Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Double Basses > Luthier's Corner

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-15-2010, 04:57 PM
Thomas Erickson's Avatar
Thomas Erickson Thomas Erickson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 05-23-2010
Location: Pacific NW USA
Posts: 309
Thomas Erickson is on a distinguished road
Question Edges - overhanging vs. flush

Not something I've seen discussed before, at least specifically - I'm wondering what people are thinking about the pros and cons of either configuration. Of course we could be talking about basses that are/were made in such a manner, or about old instruments that just don't have any edges left I suppose!

Personally I like the aesthetic of flush joined ribs/edges, at least on certain styles of instruments, but I go back and forth on whether overhanging edges are more likely to help preserve the plates, or (as with violin corners) more likely to be a liability; clearly the majority of thinking is that overhanging is better, but I don't know for sure why - practical or just tradition? Thoughts?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-16-2010, 07:32 AM
Matthew Tucker's Avatar
Matthew Tucker Matthew Tucker is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-19-2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 427
Matthew Tucker is on a distinguished road
Send a message via Skype™ to Matthew Tucker
Default

HEAPS easier to remove and replace the top for repairs, and the overhangs protect the ribs from stage scratches ...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-16-2010, 08:39 AM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Putnam County, NY
Posts: 453
Arnold Schnitzer is on a distinguished road
Default

Over time the top and especially the back will shrink. Overhangs allow some repositioning to be done without major surgery. Without overhangs, bulges can occur within a few years.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-19-2010, 04:38 PM
Thomas Erickson's Avatar
Thomas Erickson Thomas Erickson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 05-23-2010
Location: Pacific NW USA
Posts: 309
Thomas Erickson is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
Over time the top and especially the back will shrink. Overhangs allow some repositioning to be done without major surgery. Without overhangs, bulges can occur within a few years.
In the cases of the old basses we see that were made without overhanging edges - was this something the makers weren't aware of and repairers just had to deal with? Or do you think there were/are construction methods or considerations that can help to address the issue? Of course the shrinkage is a given, eventually anyway, so I'm not sure what could be done - maybe it was just a matter of drier wood being used than what we use more recently, so the shrinkage was not seen so quickly...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-19-2010, 10:47 PM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Cool ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson View Post
In the cases of the old basses we see that were made without overhanging edges - was this something the makers weren't aware of and repairers just had to deal with? Or do you think there were/are construction methods or considerations that can help to address the issue? Of course the shrinkage is a given, eventually anyway, so I'm not sure what could be done - maybe it was just a matter of drier wood being used than what we use more recently, so the shrinkage was not seen so quickly...
Viol d'Gambas are made flush in the old world.
Guitars, Lutes and Mandolins are made flush.
Viennese and Czech/Prague school basses and some Hungarian basses are often made flush as well.

It seems that only the Violin School instruments are made with edges overhanging with the exception of some Eastern European double basses.

Nothing is set in stone but that's what I have seen and learned so far to date from what I can recall.

Flush is not a good idea for the long haul.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-23-2011, 02:41 PM
Tyler Bolles Tyler Bolles is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-23-2011
Location: Burlington, VT
Posts: 11
Tyler Bolles is on a distinguished road
Default

Not all mandos have flush/bound edges!


Last edited by Ken Smith; 02-23-2011 at 04:21 PM. Reason: Commercial Link
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-23-2011, 04:21 PM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyler Bolles View Post
Not all mandos have flush/bound edges!

I was referring to old European instruments. You can build today anyway you like. Tradition is different however. Nice looking instrument.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-24-2011, 05:24 AM
Thomas Erickson's Avatar
Thomas Erickson Thomas Erickson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 05-23-2010
Location: Pacific NW USA
Posts: 309
Thomas Erickson is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
You can build today anyway you like.
I tend to think (in terms of basses especially) that this was the case yesterday as well.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)