4 string acoustic bass - alpine spruce & german maple

Giel · #1 11-30-2008, 08:02 AM

Haven't seen to many acoustic instruments on this forum so I thought I'dd share, might be interesting for you guys.
This commisioned build is a 4 string acoustic bass, designed many years ago by my teacher, de famous dutch luthier Sjak Zwier.
Specs:
- Italian alpine spruce top
- German maple back and sides
- Ebony fretboard and bridge
- Alpine spuce bracings for the top
- Maple bracing for the back
- Bone nut and saddle
- Cutaway
- Dark nitro cellulose finish
- Lefty

Well here it is:

Planing the maple for the back and sides.

Back and sides cut out, will be handplaned to 0.09 inch for the sides and 0.1 for the back

Joining the top

Top joined

Making the rosette

Top cut out

Top planed

Don't no what to call this in english

Bracing for back glued

Planned to have it finished spring next year

mikezimmerman · #2 11-30-2008, 11:56 AM

Should be beautiful with that German maple! I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

Mike

Beauchene Implements · #3 11-30-2008, 12:48 PM

SWEET! I've been waiting for an acoustic build thread. Subscribed. I see lots of hand planing going on...are you doing this with only hand tools?

tdogg · #4 03-17-2009, 08:40 AM

ive been wanting to see a real acoustic bass guitar build too. SUBSCRIBED

vbasscustom · #5 03-18-2009, 06:55 PM

there, my friends is a real luthier! we are humbled by his presence

roberthabraken · #6 03-19-2009, 05:32 AM

Erg mooi

Subscribed!! Want to see this coming together and also very interested in the process of building an acoustic instrument

ljzimmer · #7 03-19-2009, 05:56 AM

suscribed, I've got one I need to repair.

Lookin great!

Giel · #8 06-18-2009, 12:36 PM

Update

Sides bend:

Fitting the top:

Glueing the binding:

Body - Neck connection routed:

Top and back glued to sides, neck almost finished:

Fitting neck in body:

Neck shaped and ready to be glued in body:

Wasted Bassist · #9 06-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Very nice. I'm excited to see how this turns out. Are you installing any electronics or is it an accoustic only?

Beauchene Implements · #10 06-18-2009, 12:51 PM

I was gonna subscribe...then realized I was already subscribed!

Nice progress!

Darkstrike · #11 06-18-2009, 01:07 PM

Suhweet!

Rickett Customs · #12 06-18-2009, 01:30 PM

WOW! and a lefty to boot.....

roberthabraken · #13 06-18-2009, 02:33 PM

Very nice! you don't see acoustics a lot here on TB.. sweet build.

Where do you get your woods.... als ik vragen mag?

Ik wilde voor mijn volgende bouw naar de Amsterdamse of Arnhemse fijnhouthandel gaan.

Giel · #14 06-18-2009, 03:09 PM

@ Wasted Bassist:
I will be installing a Fishman Matrix Natural 2, it's a guitar pickup actually but it works great for bass too!

@ roberthabraken:
Merci!
The spruce I think is from spain (or maybe Italy). Check dit site, it's a huge company in Valencia.
http://www.maderasbarber.com/main.asp?lan=eng
The maple is private stock, it's at least 20 years old.
Bij de Amsterdamse of Arnhemse fijnhouthandel kun je prima hout kopen hoor, moet je wel goed kijken of het al droog genoeg is voor gebruik. naar wat voor iets ben je op zoek?