Double Bass What's the scoop (camber)

[SunneyBoy]

This is not really something I have ever put much thought into or seen discussed alot here. But what is your preference for fingerboard scoop.

I recently acquired a bass with a nearly dead straight board and although frustrating in certain instances (thumb position) I can see and feel how a straighter finger board has certain advantages in playability in lower and middle positions.

So.. what are your preferences and do they change depending on the style of music your are playing?

Lets say measured at the heel of the neck.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

This is something determined by string preference and playing style so it's hard to state equivocally that any 'one' way of dressing a board is best.
Generally, I think dressing a board with the camber of the diameter of the strings is a good guide. For example, if a G string is 1.5mm in diameter that's about how much scoop I'll shoot for near the heel. I use a 36" long straightedge and do it by eye. It's essential that there be no bumps or dips at that height. The nut slots can then be cut where the string almost touches the end of the board where it leaves the nut. All of this makes for a bass that's easy to play over the entire instrument.

 

[Jon Stefaniak]

I would assume the principles are the same as with guitar and bass guitar setup. The string vibrates more widely in the middle, so the more scoop (neck relief in guitars) the board has, the closer you can get the string to the board without buzzing. Too little scoop will buzz more on the nut side of the board; too much and the buzz comes from the bridge end. To measure this, you need to press the string down to the board at both ends.

I don't know about this on contrabass, haven't had my board dressed in a long time.