". . . Mr. Traeger's book touches on everything from scrolls to endpins, bows to bridges, C-extensions to broken necks, mode matching to dovetail keys, and just about everything else in between. It is a massive book, over 370 pages long, and very reasonably priced.
This is an extremely helpful book that can help every bass player gain a solid understanding of their instrument and will serve as a reference book for the professional repairman. Again, this book is a must for the library of anyone who touches the double bass." Dustin Art Williams, ISB Makers' Competition Chair (Review in Bass World)
"Chuck Traeger, who became a bass repairer in New York after a successful career as a jazz bass player, appears to have covered in this book nearly every possible type of double bass repair. . . Each type of repair is described thoroughly and in great detail. The manual includes information on bass-specific techniques such as fitting a low C-extension on the scroll and sound adjustments for jazz players; and general string-instrument techniques such as fitting adjusters to a bridge, high saddle, making purfling and fitting patches. There is also a section on bows which takes into account the budget and quality of the instrument, and many other low-budget techniques (including ironwork, rethickness-ing, and plywood bass repairs) are also discussed. Traeger understands the acoustic properties of the bass and considers these in his approach to all aspects of bass maintenance and repair. I found especially interesting his opinion on the differences in sound between the Italian, French and German schools of bass making, and his approach on how to optimise the instrument's sound. . . I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn more about the double bass' construction and sounds. . . " Stefan Krattenmacher, Geigenbaumeister, Berlin (Review in Double Bassist)
"At 375 pages of text, diagrams, illustrations, photographs, and reference material, this book is a monster source of information. It represents a lifetime of craft and professional work in the field. . . Both David Brownell and William Merchant contribute a lot of information and perspective. Just the chapter on installing a fingered C extension for your customer who suddenly discovered the music of Wagner is worth the cost of this book. . . Thanks for the lifetime of hard work and the ability to share it with the rest of us, Chuck! " James Condino, American Lutherie, Winter 2005
". . .So I am happy for the bassists in New York, and now the whole world, that Chuck has been able in this book to share his insights . . . with his characteristic humor; knowledge (based on experience), and concern that each bass sound as beautiful as possible. So if you want your bass to sound and play as you dreamed it always could, read Section II - it's for you! . . ." Ron Carter, NY
"A better title for the book might have been the "Encyclopedia of Bass Repair" . . . This has to be the greatest bargain I've ever seen in luthier books. . . . Anyone who repairs or wants to repair basses can not afford to be without this book. . . ." Bob Branstetter, Kansas City bassist, luthier
"I believe bass playing to be a brotherhood. Anything relating to the instrument and its nobility is of great interest to all of us, players and repairers alike. Everyone will benefit from owning a copy of this magnificent body of work. The bass world finally has an extremely comprehensive guide all to its own to help us sound better and keep our life partners in the bass well maintained." Kurt Morrow, bassist (Review in MVA Journal)
