Double Bass is a low neck angle an issue?

[AdrianSmith]

Hi
I have recently got hold of an old DB, but it has a really low neck angle that is going to mean taking matertial off the bridge feet and taking as much off the top of the bridge as possible to get a decent action. My gigging DB has a bridge height of around 150mm, while this other one has more like 125/130mm.

My questions are, is a low neck angle such a bad thing to have for tone/playability?
How does an old bass end up with a low neck angle, or would it have been made that way?

I am guessing this bass is around 80 years old. Not ply. I can post pictures and measurements if anyone would find it helpful

I have been watching a thread on here where a neck has been taken off and a shim placed underneath. It looks like a tough job but if it is worth it, I'll give it a go

Many thanks

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I make no particular claims to expertise, ( I play a ply bass and I'm a wood-dorker, who's been known to dabble in instruments, but I make no claim to "Luthier") but I'd certainly think that fitting a bridge and seeing how it plays would be a far more reasonable start than changing the neck, unless there are clear signs that the neck has moved. Perhaps a bridge with adjusters...or add adjusters to the bridge you have, which gives you more places to cut a bit off the height.

Pictures can't hurt.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Modern basses will have a bridge height of about 6”. I say ‘about’ because it’s a bit complicated. Generally, older basses made in the days of gut strings were often made with low overstand, projection and thinner tops and a particular bass should be evaluated. Basses like you describe have problems with bow clearance and access to the upper register.
I have seen some old basses with very thin tops which are deformed and would never support the stress of a taller bridge and steel strings. However, my current WWI era bass was made with an integral bar with a top thickness of over 14mm. The top arching is perfect so I regraduated it and fit a new bar. It supports a bridge height of 6.5” just fine. Each bass is different. I just had a twenty year old Chinese bass which is 5.5mm at its thickest point with no wonkiest in the top arching and it sounds really good. The bass in question should be evaluated by a pro if you like the way it sounds and plays.

 

[Ggaa]

I seem to remember from my shop days a lower bridge would result in slightly lower acoustic volume due to lower string tension vs a higher bridge. Probably wouldn't be an issue with a pickup.
If the neck block had come loose I think there would at least be distortion in the upper bouts at the neck.

 

[bassmanbrent]

I’m guessing your bass was made that way, but it’s only a guess. Many were. Definitely have it assessed by a qualified DB luthier. I think even with detailed pics, it’d be hard to evaluate all the variables from here…

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Umm, certainly no luthier nor anything other than playing the damn thing but- aren’t we talking about overstand? If memory serves that’s one thing that folks with older basses needed was a neck reset to correct/lessen the tailpiece to bridge to fingerboard angle.
Or am I misremembering?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Yes, that’s overstand. A neck set with more projection allows for a taller bridge and a bit more acoustic projection because of increased pressure on the belly, but the point is mostly to make the instrument easier to bow.

 

[Derek Kay]

If you want to bow with a French bow you should be OK as is.

A German bow would be more difficult to access the E string unless the boughts are deep.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Umm, certainly no luthier nor anything other than playing the damn thing but- aren’t we talking about overstand? If memory serves that’s one thing that folks with older basses needed was a neck reset to correct/lessen the tailpiece to bridge to fingerboard angle.
Or am I misremembering?

Overstand is the distance from the top of the bass to the point where the neck joins the fingerboard. It does affect the neck angle, but indirectly. Theoretically, a bass could have an overstand of 6”, an angle near 0 degrees and have a 6-6.5” bridge.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Theoretically, a bass could have an overstand of 6”, an angle near 0 degrees and have a 6-6.5” bridge.

I suspect a more complete theory might deal with a minimum required angle to keep the bridge from falling over, which I suspect it would want to to VERY strongly in that configuration. But I haven't tried it in practice.

 

[AdrianSmith]

Hi Guys
Many thanks for your advice. I have had a better look at the bass and can see that the bridge is pretty much at it's lowest point on top and on the feet. I may look out for another smaller bridge. I am also tempted to set this bass up with some SBD Dirty Guts and keep a fairly high action.

The fingerboard to body is about 23mm, and bridge height is 5 1/4 inch in the centre. The action various with each string around 15mm. The top looks like it has dipped a little bit, and the neck joint seems really secure

The fingerboard is painted but hard wood, and needs work to flatten it. The bass also needs a new nut. It was pretty cheap, but it looks good, and I think it should sound good too. It will make a good project for me, as long as the splits hold out. I'll attach some photos.