Where can I download a scroll/pegbox pattern?

[toman]

I've decided to try my hand at carving a scroll and pegbox, just for fun. I'll probably just use basswood or some other easy to carve, inexpensive wood since it won't actually be going on an instrument. Problem is I can't find any templates or patterns on the web. I know I could go buy them somewhere, but this is a low dollar project... Anybody know where I can download one? Thanks!

[nicklloyd]

Could you please fill out your public profile?

[toman]

Originally Posted by nicklloyd

Could you please fill out your public profile?

It's allready sharing as much info as I wish to put out there, but if there's something in particular you'd like to know, feel free to PM me.

[Marcus Johnson]

No templates here, but it might be of interest to you anyway;

http://www.liutaiomottola.com/construction/Scroll.htm

[arnoldschnitzer]

The Henry Wake book on building a bass includes templates and step-by-step instructions on scroll making. It's not expensive.

[Ken McKay]

Toman I would suggest drawing one out yourself. If it is a learning experience then drawing can be a great help. Start with a side view then from that draft the back and front. I can show you a method if you want.

[toman]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

The Henry Wake book on building a bass includes templates and step-by-step instructions on scroll making. It's not expensive.

Perhaps not, but to some folks $40 isn't pocket change, either.

[Matthew Tucker]

Toman you can make your own template from your own Shen scroll like Ken says.

This is what I did to copy one.

Start with a line where the neck/fingerboard joint is and extend the line another 40cm past the nut. Mark the nut position. Use a ruler and setsquare to find the point on the line directly opposite the centre of the scroll button and measure that and transfer the point to the drawing. The rest of the profile can be drawn using a compass using the two points as reference.

For the volute, draw a cross centred on the scrollbutton and take lateral and depth measurements. Then joint the dots.

The advantage of doing this, I think, (apart from the low dollar factor) is that you learn a lot about the scroll as you decipher it for the drawing. I did. It's quite a complex 3d object. I haven't carved one yet, but I'll need to do it soon ...

To see how well you know double basses, try this challenge.

Don't look at your instrument. Take a clean sheet of paper. From memory, draw an F hole. Draw a scroll.

Much harder than you think!

[toman]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

To see how well you know double basses, try this challenge.

Don't look at your instrument. Take a clean sheet of paper. From memory, draw an F hole. Draw a scroll.

Much harder than you think!

Hahah... I've been drawing scrolls for months now, I think I can draw them in my sleep! I've been looking at scrolls from all the fine basses I see on the web and doing my best to draw them, as well as drawing some of my own design. F-holes will be next! I'll give making a pattern off my bass a go just for fun, but what I'm really looking for is just a basic template for the neck/pegbox/scroll blank, so I know what I need to saw out to get the basic outline before I start cutting and carving anything. I think I have a pretty good handle on the actual process of laying out and cutting the scroll, I just want to make sure I get the right blank cut to begin with so I don't get into it and realize I cut something a bit too short.

[1st Bass]

Have you looked at the patterns that Peter Chandler sells? Perhaps they are not what you had in mind? I used the one from the the Tarr pattern, along with looking at some real scrolls, and photos of such to carver the only bass scroll I have made so far-- it turned out OK.