Neck replacement

[William Stephens]

When I did the 9th a couple of years ago I used my English Gilkes (Samuel) that's only a 41" length. That last page is a killer..

I say thank goodness for that short maestoso section just before the end-

It's almost as if Beethoven was giving the string players a little respite before the final push at the end!

[Ken Smith]

I looked at your bass and its measurements. This is a turn of the Century Germanic (German style or Bohemian) Flatback Bass.

This is an easy bass to play by size as compared to higher shouldered English, Italian or French basses.

Easiest and cheapest way would be to cut the Block, not the shoulders, maybe add wood to the Block inside as well to set the Neck in deeper in the mortise. Then, sit the Bridge just above the F-notches and play it like that. The Neck graft would only be needed if it is not solid and sound. The Luthiers can move the Neck out a bit and even slightly re pitch one way or another and make it play easier.

Also, how tall are you? Arm/shirt size length?

I play many Basses as big or bigger than yours and some hurt and some don't!.

Here is a bass that we cut with Before and After Pictures. The bass was a roundback at about 43 7/8ths" string length and an Eb neck. With the same same neck and a block cut it was reduced to 42 3/8ths with the bridge cheated forward just a bit. The pictures are old and were not taked to teach the block cut method exactly so look it over carefully so you can guess what to expect. We reduced it by 1/5". On your bass it would hit 41.5" if the same job was done.

[William Stephens]

Also, how tall are you? Arm/shirt size length?

I play many Basses as big or bigger than yours and some hurt and some don't!.

Oddly enough I'm not a short guy! - I'm about 5'9ish. my arm measured from armpit to wrist is about 18.5"

I remember reading once somebody saying a good way of telling wether a bass was suited to a player in terms of size was that if the player can from the playing position reach over and touch the bridge comfortably with their left hand then the instrument will be fine. If not it may hurt!

It sounds a little pedantic but I wonder if there may be some truth in it..

on my bass I'm about an inch short of the bridge when I do that. The bass does hurt!

When you see old basses with huge stop lengths and body sizes it makes you wonder how tall the people were in those days.

Thanks

Will

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by William Stephens

When you see old basses with huge stop lengths and body sizes it makes you wonder how tall the people were in those days.

I think they just left the high notes to the fiddle players.