A different bass bar question

[Melvin Goldsmith]

This thing with bass bars wearing out is a widespread myth amongst musicians. And many violin makers uphold the myth (I suspect cause they can earn money with it) here in germany I have found many musicians that believe in it. I think it is ridiculous. If the top didn't sink, the bar is structurally sound. Ofcourse that doesn't mean that a different bar won't sound better, but that is due to a difference in construction and placement and maybe material, but definately not because of wearing out.

 

Melvin, you are mistaking about the tension. Eva's do not have a significantly higher tension than Eudoxas do. In fact, the eva g string has lower tension than eudoxa g! Look here for an overview: http://www.aitchisoncellos.com/articlenewstrings.htm

The only string with significantly lower tension is Dominant. And as you can see, quite some solist versions of strings have a lower tension than their normal counterparts.

Have you checked this secondary source against primary sources? ( I have not yet and respect the source you quote but  must check...thanks )

[AtlVcl]

Problem solved: Turns out the bass bridge foot had moved .5 mm.  We chalked the feet (an idea I got here from MN...whoever it was, a big thank you!), and put on a new G string.  Now everything is good as new (well, you know what I mean...).  I suspect the bridge moved because the instrument is French polished; it's a recurring problem, I shouldn't have panicked.

 

Anyway, thanks for all the help and ideas.  As someone mentioned, these things are hard to diagnose without actually seeing the instrument.  Luckily, my luthier has a sharper eye (and mind!) than my own.

[Melvin Goldsmith]

Good to hear!

[Oded Kishony]

congrats

[nathan slobodkin]

I definitely agree with several other posters that the over all bridge hight determined by the neck pitch is something to look at. This definitely can change over time and  may have been compensated for in the past so that the instruments sound didn't seem to change much until now . Pitch hight is not an absolute but a good luthier should be able to tell right off if it is unusually low for that cello. If it is then there are several options available to correct the problem and starting with the least invasive (and cheapest) will let you to know if it is necessary to proceed further.  Good luck!

[nathan slobodkin]

Whoops! I guessI should read all the way through the thread before commenting. None the less if  the cello seems to be really touchy about adjustment or if adjustments don't seem to work as well as they once did get that neck pitch checked.

[erocca]

Glad to hear the case is solved.  I'm kind of surprised though, that after everything you said was checked and done, that your luthier didn't recognize that the bridge placement was off.  I think that checking the bridge placement, (along with checking the seams), are absolutly the first things to do before touching a soundpost, and in a lot of cases that's all that needs to be done.....as you found out!

[Oded Kishony]

Do people use a 'check list' ie a written list of things to check before even considering removing the top or some other invasive actions?

 

Might be good to have a collective check list as this topic seems to come up fairly often.....maybe a new thread?

 

Oded

[baroquecello]

Have you checked this secondary source against primary sources? ( I have not yet and respect the source you quote but  must check...thanks )

Hi Melvin. No, I must admit I have not. But in case you do, let me know what you find out, I'm a curious fellow. (Just a little too short of time right now to do the checking) They say they got the info from the manufacturers (and that they needed to find a correction method for Pirastro strings so that tensions are comparable to other brands)...

[AtlVcl]

...  I'm kind of surprised though, that after everything you said was checked and done, that your luthier didn't recognize that the bridge placement was off.  I think that checking the bridge placement, (along with checking the seams), are absolutly the first things to do before touching a soundpost,

 

In a perfect world, I'll balance my checkbook and other drivers won't try to kill me on the highway.   In the meantime, humans being fallable, mistakes will happen.  Besides, .5 mm.  doesn't exactly jump out and yell at you.  I hope the chalking of the bridge feet will go a long way to prevent it from moving in the future. (unless I slam it against a wall in frustration...  )

[Michael_Molnar]

Do people use a 'check list' ie a written list of things to check before even considering removing the top or some other invasive actions?

 

Might be good to have a collective check list as this topic seems to come up fairly often.....maybe a new thread?

 

Oded

Great idea. Why not start one?!