Screw Me - Page 2

Clodfobble · 12-09-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Ya know.. what's the reason for the curly-Q at the end? Tradition? No modern instruments have that, the headstock is just a design to be trademarked and sued over.

Modern instruments like the guitar and... what else? I guess you could go into the banjo/mandola/mandolin subsets. As far as I know, it's just tradition, but you do have innovators every now and then.

Undertoad · 12-09-2007, 10:49 AM

Well I am a bass player, where the idea is to get the most out of your long wavelengths, and no bass has a heavy headstock.

Clodfobble · 12-09-2007, 10:59 AM

Mea culpa, I completely forgot about the bass.

But yours is electric, right? On a string bass all of the resonance depends on the body, which is huge compared to the headstock. The cello head looks big in Steve's picture, but it really isn't very massive overall.

glatt · 12-09-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

You may be able to tap out a slightly larger diameter hole and use a standard sized screw.

This is still the only idea i can come up with - sorry.

I think it's a good idea, but Steve probably doesn't have the tools.

Undertoad · 12-09-2007, 03:35 PM

Yeah, but is there any physics reason why you need a big weight on the end of the neck in order to get resonance out of your body?

Aliantha · 12-09-2007, 03:53 PM

I think it would have to do with the length of the neck of the instrument and simply keeping it weighted so it balances nicely on the shoulder rather than flying off when you draw the bow. If it doesn't have a bit of weight in the neck you'd be using your hand to hold it in place rather than concentrating on getting your fingers in the right spot.

That's only a guess, but my family is pretty highly into stringed instruments, so I've had plenty of time to look at what they do when they play.

classicman · 12-09-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

You may be able to tap out a slightly larger diameter hole and use a standard sized screw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I think it's a good idea, but Steve probably doesn't have the tools.

It would be a lot less than having a new screw made though. (actually its a bolt) and the Lowes/Home Depot? hardware store definitely has what he needs. Also, if he is tapping into brass, it'll be very easy since its such a soft metal.

SteveDallas · 12-09-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Ya know.. what's the reason for the curly-Q at the end? Tradition? No modern instruments have that, the headstock is just a design to be trademarked and sued over.

Just traditional as far as I know... even modern students cellos, violins, etc. have scrolls like that.

Update: we found the screw when sweeping up. (Obviously, it eluded us when we were actually looking for it.) Now we are still missing one of the gears... I know I put them both together. It's here somewhere......

classicman · 12-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Good to hear you found it! Now replacing that gear would be a whole different situation.

Cloud · 12-09-2007, 07:58 PM

for some reason, I just wanna keep clicking on this thread . . .

Clodfobble · 12-09-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Yeah, but is there any physics reason why you need a big weight on the end of the neck in order to get resonance out of your body?

No but... I'm telling you, it isn't big or heavy. Look how narrow it is. Overly decorative, perhaps, but the whole thing can be enclosed in the palm of your hand.

ZenGum · 12-09-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Yeah, but is there any physics reason why you need a big weight on the end of the neck in order to get resonance out of your body?

There might be.
A while back I was browsing in a guitar shop and saw an accessory for electric guitarists, a heavy weight to clamp on to the head right at the end, with the claim that it would improve sustain and maintain the clarity of the tone over the whole length of the note.
I can imagine how this might work. If the string is vibrating it will tend to pass its vibrations on to the head. The head will begin vibrating, probably at a different frequency, thus creating interference with the string's vibration. This interference would mess up the purity of the string's vibration and lead to shorter sustain. Increasing the mass of the head might reduce this effect by keeping the head stable.
I did not buy one. I have not tested it. I am not a physicist. I have not even googled it. I just made this up. But it sounds good... until someone shoots it down. :ducks for cover:

12-09-2007, 03:53 PM	#21
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I think it would have to do with the length of the neck of the instrument and simply keeping it weighted so it balances nicely on the shoulder rather than flying off when you draw the bow. If it doesn't have a bit of weight in the neck you'd be using your hand to hold it in place rather than concentrating on getting your fingers in the right spot. That's only a guess, but my family is pretty highly into stringed instruments, so I've had plenty of time to look at what they do when they play. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

12-09-2007, 07:58 PM	#25
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	for some reason, I just wanna keep clicking on this thread . . . __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-09-2007, 10:49 AM	#17
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Well I am a bass player, where the idea is to get the most out of your long wavelengths, and no bass has a heavy headstock.

12-09-2007, 10:59 AM	#18
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Mea culpa, I completely forgot about the bass. But yours is electric, right? On a string bass all of the resonance depends on the body, which is huge compared to the headstock. The cello head looks big in Steve's picture, but it really isn't very massive overall.

12-09-2007, 03:35 PM	#20
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Yeah, but is there any physics reason why you need a big weight on the end of the neck in order to get resonance out of your body?

12-09-2007, 05:34 PM	#24
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Good to hear you found it! Now replacing that gear would be a whole different situation.

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