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Trade Secrets: Establishing a consistent double bass neck heel

2023-10-24T08:31:00

7

A personal method that can be utilised during the design of the neck and scroll

By Nick Lloyd

Double bass maker based in Nicholas County, KY, US

One of the great rewards of being a double bass maker is the seemingly endless variety of bass models, sizes, outlines, f-holes, arching styles and string lengths. The other side of the coin is that some basses are extremely uncomfortable to play, either because of their bulky neck, or because the neck lacks a desired ‘D’ stop in the heel. I have built basses with a string length as short as 39 inches (990.6mm) and as long as 41.75 inches (1060.5mm). But all have had a comfortable neck…

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