Violin Forum/Message Board

Mat Roop · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:15 pm Post subject: Bass bar verticalness

When you are fitting a new bassbar, how do you measure to be sure the bar is vertical to the plane of the top? Is doing it by eye close enough?
Ive been thinking of making a jig that lays on the bottom edges of the top and is notched out to hold the bar perpendicular until the guide blocks are set.
Cheers, Mat

Michael Darnton · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject:

I was taught to use the end of a small rule (1/2" wide) as a square on the inside of the bar, 70mm from the bottom end. Now I do it somewhere between that and square to the bottom of the top (gluing plane), by eye.

Something inside me persistently tells me that parallel to the post (square to the gluing plane) makes more sense, but I don't quite do that. Parallel to a circle drawn centered on the intersection of the top and post (i.e., leaning in just a bit) to be concentric with rocking around the end of the post makes a certain amount of sense, too.

Too many choices. It's probably more important just to do the same thing every time, and learn to deal with that.
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks Michael... I like the concentric idea ... makes the most sense to me. However, by the same theory, perhaps there is benefit to the post being angled slightly to match the tilt of the bass bar?
Cheers, Mat

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:21 am Post subject:

The post is supported; if you can imagine any movement on the top, it's probably rotation around the post, resulting in a larger springing movement at the bar, centered on the post, combined with a small amount of directly vertical movement through the post to the back.
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

ctviolin · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:32 am Post subject:

Sorry to be ot, but good to see you again too Michaeel and Matt!

Chet Bishop · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

CT, old friend!

Good to see you here!

Hope you are feeling better day by day.

Chet
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com