The Merchant Vertical Bass Home Page

The Merchant Vertical Bass uses Spruce Spring Bars (U.S. Patent #4,635,523) to give the bridge the flexibility it would have on the top of an acoustic bass. The bars allow me to make the string tension identical to an acoustic to give the same sound and feel on the electric instrument.

The main function of a bass violin’s top is to act as a speaker cone, producing an amplified sound wave at the frequency of the strings’ vibration. To do this the top is quite flexible, allowing the bridge (and therefore the strings) to move, encouraging that vibration. One of the features that sets the Vertical Bass apart from others is the patented Spruce Spring Bars, which allows the bridge to move much like it would on the top of a bass violin.

I use the Fishman Full Circle transducer system to provide a remarkably accurate rendition of the sound of the double bass. I can also make it with transducers from B-Band, Barbera and others, as a custom order.

The solid flamed maple neck pivots on the matching body and has a fingerboard of select ebony. I bolt the necks under the fingerboard at the neck butt end to eliminate the possibility of the wood splitting along the grain at the pivot. The bass can be folded in half (and re-deployed) in less than a minute.

I finish my basses with a centuries old violin varnish like the craftsman of old then over coat it with an environmentally friendly water based lacquer that I hand rub to a warm luster.

An adjustable solid wood side brace screws into the player’s side of the bass to give the feel of an acoustic bass and to put the strings where the player is used to finding them. The bass has a removable end pin with a "T" bar added to the bottom to stabilize it. The side, endpin and bridge are all that is removed when folding the bass.

The headstock of my bass is smaller, lighter and stronger than a traditional double bass scroll and pegbox. This design prevents "scroll snapoff" - splitting along the grain on the side of the pegbox. As a result the instrument is lighter and has better balance.

The Merchant Vertical Bass comes with a padded gig bag that features an adjustable shoulder strap with a neck cinch, a pair of centered handles and a neck handle for easy loading. There is a large pocket for the side bout with extra room for cables, tuner etc.The case folds and can be used when the bass is collapsed as well as when strung up. It all fits inside the ATA flight case. A custom polyethlene case is available for $400. additional.

The necks are hand made from flamed maple that I hand select at a local mill. The fingerboard is the hardest ebony available. It is joined to the neck with hot hide glue for its superior shear strength, just as in traditional violin making.

The tuning gears are high quality- made in America by Grover. Black finish is stock but chrome & gold are also available.

The bass can also be made with five strings. I also make the Ratzo Harris signature six string, with a low B and high C strings.

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The string length of a double bass can vary from about 38" to 44". The note at the neck butt is generally either "D" or "E flat". If you have an upright bass I can make your Vertical Bass to match its' string length and "neck note" by having you take two simple measurements (see Order page). The shape of the neck and fingerboard curve can be custom shaped as well. If this is your only upright I suggest 41 1/2" with an E flat neck. The Merchant Vertical Bass is the only electric upright that is made to match the individual players' instrument, making it easier to play in tune when switching between the two.

You can see how I shape necks in the Scroll Graft feature in the acoustic section of my site.

Any questions? E-mail me-bill@merchantbass.com