New Bass Finished!

[proviolins]

I recently finished my first (only?) bass. I am very pleased how it turned out. Sitka Spruce top, European maple sides and neck, and western balsam poplar from 500 miles north of Vancouver BC.

This was one of those midlife crises moments. I have built more than 80 instruments (my full time gig), and needed a challenge to keep me motivated. So, rather than climb a mountain, I built a bass. The reaction I get from other violin makers is questioning my sanity or simply asking why. I built a Panormo model. As a violin maker, I found that building a bass with violin corners was satisfying, verses a gamba model.

The first outing for the bass was a recording session with a friend that has consistently successfully submitted bumper music to Car Talk on NPR. The first recording of this bass could be heard by millions! (or a couple dozen). Attached is a photo from the recording session. I had a live performance debut at a local coffee house in a string band (pizzicato), where the classical bass players in the audience were eager to try the bass with a bow.
Attached are a couple photos.

On we go...........
Jon Franke

[Mr.Bassie720]

Man, that is a beautiful looking instrument! Were you happy with the way it turned out sonically? Congratulations.

[drurb]

Wow! Beautiful!

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bassie720

Man, that is a beautiful looking instrument! Were you happy with the way it turned out sonically? Congratulations.

The bass sounds great! I strung up the bass in the white (before varnishing) to evaluate the sound. I was cautious not to build the bass too thin. After evaluation in the white, I took off the back and thinned the back slightly as my intuition indicated. It was a good decision, and only added maybe 15 hours to the construction time.
On we go...........
Jon

[Keyser Soze]

Absolutely gorgeous, man! Congratulations!

[coldsalmon]

+1 Congradulations! I only wish I could build my own bass. Inspiring in any case.

[Salty]

I applaud your choice to maintain the integrity of the wider shoulders. Do you have more pics? Will this be for sale?

Congrats

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by Salty

I applaud your choice to maintain the integrity of the wider shoulders. Do you have more pics? Will this be for sale?

Congrats

Salty,
The Panormo bass does have wide shoulders. I am 5' 10" and don't find the wide shoulders to be an issue.

Jon

[Jake deVilliers]

Nice bass Jon! Any sound clips available?

Do you have any pix of the Cottonwood back? And what did you use for varnish?

Thanks, Jake

[MT Spaces]

Very Very Nice Jon ! It looks like it has a really deep body in the first photo. Out of curiosity, what is the measure front-to-back on the edges of the upper and lower bouts? Even though I know nothing about bass-building, that depth has to help the volume and fullness of sound. Most of what I know about (old American plywoodies ) shows depths of maybe 7-3/4" to 8" at max depth. Or is the photo an optickle illusion ?

P.S. I'll stop and say hello when I come out to the River City Bluegrass Festival next year (assuming you will be there again). All Right .... Rhonda V plays one of your "fiddles" huh? Can't beat that.

[eeyorebass]

Beautiful work, Jon. I wish I had enough skill with wood to build more than a simple set of shelves. The idea of being a luthier fascinates me.

I'm curious about this photo:


I can't say I've seen many pics of basses being assembled, but is it normal to have all those holes around the back like that? I see it provides a way to set the clamps for the ribs, but I've never seen it before.

Again, excellent work.

Jeremy

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Nice bass Jon! Any sound clips available?

Do you have any pix of the Cottonwood back? And what did you use for varnish?

Thanks, Jake

Jake,
No sound clips available today - maybe in a few days. I have attached a pic of the back. It is difficult to capture the character of the wood with the light refraction. The bend is the same piece of wood. It just looks different because of the refraction. I make my own oil varnish.
On we go................
Jon

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Very Very Nice Jon ! It looks like it has a really deep body in the first photo. Out of curiosity, what is the measure front-to-back on the edges of the upper and lower bouts? Even though I know nothing about bass-building, that depth has to help the volume and fullness of sound. Most of what I know about (old American plywoodies ) shows depths of maybe 7-3/4" to 8" at max depth. Or is the photo an optickle illusion ?

P.S. I'll stop and say hello when I come out to the River City Bluegrass Festival next year (assuming you will be there again). All Right .... Rhonda V plays one of your "fiddles" huh? Can't beat that.

Bob,
The body depth including the top and back edges is 9 1/4" - that is true to the original instrument. I plan on being at Rivercity next year - hope to see you there!
Jon

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by eeyorebass

Beautiful work, Jon. I wish I had enough skill with wood to build more than a simple set of shelves. The idea of being a luthier fascinates me.

I'm curious about this photo:


I can't say I've seen many pics of basses being assembled, but is it normal to have all those holes around the back like that? I see it provides a way to set the clamps for the ribs, but I've never seen it before.

Again, excellent work.

Jeremy

Jeremy,
The holes you see are in the mold on which the ribs are built. The mold is removed as the rib structure is glued to the top and back. I hope this explains it.
Jon

[carlopetro]

Originally Posted by proviolins

western balsam poplar from 500 miles north of Vancouver BC.

Curious to why you choose this wood? Do Canadians have the good stuff?

Beautiful instrument, congrats!

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by proviolins

The body depth including the top and back edges is 9 1/4" - that is true to the original instrument. I plan on being at Rivercity next year - hope to see you there!

Thanks Jon ..... Wow almost 20% deeper in body depth than what I know about . Now that has to make a big difference in volume and tone (not to mention the carved vs playwood). I know nothing about the Original Panormo Design ...... But ..... It Sure Is A Beaut ! Can you build a couple more of those basses over the Summer so I can oogle, drool, and hear them next January at your booth in Portland ? Not that I can afford one But Hey it doesn't hurt to dream big. Toad ..... Have you seen this bass ? Big Shoulders .... Deep ... Man-Size. Maybe .... Huh ??

P.S. Jon ..... Keep climbing those in-house Mountains, building those basses, and ..... Say Hi to Click & Clack for me (I'm a Big Fan) as you leave them wheezin' at Bass Camp. I'll call you on the telephone next week with some strange noises coming out of my bass ... Maybe you can help me trouble-shoot it ..... I think I have a blown bridge gasket and it sounds like this .... !!

[proviolins]

Originally Posted by carlopetro

Curious to why you choose this wood? Do Canadians have the good stuff?

Beautiful instrument, congrats!

Carlopetro,
I'm not sure if Canadians have "the good stuff", but here is why I used Western Balsam Poplar for the back of the bass.

1. I have used Western Balsam Poplar successfully in a cello.
2. The Poplar carves easily, and on an instrument this size, that is a bonus.
3. Longevity of the bass. It is my understanding that Western Balsam Poplar expands and contracts at the same rate as spruce which should in theory make the bass less prone to damage from climate change. The Poplar back also has a greater strength center joint because of the increased surface area of the glue joint. Poplar needs to be about 50% thicker (yet is lighter in weight) than a corresponding maple back.

On we go...........,
Jon

[Jake deVilliers]

I figured it was your amber varnish, I just needed confirmation.

It is a great looking bass Jon, the back too. I want to make one too...........

[eeyorebass]

Originally Posted by proviolins

Jeremy,
The holes you see are in the mold on which the ribs are built. The mold is removed as the rib structure is glued to the top and back. I hope this explains it.
Jon

Ah, Ok. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Thanks.

jeremy

[toman]

Impressive! One of my very favorite models. I like big basses; too bad my back doesn't...

I'm curious what you used to mark out the graduations for the top, shown in the photo of you planing it.