Bass bar too long?

[Nicolas Temino]

Hi guys,

I have recently finished the top of my new baby. It is based on a slightly modified strad G form. I have a 357 mm long top. If I use the rule I allways use to cut my bass bars: 7/9 the lenght of the top minus 80mm I get a 277 mm bass bar. Will it be too long? I am tempted to stay at the usual 270 mm lenght, as I am not sure what will be teh effect of such a bar.

And another question: If I finally decide to put the long bar, shall I also make it a little higher? Is the hight of the bar proportional to the lenght, or should I stay with the standard height that involves the top thickness?

The top is 357 mm long, it has a quite uniform thickness of 2.2-2.6 mm (slightly thicker near the f holes and around the soundpost area, around 2.9mm) and weights 64 grams (without the bass bar, of course)

[~ Ben Conover]

I measure 40 mm inside each end of the plate, tend to keep standard bar heights and shapes.

The main objective is to make sure it fits !

Cheers.

[FiddleDoug]

Ditto for me. 4cm from each end of the plate.

[FredN]

Any comments for violas, that is all i've made. I think the affect the bar has on an inst is least understood. fred.

[Melvin Goldsmith]

Don't expect to get it right first time. Go with you feel is right and why, take notes on it and if you don't ike it do it differently with notes until it is 'right'

[Nicolas Temino]

I measure 40 mm inside each end of the plate, tend to keep standard bar heights and shapes.

The main objective is to make sure it fits !

Cheers.

Ditto for me. 4cm from each end of the plate.

I have done so, 40 mm at each side and at the correct angle leads me to those 277 mm. So I guess I am on the correct way. This is the first time I make such a long instrument, so I am a bit confused.