Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
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I have been using the ironing board to work on my basses for a long time. You can work stood up or drop it to half height and sit down. As long as it is a decent ironing board, I don't think you need to worry about is collapsing.
However, if you are worried about quality, you could always get the Apple version, the extra heavy duty board for the iRon.
However, if you are worried about quality, you could always get the Apple version, the extra heavy duty board for the iRon.
Yeah ... obvious Irony-Ng ... however iron is a metal so this may be a suitable procedure for the perfect metal men adepts ...
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
At least it's not False Metal. True metalheadz, however, don't iron - they temper and steel! \m/
And glam rockers galvanise
No problem making adjustments with the instrument laying flat- the 2 best luthiers I use do it that way with stellar results. They do perform "tweaks" in the playing position especially with the end user ( me) playing the instrument.
Using an ironing board to do all maintenance on my instruments for decades. Works perfectly!
My kids have never seen it used differently (I don't Iron clothes, I fold them firm). When they spotted one at their grandmothers place they asked her why she had a guitar workbench, as she did not have any instruments.
My kids have never seen it used differently (I don't Iron clothes, I fold them firm). When they spotted one at their grandmothers place they asked her why she had a guitar workbench, as she did not have any instruments.
i've used ironing boards for lots of different projects, including working on an instrument. at our house we have two ironing boards = one is a backup! 
Details...no wait...decals!! That's it! Decals! Decals will convert a simple ironing board into a gin-u-ine fender setup station (pat pending). You could use an Ampeg decal, but it will just make your new setup station more expensive.Only if I can get one with a Fender or Ampeg logo....
But it would give you some of that famous Ampeg tone.
Are you sure? I know it sounds far fetched, but i've watched the same You Tube vid where that point was made almost word for word regarding the effect of gravity on set up and how to correctly position your bass to avoid gravity related issues with your neck set up. At first i thought it sounded more than a bit silly, but now that i've seen independent confirmation of the actual existence of that vid, by the new standard of truth i can only assume the effect of gravity on setup must be a real and valid concern, a fact i must now integrate into my setup routine in order to get the correct result. I like low action and have been happy with what i've been getting so i can only imagine how much better my setups will be now that i'm fully aware of all pertinent info regards setup.
Now where did i put my setup board?
Note, this is intended as a 'no-snark' post.
If I lay a straight edge on the nut of say, E and at the bridge, the gravity theorists are saying I might see daylight at the 12th fret? I don't. I think this is encroaching on the Tonewood Zone.
Having read all this with great interest and reflecting how I ( and probably about a bazillion other people ) do set ups, that is, with the instrument lying on it's back on whatever, you naturally pick up the instrument and play it to test it.
If you discern the need for a final tweek, you do it.
That seems a whole lot more practical than trying to work in an unnatural not so stable position and turning the whole thing into a Gordian knot of over thinking complicated rigs and debates about physics.
TB, ever entertaining for sure.
Re-inventing the wheel on a daily basis.
If you discern the need for a final tweek, you do it.
That seems a whole lot more practical than trying to work in an unnatural not so stable position and turning the whole thing into a Gordian knot of over thinking complicated rigs and debates about physics.
TB, ever entertaining for sure.
Re-inventing the wheel on a daily basis. 
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
I once had the privilege of spending an hour or so with Walter Woods in his home workshop while he checked out a stereo greenlight of mine. As those of you who've spoken with Walter know, when he's in the mood he's an engaging and brilliant conversationalist and raconteur. On this particular occasion, though, he amazed me when he needed to do a bit of quick soldering: he held the work piece between his knees and did the soldering right in his lap. Took about five seconds and nothing bad happened but I was flabbergasted.
This is a true story but if it ever gets back to WW I will vehemently deny it.
(As will he, I'm sure.)
This is a true story but if it ever gets back to WW I will vehemently deny it.
(As will he, I'm sure.)
Gravity doesn't effect the neck, but rather how the strings hang. And yes, it can have a minor effect. It's not to say the instrument can't be laid flat to do certain work, but some measurement are best made in playing position. This is especially true for those of us that like low action.
