Double Bass Suggestions for Repair Shop Eastern NC/Southeastern VA

[Ampig]

I live on Roanoke Island in northeastern NC. To my knowledge there are no local URB Repair shops near me. Anyone have suggestions for a shop in my region? I'm looking for someone to do a setup. My action is currently 8.5 mm on the E string and 6 mm on the G, which seems to be in "normal" range. The nut however is .058" (1.47 mm) on the E and .045 (1.14 mm) on the G which seems pretty high.

 

[dperrott]

Maybe this list will help Double Bass Luthier Directory – Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog Yes the string height is average. 6mm G to 9mm E is standard.I go for 2 business card height under the strings at the nut. 1 business card height is often stated but I like 2 business cards. The neck will often move seasonally and this keeps it from buzzing during its movement. Either height would be fine. You can get a file and lower them if you need. You want to file it to match the strings path. Basically parallel to the fingerboard where the string goes into the nut, and then angled down to the gear on the back side. If you don't have a luthier around Arnol Schnitzers book may help you with these minor adjustments

 

[Ampig]

Maybe this list will help Double Bass Luthier Directory – Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog Yes the string height is average. 6mm G to 9mm E is standard.I go for 2 business card height under the strings at the nut. 1 business card height is often stated but I like 2 business cards. The neck will often move seasonally and this keeps it from buzzing during its movement. Either height would be fine. You can get a file and lower them if you need. You want to file it to match the strings path. Basically parallel to the fingerboard where the string goes into the nut, and then angled down to the gear on the back side. If you don't have a luthier around Arnol Schnitzers book may help you with these minor adjustments

It's the only upright I have. If I screw anything up, I'm dead in the water with no nearby shops.

 

[SAlcott]

The alternative is to do a road trip to someplace like the Bass Violin Shop in Greensboro. Make an appointment, tell them your situation, and plan to hang for a day or two. The time and expense will be worth it in the end. When I got my first good bass, I schlepped down from Rochester to Chuck Traeger's shop and slept on a friend's sofa while the work was done. I'll bet you could set up something like that.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If it is only the nut grooves, that would be done in a few minutes, maybe less than half an hour to lower the whole nut to make it look good.

If you do it yourself, get a rat tail file an take care only to lower the grooves, but not to widen them. I also round the grooves down at the pegside to avoid hard bending at the edge. That can avoid early breaking of strings due to bending stress.

Nuts can easily be replaced by a luthier. Just make sure you don’t damage other parts of your instrument while filing down.
You may want to practice with some harder wood (like beech) first. Take care of the grain direction (it is perpendicular to the nut grooves).

Or make an appointment with a DB luthier. Your one way travel time will be a lot longer than your time at the shop.

 

[Zooberwerx]

May want to contact the VSO and ask who they'd recommend. I used a local shop a couple decades ago but can't recall the name. I'd guess we're looking at either Norfolk or Raleigh. In the meantime, go get some lunch at Darryl's.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra |

virginiasymphony.org

Riis

 

[Nebadon2000]

Give this shop a call;[in OBX] they have experienced Techs from what I have been told and claim to work on all stringed instruments

Repairs – The Jubilee Music Store

jubileemusicstore.com

Are you enjoying the 'Barrage' of Tourist this year [ I live in Moyock and work in Kitty Hawk]

If they can't handle it I would search VA Beach and Hampton Roads area in General

 

[Ampig]

May want to contact the VSO and ask who they'd recommend. I used a local shop a couple decades ago but can't recall the name. I'd guess we're looking at either Norfolk or Raleigh. In the meantime, go get some lunch at Darryl's.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra |

virginiasymphony.org

Riis

I used to use Brooks Bozman at Mercury Fine Violins in Chesapeake. I was told he had/has cancer and lost his shop and is living out of his car in Florida. Sad.