Everyone knows that a full moon should = a loose fit. Everyone knows how crazy basses can get during a full moon if they're too tight. Otherwise, I'm in complete agreement. I just asked Mona, my bass, what she thinks, and she said she is definitely in agreement with my assessment. (see: Link Removed)
 

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