Fingerboard and Bridge relationships

[Ken McKay]

He Ken,
This is THE forum that I search first for information, if that counts for anything.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

He Ken,
This is THE forum that I search first for information, if that counts for anything.

It counts for a lot.. thanks..

Speaking of bad set-ups, a local HS senior brought me a modern 5-string yesterday in need of a basic set-up. I wont mention the brand or point a finger but this is how the bass was shipped to him.

The Fingerboard is already too flat in the center to achieve an optimum string height over the end of the FB regardless of how I arch the bridge. Still, I explained to him that the bridge must be made bowable despite the FB shape.

I also showed him my big 5er which was set as a 4 or 5 string with 2 sets of notches on the bridge and he loved that idea so I will do the same with his bass. What I can't do is add wood back to the fingerboard for him so he will have to deal with the string height which in the middle will be higher than what I like.

This is just an example of bad work from the start. A brand new bass with too much wood taken off the FB. The bridge was notched at about 24mm and arched too flat to bow as well.

Although I am not in the business of doing set-ups for DBs, I do however work on my own basses in that regard getting the exact heights and curves at both the nut and bridge as best as the bass in hand will allow.

The nut on this bass was so high I was able to slide the entire pad of paper under the strings and slide it across. I explained that my basses are 1 to 2 sheets of paper at most when I make adjustments. This one couldn't touch the pad at 12 sheets.

Why are basses so blindly ignored? Do they sell violins with such bad set-ups that only a strong man can press the notes down? I am a bit disappointed in how this bass was shipped with just supposedly the sound post needing to be installed. I had to fix a chip in it first yesterday so I haven't even checked if the post is usable.

Maybe we should force these idiots to PLAY the basses they ship that they expect others to play on. They should be punished. If this were a bass for my personal use it would need a new fingerboard before anything else is done.

People, be very careful buying basses mail-order like this one was. Also, the reviews you see are often from people that don't know the difference. I don't care what style music you play, this bass has no chance without some expensive set-up work and for professional use and in my opinion it needs a fingerboard. That would run in total more than half of what the bass was sold for new and not worth doing.

Shame on those people shipping out basses that can't be played.

[Ken McKay]

Ken, we (local luthiers) see this all the time cellos and basses especially but also with violins and viola. I think the factories are both uninformed as well as compromising because no single set up is good for every season and string type. This becomes more important with the bigger instruments. A fingerboard that is too flat from the start is just bad.

I check every new instrument I sell for proper set up before I send it out. A lot of cellos need fingerboard work, all basses do, most violas violins need nut work. And then when I see them back in a year or two I can determine how green they were by the unreasonable warping. That is where I learn what companies/factories produce the best instruments. Shen for example is GOOD.

Judge: "You are sentenced to play this instrument for one orchestra season!" Gavel slam.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

Ken, we (local luthiers) see this all the time cellos and basses especially but also with violins and viola. I think the factories are both uninformed as well as compromising because no single set up is good for every season and string type. This becomes more important with the bigger instruments. A fingerboard that is too flat from the start is just bad.

I check every new instrument I sell for proper set up before I send it out. A lot of cellos need fingerboard work, all basses do, most violas violins need nut work. And then when I see them back in a year or two I can determine how green they were by the unreasonable warping. That is where I learn what companies/factories produce the best instruments. Shen for example is GOOD.

Judge: "You are sentenced to play this instrument for one orchestra season!" Gavel slam.

Yes but they are NOT allowed to set-it up at all. Must be played AS shipped.. lol .. Band aides NOT included. 10 lashes by whip for all notes played wrong or missed. 8 lashes for each not played out of tune. The lashing will take longer than each rehearsal or concert. Get that guy some new skin..