To Cut, or Not to Cut? (TB Save)

[Craig Regan]

Ken, You mentioned a neck graft in the above post. Could you explain how was it done? and how it changed the bass?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Craig Regan

Ken, You mentioned a neck graft in the above post. Could you explain how was it done? and how it changed the bass?

Well first off neck Grafts are very common on old Basses and not so un-common on new ones either as my 2001 Pollmanm, 1936 Candi and 1919 Martini all got Neck Grafts within the last year. Some Basses have had 3 or 4 Necks made over time.

The Neck that was in this Bass was Spliced in two pieces length-wise with some cabinet makers joint in the middle of the Neck. This coupled with the Length being slightly long made for one ugly, poorly repaired and planned out Neck to begin with. There was no way this Neck would ever see a String on it in my lifetime!

The first thing I did was to pull off the already thin fingerboard and Cut the neck in half so that I could work on the Scroll separately and plug all the old Gear, Screw and Extension holes. There were 72 holes. Yes, count 'em, 'seventy two'! Then, I made the raised Maple Plates and added them to the already thin 'swiss cheese' Scroll Cheeks. Now, we have a Scroll & Peg Box to work with!

How did or rather how WILL (I haven't played a note yet on this Bass) the neck Graft change the Bass? Well, at least for once it will be a good Neck and not some pile of mismatched pieces glues together in various ways masquerading around as a Double Bass Neck. It will be the first correct Neck this bass has had since it became a 4-string some 100+ years ago.

Here are some pics of a Neck Graft in-progress from my Prescott of a few years ago..



When does a Bass need a Graft? Well, you will know it for sure when it needs one but sometimes it pays to modify a bass with a new Graft for optimum condition or mensur as done with the Martini and Candi recently for the reasons just stated.

[Phil Maneri]

That's a smokin' hunk a lumber on that neck graft.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Phil Maneri

That's a smokin' hunk a lumber on that neck graft.

But it finished up quite nicely as you can see here. Most Graft blocks start out like that, big and chunky. Many times like with my Bass in restoration a Cello Top is used but usually one with a cosmetic defect that down grades it to a Graft Block. For a neck, you can cut around it but not on a Cello Top smack dab in the middle.

Phil, this Bass was sold to a player in Columbus. You should have seen it by now.

[Phil Maneri]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

But it finished up quite nicely as you can see here. Most Graft blocks start out like that, big and chunky. Many times like with my Bass in restoration a Cello Top is used but usually one with a cosmetic defect that down grades it to a Graft Block. For a neck, you can cut around it but not on a Cello Top smack dab in the middle.

Phil, this Bass was sold to a player in Columbus. You should have seen it by now.

Really? I've never even heard about it. Symphony? Maybe they are gone now. They've been dropping like flies around here since the Symphony stopped cutting paychecks.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Phil Maneri

Really? I've never even heard about it. Symphony? Maybe they are gone now. They've been dropping like flies around here since the Symphony stopped cutting paychecks.

Well, maybe he's gone and maybe not.?

He did play in the Section and commented to me that now with this Bass, Morton's Gagliano 'wont' drown him out anymore.. lol

By the way, we were talking Neck Grafts?.. Lol

[Phil Maneri]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Well, maybe he's gone and maybe not.?

He did play in the Section and commented to me that now with this Bass, Morton's Gagliano 'wont' drown him out anymore.. lol

By the way, we were talking Neck Grafts?.. Lol

I'm sure the Gagliano won't be a problem anymore. Morton's now in Phoenix.

Speaking of Grafts, does the neck graft have to fit the scroll original dimension exactly or can the scroll where it enters be enlarged to fit a wider neck width?

I ask because if I ever get around to redoing the neck graft on the German/French I wouldn't mind it being a little wider. It's pegbox seems slightly narrower than many I've seen.