Now I've had my Arvi for about a year and half now, and I've got a fair share of work done on it, and it boy does it sound and play great...except one thing: it is particularly hardgiven the shape of the top and slope of the shoulders, setting of the neck, and shape of the neck and heelto access F# on the G string, and all congruent fingering on the other strings. I have had the neck worked down a fair bit to make this easier, but my luthier Mike Shank, for whom I have nothing but praise and respect, says it would be risky to take it any further down the heel of the neck. I would have to cut into the varnish on the heel in order to take it further. I am not sure if this would also compromise the structure and trueness of the neck.
I've thought of:
1)Continuing to shave the block down to real Eb neck, through the varnish...right now its between a D and Eb, and praying for structural security
2)I could put the bridge up further, shortening the string length as well, but this would only bring the F# up 1/2 of whatever I bring the bridge up. More importantly, this could and very well will sacrifice sound production and tone.
3)Increase the overstand, thus clearing the distance to the shoulders. This is also a long, expensive, invasive procedure, which I imagine will require a new bridge to compensate for the new height, as well as the reset and shimmed neck. $$$$$
Lastly, I do not think this is a technical problem on my part. I get very easily around the rest of the bass, and I've adapted to the problem at hand quite well, although it still is what it is, and I'd like it to improve. I've talked to several well known professionals and they agree on the severity of the ergonomics in regards to the F#.
Any ideas? Recommendations? Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks,
Nash
I've thought of:
1)Continuing to shave the block down to real Eb neck, through the varnish...right now its between a D and Eb, and praying for structural security
2)I could put the bridge up further, shortening the string length as well, but this would only bring the F# up 1/2 of whatever I bring the bridge up. More importantly, this could and very well will sacrifice sound production and tone.
3)Increase the overstand, thus clearing the distance to the shoulders. This is also a long, expensive, invasive procedure, which I imagine will require a new bridge to compensate for the new height, as well as the reset and shimmed neck. $$$$$
Lastly, I do not think this is a technical problem on my part. I get very easily around the rest of the bass, and I've adapted to the problem at hand quite well, although it still is what it is, and I'd like it to improve. I've talked to several well known professionals and they agree on the severity of the ergonomics in regards to the F#.
Any ideas? Recommendations? Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks,
Nash
