bass bar types ?

[Adrian Levi]

I'd just like to say thanks to Ken & Arnold for taking the time to offer their insight and opinions . I for one really do appreciate the value of this site as I'm sure many others do.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

I want to add that the rules for violin bass bar placement are irrelevant with bass, as the variations in bout widths and f-hole placements are enormous in basses.

[Adrian Levi]

I have one more question regarding bass bars . If you have a bar that is made and placed properly but is in need of say a little more depth to it , why not add wood onto the top of the bar ? This shouldn't be too difficult with the older more plain looking bars I've seen ??

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Levi

I have one more question regarding bass bars . If you have a bar that is made and placed properly but is in need of say a little more depth to it , why not add wood onto the top of the bar ? This shouldn't be too difficult with the older more plain looking bars I've seen ??

Unless the new added piece can 'grow' into the original and become one it will never work as a bar the modified size. It is not looks and size like a door, it's a structure piece and needs to be all one.

[Matthew Tucker]

I respectfully disagree; the centre portion of the bar is relatively inflexible and a well-glued addition could add useful weight/height without compromising the flexibility/springiness of the ends. So I think it *could* be done successfully, and I'm sure it has been tried.

However, that said, I don't think I'd do it!

[Tomas Bouda]

i don't think i'm convinced that gluing any wood onto the bassbar would be wise - i seen a few chinese factory basses with laminated bassbars (can you believe it?!) that were sandwiched 4-5 pieces of some type of wood. these basses always sound horrifying!