Question for builders

kmanley_29649 · #1 08-20-2010, 02:45 PM

I've got a long term plan of building a bass or two, but I'll be starting on violins, moving up to cellos, and then on to bass. Anyway, where do you get your wood from, especially big slabs for the front and back?

Schoolhouse · #2 08-20-2010, 06:37 PM

The same people who supply violin wood will happily supply bass wood. International Violin always carries a few bass sets.
Most bass makers eventually find a source or sources they like and guard it. Good bass wood is hard to find without paying a fortune. One can easily start out with expenses of thousands of dollars before you start. Selecting a model to build is probably more important than choosing the best wood.
Good luck in your bass building,
Tom

kmanley_29649 · #3 08-20-2010, 07:26 PM

Thanks. Most likely, it'll be a few years before I get around to a bass. I don't even have the tools or location to do it myself at the moment, but thankfully my father-in-law has a big woodworking shop.

james condino · #4 08-23-2010, 08:44 PM

Start shopping for wood now. True, the usual suppliers like the one mentioned above are a place that sell wood, but you'll spend a lot more than necessary going through them They are not wood guys; they are merchants and middlemen who double the price on whatever they acquire in order to run a business. Start looking directly at timber suppliers and tone wood specialists like Bruce Harvey at Orcas Island tonewoods and Pacific rim tonewoods. You'll get twice the quality at half the price and you'll learn a bit along the way. You'll also be able to select from dozens of pieces at a time and use their knowledge and expertise to guide you. Make a roadtrip out of it and go visit in person, selecting your favorite pieces that talks to you and jump out from the rest of the crowd...there is nothing like hand selection your favorite 3 or 4 tops out of 4000 in a single afternoon to educate you....

On the other end of the spectrum, there are a LOT of places throughout the country where you can go harvest your own materials in the forest- either standing or naturally felled. For the cost of a $20 firewood permit and a bit of effort and time, you can fill up the back of your pickup with $15k worth of beautiful tonewoods. Lots of folks will tell you it can't be done; stay away from them!!! They are grumpy old pessimists who will get you no where.

I know, I acquire amazing woods on a regular basis. Some days I go through thousands of sets of beautifully seasoned and woods that someone else has prepared and I pay a premium. Other days I load up my workclothes, a full camelback full of h2o and some treats, and my giant crosscut saw and head to the forest for an oldschool workout, and spend little more than the cost of a tank of gas and a permit and later on I'm the dork that people come to lusting after beautiful seasoned woods. The first step is turn off your computer and get out....

j.

bejoyous · #5 08-24-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james condino

The first step is turn off your computer and get out....
j.

So true. Every week or so I have a "no computer or TV day." It's amazing how many real things you can get done!

Cody Sisk · #6 08-31-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmanley_29649

I'll be starting on violins, moving up to cellos, and then on to bass.

I had this same plan in mind until I spoke to Aaron Reiley of Guarneri House. He asked me, "you aspire to build basses? well build a bass! Why start with violins?"

He then went on to explain that granted it's a lot more physical labor, the tollerances are far more forgiving on a larger instrument than a smaller one. As picky as violin players are, your first violin might not be up to snuff.

Build a bass! That's what my first build's gonna be..

George700DL · #7 08-31-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasStrings

I had this same plan in mind until I spoke to Aaron Reiley of Guarneri House. He asked me, "you aspire to build basses? well build a bass! Why start with violins?"

He then went on to explain that granted it's a lot more physical labor, the tollerances are far more forgiving on a larger instrument than a smaller one. As picky as violin players are, your first violin might not be up to snuff.

Build a bass! That's what my first build's gonna be..

I built my bass...now I'm thinking about making a viola.

1st Bass · #8 08-31-2010, 01:09 PM

I built three violins and two violas, and then built a bass. I'm glad I had built the others first, but some have made their first instrument a bass.

And, yes, your first violin might not be "up to snuff", but my first instrument (a viola) cost me about $60 in materials, while my first bass (only one so far) cost me about $1,400, though I scrimped, and boiught the least expensive materials I could get-- very plain wood and fittings. If you have a learning curve to contend with, it might be well to learn on the cheaper, smaller instrument. Your call, of course.

A friend on another forum is building his first cello, and allowed me to talk him into first building a violin. He did a very good job on the violin, and now is doing a great job on the cello. Broke a bunch of violin ribs, in the learning curve, but not a single cello rib, IIRC.

He plays in a local symphony, and claims that all he wants is to build that one cello. I think I see the sparkle of a growing obsession, though. There will be a chain of cellos coming out of this guy, mark my words. ;-)

I have eight more instruments on the bench, now, (six violas and two violins) trying to get ready for a show in April. Maybe I will get to build another bass next year. :-)

Obsession is contagious. Spread it around. :-)

kmanley_29649 · #9 08-31-2010, 01:15 PM

What about plywood? I assume it would be cheaper to get ahold of, but I also assume it's not the same stuff you buy at home depot, correct? I mostly play roots music anyway, so while I'd eventually want to build a carved bass, a ply wouldn't be a bad thing to try to build. Would a ply be a cheaper way to learn what I'm doing?

MIKMAN · #10 08-31-2010, 01:52 PM

I built three violins and a viola so far. Climbing up the learning curve i managed to get high appraisals in the last one. Now i'm planning to build a flatback double bass. The most difficult thing for me is to construct the mould, after it the procedure is known.
I'll order very good tonewoods and devote my spare time this winter to this project. I'll keep you posted since i need your encouragement.
Mike

Jake deVilliers · #11 08-31-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKMAN

I built three violins and a viola so far. Climbing up the learning curve i managed to get high appraisals in the last one. Now i'm planning to build a flatback double bass. The most difficult thing for me is to construct the mould, after it the procedure is known.
I'll order very good tonewoods and devote my spare time this winter to this project. I'll keep you posted since i need your encouragement.
Mike

Way to go Mike! Keep us posted.

Bill Bentgen · #12 09-01-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmanley_29649

What about plywood? I assume it would be cheaper to get ahold of, but I also assume it's not the same stuff you buy at home depot, correct?

I believe plywood basses have the tops and backs built on a mold, a layer at a time. That's how they keep their shape. I think it would be impossible to take a piece of pre-laminated plywood and mold it.

kmanley_29649 · #13 09-01-2010, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bentgen

I believe plywood basses have the tops and backs built on a mold, a layer at a time. That's how they keep their shape. I think it would be impossible to take a piece of pre-laminated plywood and mold it.

Okay, that makes sense.