The flat, angled part of the fingerboard under the E string

[Ray]

I've seen fingerboards on some double basses that are flat and at a different angle under the E string.

What is the purpose of this?

Just curious...

Thanks
Ray

[Doddy]

It's known as the 'Romberg Bevel', and is to allow
the E string to have more room to vibrate.
It's kind of a throw back to the days of large gauge strings.

[Ray]

[quote name='Doddy' post='685273' date='Dec 15 2009, 03:14 PM']It's known as the 'Romberg Bevel', and is to allow
the E string to have more room to vibrate.
It's kind of a throw back to the days of large gauge strings.[/quote]
Thanks Doddy!

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='Doddy' post='685273' date='Dec 15 2009, 03:14 PM']It's kind of a throw back to the days of large gauge strings.[/quote]

Don't modern basses have it? I don't think I've ever seen a bass that didn't have that big flat bit under the E.

[velvetkevorkian]

Some do, some don't- luthier's and/or player's choice really.

I could be wrong but I think another reason to have it is that it lets you pull the low string inward slightly when you finger a note, more in line with the natural action of your hand.

[iamtheelvy]

Always thought that I'd been sold a DB with a duff fingerboard til I read about this! It doesn't bother me, but can't see that it makes much improvement over a fully curved board...

[iiipopes]

With modern steel strings, basses may not need the Romberg Bevel. But the bevel was developed when all there was were gut strings. To get a gut string the diameter it needs to be to be an E string, it is huge by comparison, and still doesn't have the tension modern steel or synthetic core strings have, so the string excursion is quite substantial.

[ubassman]

Because the E string is much thicker, when it gets vibrating it needs its more space than the other strings . The idea of Romberg bevel is to make string crossing easier especially with an underhand grip with of a German bow . Removing some wood to the fingerboard from under the string with the bevel means that the bridge doesn't need to be as curved which keeps the bow angle and the arm just that bit further out from the body on a down bow!