back plate and upper rib angle

[Adrian Levi]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

So is your back bent (like the one in your photo) and it just isn't a steep enough angle to mate up? Or was it made flat? I'm wondering how it was attached before... or was it?

Thomas yes the bass was built like that , the back is not bent (cut) to the angle of the upper bout ribs ,but it does not require any major torque(due to the flexibility of the thinnish maple back) to get it flush with the ribbing and the button . Once glued properly especially to the back of the neck heel it will easily stay in place and be a perfect 'visual' fit.... BUT there will always be that bit of pressure pulling away from the heel and thats what I'm interested in / can this actually inhibit the sonic potential of the instrument ....???

My understanding is that an instrument does not want to have any unnecessary structural tension related to it's build ?!?