Recent content by don leister

Treyzer, When you say poplar do mean the American 'tulip poplar'? The easternstuff is not a true poplar and not the same as the European poplar used for instruments. The american wood is hard to find cut on the quarter, usually has noticable color variations and compared to european maple is a...

Thanks, I was thinking european wood, it seems just a tad lighter than american maples, plus it can look slightly different. I havn't really started looking for blanks yet but I'll update this thread as it progresses.

Thanks for the tips, they really help! I'm looking for neck blanks next...

I did a quick mock up of a 42" string length and it looks like with a D neck it will be a shallow neck root. I have some months before I start on a neck so I can give it some thought. Any ideas on how shallow can a neck root be? I suppose it can go into the mortice further provided the block...

I've seen a few tops and backs even that looked similar, american ones, that looked like they did the arch all around but sort of flattened at the peak, almost like they ran out of wood in the center to continue into a nice rounded peak. Could the top be too thin on yours? Know how thick it is...

I think I have a plan, decide the string length and then just decide how high of a heel seems right, make sense? Then whichever is more appropriate (D or Eb) make the heel to that size, maybe even after it is strung up. Comments? Don

Thanks for the help guys. I'm wondering what are the other factors to consider between having a D or Eb neck? Seems like the Eb would go with the idea of a shorter stringlength, is this correct? (the nut-heel length is shorter, thus bringing the nut closer to the bridge) I think I suffer some...

I measured between the nicks at the centerline to the cut out at the neck mortice, 24-1/8". For some reason someone cut off the edges of the top that extend past the neck root. Estimating the distance to the edge of the top to the nicks is 25-3/8". Thanks for the help Arnoldschnitzer. Since...

Matthew, sorry but I'm not able to post pictures at this time. If it helps I can describe it better. It is gamba shaped, original dark brown varnish with lots of wear, has no neck, and a number of rib cracks and top cracks. Carved back w/ no cracks. The top is off and has been repaired...

Hi All, This is my first post here, great forum! My thanks to all who contribute. I repair and make mostly violins in my one person shop in central Virginia. I bought a bass, or most of one, for myself and I'm repairing the cracks in the top and am starting to think about the new neck it...