Bass Bar Profile Question??

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Aren Winebrenner

The neckstand is too short/low at this point and is in a mortise joint. I'll be carving a new neck block and adding to the heel to modernize the overstand. It's not the worst that I've seen but could definitley be higher. If memory serves me well, I think its only about 12-13mm as is. I don't recall the bridge height right now but I know it is on the short side. I don't recall the width of the C bouts right now either. I'll check it out when I get home tonight, and report back.

I hesitated to dive in on this bass, but given all the work that needed done to it, the repair/restoration costs would have far outweighed the value of the instrument. So I thought what the heck, I don't plan on this being the only one, and ya gotta start somewhere!

My Gilkes neck overstand was about the same as yours is before it was restored and is now 36mm but in adding a Button to increase the neck stand, you have to watch the neck angle pitch and bridge height ratio. Get your 'numbers' lined up correctly. I would say 6.5" is about average height for a bridge with low string height.

The Block can be built up inside the bass if it needs to be deeper and in the mortise as well. Making a whole new neck block should be a last resort. Both my Olde English bass and my Hart had their blocks built up in both the mortise and the depth in the bass. The fit to the shoulders, back and top didn't need correcting. Just the added piece to the bottom of the block. Old wood is good wood unless it is unrepairable.