Technical data
| Instrument | double bass |
| Material | Ebony |
| Condition | Blank, saw-rough |
| Model | 5534 |
| Item number | ZG-B5534 |
Features
- Fingerboard blank for double bass
- Model 5534
In practice
- This is a blank. It is supplied saw-rough and seasoned and has to be planed, arched and fitted by a violin maker.
- Not a do-it-yourself item: the fingerboard curve ultimately follows the bridge curve, and the lengthwise scoop decides whether the string buzzes.
- Signs of quality in ebony are a deep black, even colour without dye or stain and a fine, straight grain.
- On species protection: the ebony we use is not subject to CITES requirements. We supply the statement of origin.
Sound and physics
The double bass works with an average string length of around 107 cm and with strings so heavy that a screw mechanism tunes them. Here, too, the fingerboard follows the curve of the bridge so that every string keeps the same distance from the wood. The number places the double bass fingerboard in our five quality grades: B5534 standard, B5535 good, B5536 fine, B5537 1A and B5538 selected 1A.
Ebony has a density of around 0.85 to 1.17 g/cm³, making it denser than rosewood and boxwood, the two other classic fitting woods, and than the maple of neck and back at around 0.65 g/cm³; its speed of sound is around 4,435 m/s.
The fingerboard is curved across its width because the strings run over the curved bridge and should keep the same distance from the wood along their whole length. It is glued to the neck and projects over the top plate, supporting itself.
Ebony moves with the climate, though noticeably less than the maple of neck and scroll. While drying, an ebony block shrinks by almost 0.3 cm, and the raw material has to acclimatise before it is worked.
Our experience
Our experience: for a five-string bass we make an extra-wide fingerboard on request when the standard width is not enough.
Our experience: our ebony rests for 6 to 10 years before it is cut. We grade our fingerboard ebony into five quality levels: standard, good, fine, 1A and selected 1A. You recognise the 1A grade by a deep black without shading or inclusions and by a dense, pore-free surface.
We have tested heat-treated substitute woods in the workshop; for knife-cut edges and clean string notches we stay with ebony.
Frequently asked questions
Which number stands for which grade of double bass fingerboard?
B5534 is standard, B5535 good, B5536 fine, B5537 1A and B5538 selected 1A, the highest grade among our double bass fingerboards.
Are there fingerboards for a five-string double bass?
Yes, on request we make an extra-wide fingerboard. Please get in touch with us directly about it.
What distinguishes 1A grade ebony?
A deep black without shading or inclusions and a dense, pore-free surface. Above it sits selected 1A, the highest of our five grades.
How long has the ebony been seasoned?
6 to 10 years before it is cut.
Why is a fingerboard curved?
Because it follows the curve of the bridge, so that every string keeps the same distance from the fingerboard along its whole length.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.