Violin family instruments necks are susceptible to damage. Effect of bass bar tension on modal parameters of a violins. However, since some strings are fairly expensive, you may like to follow a few guidelines below to help you avoid purchasing strings that may not be right for you or your instrument. Not just a glossary of upright bass, double bass, string bass, bass viol, contrabass, bass fiddle, bull fiddle, acoustic bass, standup bass, doghouse bass. When an instruments top is no longer has the correct arch then. With a light on the inside and a small mirror, i could tell by looking through the end pin hole and the f hole that about a quarter of the. It is mounted in line with the strings and reaches almost from one end of the violin body to the other. I recognize that a bass bar crack is a serious crack, and will devalue an instrument.
I prefer to preheat the bass bar and top plate to about 100 degrees f. Effect of bass bar tension on modal parameters of a violin. Violin, viola, cello, and bass repair, violin sales, custom building, bow rehair home about us hours directions gallery eisenbarth instruments repair price list rental program contact us due to the covid19 outbreak, eisenbarth violin shop is closed until further notice. Hidden inside the top, the bass bar is one of the elegantly sculpted parts of the violin. It is well restored and ready for many more decades of enjoyment. Strings, violin, viola, cello, upright bass johnson. The bass bar serves to prop up the arching as well as tune the plate and put it in balance. Bass bar, an oblong piece of wood, fixed lengthwise inside the belly of the various instruments belonging to the violin tribe, running in the same direction with the strings, below the lowest string, and acting as a beam or girder to strengthen the belly against the pressure of the left foot of the bridge, as the soundpost does against that. According to the a dictionary of music and musicians by. This is a type of crack that runs along the side of the bass bar and the top of the. The bridge, the soundpost and the bass bar for violin. Just like with acoustic or electric guitar strings, a bass guitars strings will affect the tone of your bass. With quite a few cracks the bassbar crack and the line underneath the. Despite their solid appearance that guarantees rigidity are very light.
The bass bar is meant to prevent these by supporting the top plate and retaining its natural shape as it flexes. There is certainly a world of difference between an instrument made by machine. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle strings. Bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the. In the case of my fiddle, the crack was next to the bass bar, and one side was higher than the other. The bridge, the soundpost and the bass bar for violin family. The bass bar is a long brace running vertically down the carved top, transmitting string energy from the bridge. This required arching correction for the top of my violin, to smooth out those bumps caused by the uneven buckling across the top of the violin. The main issue is when shifting past 4th position, the frets are not spaced properly and the bass can not play in tune. Rehair bow replace silver winding on bow replace leather grip replace ivory tip. Through special manufacturing techniques, the helicore strings have a warm.
Experimental modal analysis on a violin with three different tensions of a bass bar is performed. Crack repair cheek patch install new endbutton bush peg holes reglue top reset neck neck graft soundpost patch button patch replace corners simple and compound replace edges fit new bass bar bow repairs for violin, viola and cello. This specification sheet created by alan goldblatt. Its somewhat difficult to give prices without seeing the instrument. Bassbar cracks usually start at either the ends or the middle duh, but for different reasons. It very easy to use, it will be the best solution for the luthier. Strings violin shop 5842 merriam drive merriam, ks 66203. You may want to read this helpful article on buying a violin. Some strings might have a warm sound and offer subdued, fuller sound that fits well if you play jazz, reggae, or old school rock. Jun 25, 2016 finally finished fixing the cracks and setting cleats, bass bar, and. Cellos deeper sound on lower strings, more sizzle and power. The usual repair consists of removing the old bass bar, gluing the crack, fitting a new bass bar, cleating the crack, fitting t. Fitting the bar is perhaps the most precise step in making an instrument.
We hope this information helps you find the best violin, viola, cello, or bass strings to make your instrument sing, respond, and project to its highest capability. It has to support the top, and it also distributes the vibrations to the rest of the top. With so many brands, gauges and materials, choosing the right. In a string instrument, the bass bar is a brace running from the foot of the neck to a position under the bridge, which bears much of the tension of the strings.
A full cast for violin, viola and cello is the best way to go. If your instrument has a crack or open seam it can be a simple repair or can be more complex. Violin, viola, cello and bass bass bar cracks bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar. Isaac stern, internationally renowned violin soloist, recording artist and patron of the music world. Violin and viola same 3 pieces, cello 7 pieces, bass 10 pieces. Bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar. Sound post cracks or bass bar cracks usually need to have the top removed and patched. At the ends it is often a either a dryness crack, like a saddle crack, extending upward, or due to the weakness of the top just adjacent to the bar, which is inherent to the violin design, but can be exacerbated by a thin top, weird, arching, or ill fitting of the bar. There were no other cracks on the rib, and it was not necessary to double the entire rib. Basically, it needed major surgery, involving taking off the lid. Normally the best method is to do a neck graft, but because its time consuming its a little expensive. The violin bass bar the bass bar on stringed instruments isnt just vital to the instruments voice. The bass bar is a thin strip of seasoned spruce, mounted in a standing up position under the left side of the top. Here are some unusual neck repairs that were performed without a neck graft.
After hide glue was applied it will most likely be blue forever. If you have a crack in a violin, you cant necessarily just glue it shut. In the process of removing the top to repair the damage i thought that the bass bar was not up to the crucial role it plays and that the violin sound would be dramatically improved by a better one so in this photo the new bar is fit and glued but not shaped yet. Oct 14, 2014 the bass bar is a piece of wood on the underside of the faceplate or belly of stringed instruments such as violins, violas or cellos it runs along the bass string of the instrument down to the bass end of the bridge, counterbalancing the pressure of the sound post under the treble end of the bridge, reinforcing the top plate and allowing extra string pressure. We also offer mooradian and bobelock bass bags, and the realist pickup for bass. Bass bar crack repair the pegbox maestronet forums. Added a missing button, supported a bass bar crack, removed, regraduated and reinstalled the bass bar, did some. Starting the ramp in this case, the crack was outside of the block and fairly close to it. With a light on the inside and a small mirror, i could tell by looking through the end pin hole and the f hole that about a quarter of the bass bar near the endpin had come unglued. The bass bow used is personal preference and usually depends on what style. The packing tape will act as a hinge when gluing the crack, and will also keep the crack together while its in the form.
Fine restoration and sales of instruments in the violin family. George martin and the workshop reseting a double bass neck, ep 3 duration. Usually,we use epacket delivery from chinaabout 720 business days ship to the usa, canada, france, australia, russia, uk. Repair crack with patch maple or spruce cut and inlaid then graduated to match interior surface. It runs along the bass string of the instrument down to the bass end of the. Width at ears 40 top of 1st turn approx jun 28, 2016 the bass bar plays a dual role. Fiber is black, pear wood is somewhat reddish, and maple is white or stained black. As they say never let a good catastrophe go to waste.
We offer the most complete selection of bass strings anywhere. Repair crack with cleats maple or spruce cut to a traversing support cleat that holds crack together. Used, but good condition and all locks work properly. Today violin maker derek roberts makes the bass bar and fits it to the inside of the front plate. Anton krutz making a bass krutz string instruments duration. It strengthens the front plate and helps transmit low frequency vibrations from the string to the body of the instrument. The images at right are labeled with parts of the bass, and the entries below may also include comments to help familiarize yourself with. This doubling started 60mm before the crack, and continued 40mm after the crack. Multistrand twisted steel core strings are superb for the advanced and professional players. Our experts specialize in string instrument repairs, from the most minor of adjustments to fullscale restorations. The bass bar tension is the only intentionally introduced modification of the instrument. Unfortunately, i have had the displeasure of seeing a bass bar on a double bass that had been fit with blue chalk.
The bass bar is a piece of wood on the underside of the faceplate or belly of stringed instruments such as violins, violas or cellos it runs along the bass string of the instrument down to the bass end of the bridge, counterbalancing the pressure of the sound post under the treble end of the bridge, reinforcing the top plate and allowing extra string pressure. Feel free to bring your instrument in for a quote, but these prices will give you an idea of what those repairs can cost. When perfectly fitted, the bar is glued into place with violin making glue, usually perpendicular to the predominant contact surface as the curvature changes throughout the length of the bass bar. Bass violins were usually somewhat larger than the modern cello, but tuned to the same nominal pitches or sometimes one step lower. State of the art production and manufacturing with the highest quality materials mean consistent and reliable performance at an affordable price. Occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the outside but most likely you will need to remove the top.
The bridge is set on the top of the violin, between the ff holes. But that flexibility makes them vulnerable to a sudden impact, which can result in a crack. The bass bar is a piece of wood on the underside of the faceplate or belly of stringed instruments such as violins, violas or cellos. My clients are not well off, and dont play the violin, although her. Basses deep, booming sound with great power and response i tried your violin with your bass bar invention and it has an extraordinarily vibrant sound. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle. There are various repairs to the scroll, top and ribs. In the members of the violin family in the members of the viola da gamba family in some archtop guitars and in many other string instruments. One of the bridge feet is over the bass bar and the other one is near the soundpost. A few years ago, a cello i made suffered a drop that resulted in both a soundpost and a bassbar crack. One day, from curiosity i mapped out how a normal bar, which has a sweeping, scooped look on the contoured violin top, would look if it were on a flat top rather than an arched one, by mapping the heights on a flat line, and was i surprised. I suspected that the bass bar was possibly cracked or unglued. The bass bar is a reinforcing strut which is fixed inside the front of the violin and lies under the line of the g string. I would allow several days if not a week to let this crack dry in the form.
Pirastro, thomastik, velvet, innovation, labella, corelli, daddario and others. Antonio strad violins expert luthier team understands your instrument, whether a violin, viola, cello or bass, we know the importance of appearance, comfort, playability and how structure affects tone. But these pressure pointsthe top, along the length of the bass bar and over the soundpost, and the back, where the bottom of the post rests, are designed to be flexible, in order to conduct and amplify the vibrations. Located in burlingame, just south of san francisco, our large retail showroom holds about 65 basses on display with several more in two two small warehouse. The soundpost and the bass bar are made in resonance spruce. Theres a string tied to the post, which helped me pull it. Bass strings southwest strings violin, viola, cello, bass. Im also well aware, and have done, the standard repair for a bass bar crack. Learn how violinmakers place the bass bar on fine violins, violas and cellos in.
Put the bass bar back in place and move it about 2 mm up and down, as in fig. Using a clean brush, dot glue along the crack on the inside, unvarnished surface of the rib while slightly hinging the crack open. Bass violin is the modern term for various 16th and 17thcentury bass instruments of the violin i. The small string diameter provides quick bow response. Dalton potter explains the function of the bass bar in sound production for string instruments. We only do repair work on violins, violas, cellos, and upright double basses. The bridge is made exclusively in field maple and has a characteristic shape and size for each member of the violin family. Remove the bass bar, take a piece of white chalk and rub it on the plate, where the bass bar is supposed to be glued in. New violin bass bar clamp luthier tools, violin making.
I recognize that a bass bar crack is a serious crack, and will. Split a piece of spruce 350 x 20 x 8 mm, ideally the same spruce you used for the top plate plane down the sides so that they run perfectly parallel to each other and the thickness if the bar is about 6 mm for a flatter arch or 5. Sound post cracks are very common in the long life of a violin family. Violin strings at stewartmacdonald your source for guitar parts, tools, and supplies. It has been repaired more than once in its long life.
Best bass guitar strings in 2020 bass guitar strings. No soundpost or bass bar crack repairs have been needed. When played we had to put some foam under the metal string holders just past the bridge to negate a buzzing. Finally finished fixing the cracks and setting cleats, bass bar, and. Ive already removed the top, and will be fitting new pegs, strings, bridge, tailgut, etc. The bass bar shapes the waves of vibration inside the violin to produce deeper, more resonant bass tones. Stringed instrument blog michael darnton violin maker. A more serious issue is cracking along the bass bar, which requires a full bass bar replacement using reinforcements, gluing and cleating the cracka major undertaking. Although the article tailors to violins, the same concepts apply to other string instruments. The role and romance of the bass bar strings magazine. Dalton potter, violin make and owner of the potter violin company, discusses the issue of one vs. Quality handmade string instruments and related accessories. It is a remarkable feat of sound engineering conceived by the old master makers. I was wondering, why a modern italian violin with a somewhat big.