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Double Bass My DB project

rgarcia26

rgarcia26

Jun 9, 2008
787
7
Miami Florida
#1
Hey guys I being wanting to build a DB for some time, I am not a luthier, this is my hobby, I never owned a DB so I dont even play DB but BG... more experience luthiers suggest that instead of build one from scratch, buy one that needs to be restore... so that's how this begins...
 
#2
Meet my project... I got the craiglist bass, the guy who sold it, was a very nice guy... he thinks is a pre-WWII bass... looks old to me... but what I know... is top carve... spruce I assume... back carve... maple I think... on the neck joint ebony trim on one side, in the other side wood filler, got some cracks on the ribs, and there is a patch on one rib also... has a crack at the bottom front plate, looks like someone made some repairs on it... i dont see any repairs inside the bass...
here are some pictures...PS the guy also gave me the sound post... and a nice ebony tailpiece



You can see the cracks at the bottom front

100_3688.jpg


100_3685.jpg





The Back is open a little

100_3684.jpg




I dont know if you can see there is a crack on this rip

100_3683.jpg




a patch

100_3682.jpg


the machines are very smooth

100_3678.jpg
 
#4
he neck looks fine, figured wood, maple right??? Also you can see the bad detail at the heel (neck join) they use something like wood filler... instead ebony


100_3686.jpg


The ebony trim

100_3687.jpg


the front

100_3675.jpg




100_3677.jpg



100_3676.jpg







the back



100_3681.jpg



100_3680.jpg



Now the question is... did i do good? any comments???

Where do i start... I want to make the bass playable... I am more concern about the playability of the bass than the looks... I think the distress look with a litle TLC is better than a new looking bass.. I guess I dont want to make unesesary repairs, that at the end decrement the quality of this instrument.... I LOVE IT....

one more thing I guess I need a book that taugh me how to repair DB's... what u guys recomend?
Edit/Delete Message
 
#7
Big B. said:
I'm no master luthier but I have seen basses in way worse condition than that come back from the dead. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Just by the looks of it, this bass seems like it's far from being a wreck. Now, I'm no luthier, and my own restoration project was a ply bass. What I notice is that at least one of the cracks is headed in the direction of the sound post. This would seem to call for particular thought and consultation with a luthier about a repair strategy.

Something that's hard to judge from the pictures is the thickness and geometry of the neck. Are the neck angle and overstand sufficient? I noticed on a lot of German shop basses that I tried out, that they could use some help in this regard. This is a chance to put a shim between the fingerboard and the neck if desired, as the board is AWOL anyway.

I think you done good.
 
#13
fdeck said:
Something that's hard to judge from the pictures is the thickness and geometry of the neck. Are the neck angle and overstand sufficient? I noticed on a lot of German shop basses that I tried out, that they could use some help in this regard. This is a chance to put a shim between the fingerboard and the neck if desired, as the board is AWOL anyway.
Click to expand...

I will get more pictures showing the neck angle and some measurements, I don’t totally get what are u referring to… I will get you that info
 
#15
Violin Restoration: A Manual for Violin Makers [Hardcover]
Hans Weisshaar
Price: $325.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver

Well I guess I have to go with the next best suggestion... $325 for the manual is out of what I can pay for books... sorry I am serious but I just can't right now...
 
#16
rgarcia26 said:
Violin Restoration: A Manual for Violin Makers [Hardcover]
Hans Weisshaar
Price: $325.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver

Well I guess I have to go with the next best suggestion... $325 for the manual is out of what I can pay for books... sorry I am serious but I just can't right now...
Click to expand...
$325 is a lot cheaper than the cost of messing up a nice bass. It's also a lot cheaper than a pro-level course at a violin-making school. I think you can find the book for less if you look around for a bit.
 
#19
arnoldschnitzer said:
$325 is a lot cheaper than the cost of messing up a nice bass. It's also a lot cheaper than a pro-level course at a violin-making school. I think you can find the book for less if you look around for a bit.
Click to expand...

I will see if one a the local shops got one on hand...


PS I just got home the to check the bass top plate with a mirror, as Wayne suggest, and I can see that there are reparied, I do see little wood squares and glue from the beginning to the end of the cracks....
 
#20
Ah man, I would love a cool old carved bass like that to restore. I agree - you should take the bass for an evaluation - throw the luthier some cash for his advice on proceeding and explain to him that you are serious about doing it right.

A cool luthier would be fine with helping you out, IMO - if he tosses you out for asking for info (even if you are willing to pay him for his advice) - then I'd find another luthier.

These guys are master craftsman, IMO, and their time is worth money. If you go in there humble, and explain your ambition albiet lack of funds, I'd say you have a good chance of taking some good notes. Depends on the guy and your personality and shmoozing skills, of course.
 

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