Double Bass The Traeger Bass Book Is Here

[Brent Nussey]

To clarify, the words which I quoted in post #94 were from page 23, in chapter 6 "Some general observations on the setup for optimum sound - the proper order of adjustment - the four genies of sound and playability" This paragraph does site chapter 11 for more information, however in this chapter (6) my quoted text in this thread IS the whole paragraph.

Hey Gary. This is exactly the kind of thing I'd like to talk about in my other thread. CT does say that there should be at least 7/8" of wood above the heart in the section on cutting a bridge, but in the brief introductory section, says legs as long as possible, bridge top as short as possible. When I first read this, I thought Belgian bridge too. But when you look at the pictures, (ex pg 87 and 90), you'll see that's not what his bridges look like at all. That said, I think from what I've read that he's saying make the legs as long as possible because that transfers energy to the top better. It sounds like you are saying that bridge dimensions should be chosen as a way to get the tone the player is after. You're actually answering some of the questions I put in my first post. In the next one, I'll try to give you something more specific to react to, and I'll look forward to your response. Maybe then when it's done you can just direct all your clients asking for the CT setup here for the other viewpoints.....

Brent

 

[uptonbass]

Brent,

I'll catch you over at that thread then, things are getting a little wild at the shop so I will try to keep up on my daily dose of TB!

It's not at all that any of our clients are asking for his setup, more so they are calling with the book in hand saying....do you do this....or this.....etc... Just confused customers but we are always happy to chat them through the questions and show how and why...

I should post this on the other thread:

Yesterday I played around a little and actually weighted the scroll of my Hawkes bass. This is the Professor copy but with a round back. I figured I would go way out there and I took a bag of shot 25lbs.!!!!! and CAREFULLY rested it on the top of the scroll. YEAH I know this was a little crazy but rest assured the bass was fine, balanced straight up and down not to stress the neck or peg box too drastically. Back to the test: Playing the exact notes in the exact same location in the shop the instrument had no audible difference....yeah REALLY. Myself, Eric, Jack, and my wife Aubrey couldn't hear or feel a difference. Please keep in mind we play, setup, talk, eat, sleep, etc.... bass ALL day long and none of us could hear a difference. Well maybe only Jack, Eric and I are the fanatics! This morning I tried the test again on another bass with a few blind listeners, still nothing to report.

When we have time at the shop I/we will gladly run some of Mr. Treagers ideas on some select instruments. Not ones going to clients, those will keep the exclusive Upton touches

These tests will obviously be within reason, choice elements, that we can truly say we have never tried. Open to any you would like to throw at us....again within reason and as time allows

This was the bass: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Looks like we need some new pictures...yuck those do nothing for the bass

 

[uptonbass]

I figured I would go way out there and I took a bag of shot 25lbs.!!!!!

Being prompted in discussion by a certain conservative luthier I must clarify my previous post. While the 25 pound bag of shot would not prove wrong the matching/tuning of modes it was in effect to the statement of halting, or close to halting the necks vibrations.

 

[PB+J]

Interesting thread. I'm by no means a luthier or even remotely close to a luthier, though I have made a few solid body guitars and basses and am partly through carving the top of an archtop guitar. I learned enough through doing this to realize that while it's fun, it's better left to the pros who do it every day, all day. Respect the commitment.

Instrument making is an odd biz--tradition weighs really heavily, and players are extremely conservative, usually, but people who build and play also tend to be tinkerers, fascinated by technology, who want to try new solutions. The irascible Ken Smith is an excellent example--both extremely conservative in his tastes regarding double bass, but a genuine innovator in the world of electric bass.

As a player, not a particularly good one, just competant, I want some magic innovation that will set my tone free and bring what I imagine closer to what I actually hear. So I'm kind of a sucker for arguments that claim this or that is the key to tone. I'd love to read the Traeger book

But it's like bike riding --you could spend $2000 on the latest tech innovatons and shave three ounces of the weight of the bike, or you could lay off the doughnuts and lose ten pounds. We're the technological limitation that really matters

On the other hand, I just bought a new bass that cost more than many cars I've owned, so what do I know?

 

[M_A_T_T]

This might be old news, but for anybody who has the book, have you seen these corrections?

http://www.henrystrobel.com/corrections.pdf

 

[jvillarreal]

This might be old news, but for anybody who has the book, have you seen these corrections?

These corrections actually came with my copy that I just got in yesterday. Reading through the first several chapters, I have found many more errors of less importance (spelling, and such ).

The book is really great though. Traeger seems like a really down-to-earth guy and his humor really comes through in his writing... definitely worth the money.

 

[Duval Prescott]

Hey Ken-
Callman[or as I heard it-Kalman] was the guy who used to replace hammered flatbacks with plywood. It was done on many basses of fine heritage. I just replaced a ply back on a Prescott with a wood one. Dominic Duval also had a Prescott with a ply back that I believe was recently replaced.

Correct, it was replaced after British Airways dropped the bass, some years ago. It was my fathers. I now play, and own the Prescott.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Funny this seventeen year old thread would pop up. I saw Bob B last weekend and he is doing well. Other than some back pain which limits his playing, he’s in great shape. Bob has been very helpful to me in my business and always helpful in passing on his knowledge.
Personally, I have Chuck’s book on my desk and consult it often. However, I don’t follow his ideas in any dogmatic manner, seeing that each situation is different. But darn it, every now and then I try one of his seemingly ridiculous ideas and the bass sounds better! I willingly add his ideas to the toolkit to be used where they may be useful.

 

[james condino]

I'm one of the reviewers on the back cover. It is easy to get sidetracked on a small specific here and there with Chuck's methods or his enthusiasm; even so it represents a huge achievement in knowledge and willingness to share. Name one other source that gives so much information for such a reasonable price, for our beloved instrument. For the price of a single Spirocore string, you get a lifetime of knowledge. Not everyone can express their knowlegde well in written form and equally, not all readers can extrapolate the information he was trying to tell them

Chuck was gracious friendly, and genuinely cared about us bass nerds; a rare combination. I still have a letter that he wrote to me on an old manual typewriter, complete with white out corrections- a token from a bygone era.

I always wanted to ask him what effect the book made in his workload, if he was more in demand after publishing or if folks just bought the book and never came by anymore.

 

[neilG]

I brought my bass to Traeger way back in the 70's. There weren't many choices of repair shops. He did strange things to my bass with bizarre reasoning, and it came back with more scratches than it had before, so, I'm one of those who never came by any more. Having said that, I own both of his books, because, along with what some might consider controversial ideas, there is some excellent and correct knowledge that you can't find anywhere else. My only complaint is that there are not enough photos or illustrations.

 

[statsc]

I brought a basket case of a mid-1800’s Tyrolean block-less wonder to him in 1980. He completely overhauled it and it’s still together and sounding great! The man must have known something!

 

[John Sprague]

Curious thing, lots of people criticize the book, but everybody owns it.

 

[BucketOfFish]

Curious thing, lots of people criticize the book, but everybody owns it.

Add me to the list of owners as of last week.