scroll progress pic

Don Harris · #1 08-02-2007, 01:30 PM

Here's what I've done on the scroll so far. I still need to clean it up and chamfer the edges. I'm debating whether to do the fluting, at least on the front, to the center, or leave it where it is to the stripe, or even do a third fluting on the bubinga stripe. I have a whole new appreciation for what goes into hand building a bass.

I went a little further than I was suppose to on the final turn, but what the heck? -don

Don Harris · #2 08-02-2007, 01:33 PM

**Matthew Tucker** · #3 08-02-2007, 03:24 PM

Looking great Don! Don't you just love hogging out the pegbox

To my eye, and from the angle shown, the centre turns of the scroll are still a bit tall and the "flats" are slightly rounded ... they'd look better completely flat or slightly concave. See how the first turn has a slight concavity to it; the next turn, to my taste, should follow it. easier said than done.

That centre strip is quite striking, though unless you finish the bass as a blonde the effect will be toned down quite a bit under varnish. I would have fluted the stripe itself, except that at the back you have already committed to finishing the button a certain way.

More thought needed!

funkybassplayer · #4 08-02-2007, 03:35 PM

beautiful man. can't wait to see the finished product

Don Harris · #5 08-02-2007, 03:47 PM

<<you have already committed to finishing the button a certain way.>>

I think I like the back the way it is, so I was thinking about only changing it on the front and over the top, then flaring out to the flat stripe. Thanks for the comments.

I think having the stripe toned down is cool with me. I'm thinking of doing a rich, dark varnish. Maybe french polish (I've had some experience on furniture) and top coat with oil varnish, although I don't know how intensely I can pigment a french polish approach. -don

Don Harris · #6 08-02-2007, 04:16 PM

<<See how the first turn has a slight concavity to it; the next turn, to my taste, should follow it>>

Yes, I see what you mean. I worked on that at one point, but in undercutting the volutes, scraping and sanding, I lost a bit of that. Tweaking can be endless, can't it? -don

**Matthew Tucker** · #7 08-02-2007, 05:10 PM

I'm goint to try a pigmented hard shellac finish on a ply bass I'm doing up for my daughter. I'm going to seal the wood with straight shellac, then a coat of clear hard shellac, then a few coats of hard shellac tinted with spirit stain. I'll let you know how that goes.

arnoldschnitzer · #8 08-03-2007, 11:43 AM

Don, that's nice work. I can't believe that's your first bass scroll. I advise you to carve the wood the way you see it in your mind's eye. Do your own thing! I dig the flat center stripe.

Don Harris · #9 08-03-2007, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, Arnold.

arnoldschnitzer · #10 08-04-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

I'm goint to try a pigmented hard shellac finish on a ply bass I'm doing up for my daughter. I'm going to seal the wood with straight shellac, then a coat of clear hard shellac, then a few coats of hard shellac tinted with spirit stain. I'll let you know how that goes.

What is "hard" shellac?

**Matthew Tucker** · #11 08-04-2007, 07:07 AM

Its a product made here in Oz from dewaxed shellac with additives that cause it to crosslink. I've not used it before but many instrument makers are reporting good results so I'm going to give it a go.

http://www.ubeaut.com.au/hardshell.htm

Paul Warburton · #12 08-04-2007, 07:25 AM

Yeah Don! This reminds me of my 5 string Joseph Bohman. It has two ebony stripes going from the scroll all the way down the back of the neck.
See Talkbass eye candy for a look. They're ebony and go all the way through! As yours does.

Jake deVilliers · #13 08-04-2007, 10:33 AM

+1 "I can't believe that's your first bass scroll."

Way to go Don! That's really looking nice and fluid.

Don Harris · #14 08-04-2007, 10:42 AM

The Bohman is beautiful Paul. I thought about your bass when I laminated the neck. Thanks Jake!

I ended up fluting the bubinga stripe over the top and then did a bone-head thing. I had in mind some cool carving to go from the bubinga fluting to flat on the back of the scroll. I started doing it and it wasn't working the way I'd hoped, so in a moment of over-confidence, I broke throught the maple ridges to do something "dramatic". Dramatically bad actually. It looked ok from the top, bottom and straight on, but from the side it looked like a big hollow spot on the back of the scroll. Very ugly. I was hoping some brilliant idea would come to me on how to save it, but none came. I ended up flattening the mess in the center of the fluting, making a new laminate sandwich, and grafting on over the fluted ridges and reshaping it this morning. I used epoxy, so the glue lines are pretty obvious, but it looks ok. I'm hoping varnish will hide some of my sins. I keep telling myself that this one is to learn on, and I learned loads yesterday about what not to do. -don

Jake deVilliers · #15 08-04-2007, 12:49 PM

Don't overstress Don, 99% of people won't notice your faux pas when its all done. Its YOU whose eye will be drawn to it time and again.

And mine too, now that you've pointed it out!

Paul Warburton · #16 08-05-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Harris

The Bohman is beautiful Paul. I thought about your bass when I laminated the neck. Thanks Jake!

I ended up fluting the bubinga stripe over the top and then did a bone-head thing. I had in mind some cool carving to go from the bubinga fluting to flat on the back of the scroll. I started doing it and it wasn't working the way I'd hoped, so in a moment of over-confidence, I broke throught the maple ridges to do something "dramatic". Dramatically bad actually. It looked ok from the top, bottom and straight on, but from the side it looked like a big hollow spot on the back of the scroll. Very ugly. I was hoping some brilliant idea would come to me on how to save it, but none came. I ended up flattening the mess in the center of the fluting, making a new laminate sandwich, and grafting on over the fluted ridges and reshaping it this morning. I used epoxy, so the glue lines are pretty obvious, but it looks ok. I'm hoping varnish will hide some of my sins. I keep telling myself that this one is to learn on, and I learned loads yesterday about what not to do. -don

Glad the Bohmann was an inspiration!

jallenbass · #17 08-05-2007, 09:06 AM

Did the bubinga stripe help in keeping both sides symetrical? Sort of like a plumb line?

Paul Warburton · #18 08-05-2007, 10:25 AM

What do you have in mind for the body pattern?

Silversorcerer · #19 08-05-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Don, that's nice work. I can't believe that's your first bass scroll. I advise you to carve the wood the way you see it in your mind's eye. Do your own thing! I dig the flat center stripe.

+++1!!! Truly a sweet scroll, Don. You are a fine carver indeed.

Don Harris · #20 08-05-2007, 11:25 AM

Thanks guys. I've been dreaming about bending wood and carving for a long time, so to actually be doing it without totally sucking is a thrill. It's a rush to see it taking shape.

The body style is a copy of a Pietro Pallotta. It's a little bass which I hope will be good for solo Bach kind of stuff and some jazz. Here's a link with info about the bass style: http://www.krattenmacher.com/publica..._pallotta.html

I'm getting the top plate edge thickness happening now and need to start practicing purfling, plus I need to get the linings on. I'm losing weight because I never want to stop to eat (a little OCD maybe?), plus I'm getting a good upper body workout every day with chisels, gouges and planes. -don