287: Bill Merchant luthier chat

Bill Merchant just had the mildest winter in his 40 year career.

For decades, double bassists would come in to get their winter posts set during November.  Now this is happening in January.

“Global warming is real, people,” says Bill.

That was one of probably 50 topics that we covered in our conversation!

Other topics we covered:

  • why most people set sound posts too tightly
  • the difference between aluminum and wood bridge adjusters
  • the effect that an endpin can have on the sound of a bass
  • designing a folding-neck electric upright
  • Bill’s preferred measurements for all sorts of set-up work
  • contributing to Chuck Traeger’s seminal text on double bass repair and set-up

If you like going deep on the gear side of things, you will love this conversation with Bill!

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By Jason

An active double bass performer and teacher, Jason teaches double bass at DePaul University and served on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Bassists for many years. Jason is the current President of the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Jason has been a member of the Elgin Symphony since 2000 and has played with the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County for the past decade. He is a past member of the Milwaukee Ballet and IRIS Orchestra, and has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, and numerous other professional ensembles.