Bass Bar Profile Question??

[Aren Winebrenner]

When your bass bar has been fitted and glued, what is your method for profiling the top of the bar? I've read several books and looked at hundreds of pictures and there seems to be a wide range of methods for finishing the bar. I've seen some that taper down to nothing at the ends with a gradual radius up to an exaggerrated hump in the center. Others with a flat middle 1/3 section. Some divided into 5 sections with each having its own contours, both top to bottom and side to side. Others yet very flat all the way only to taper drastically within roughly the 5 or 6 inches of the ends. Do you use different profiles depending on dimensions and properties of the top that is receiving the bar?

I recently re-read the section on bass bars, from "The Art Of Violin Making". The proportions in that book look pretty good to me, but I'm just not sure. I've also got Chuck Traegers book as well as Henry Wake's book. It's really starting looking like everyone has their own "secret recipe" for this.

What is your take?

Thanks,
Aren Winebrenner