Double Bass Bass making books? [DB forum thread]

[josiah goldfish]

Can anyone recommend me a book on bass making? I intend to order at least one set of plans, but I'd like to get a book with it as well. I've got two years of school before I can look into taking an apprenticeship, so I'd like something to study and do before then. I'm friends with a luthier who's offered to email me progress shots of his basses, and I'd like to study as much as I can over the next few years.

I've looked at 'so, you want to make a double bass' and 'to make a double bass'. Is one better than the other? Any other books I should be reading?

Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

[Turnaround]

Bass making books? I have tons of books and not one of them has ever made a bass. Oh, I see...... never mind.

 

[tyb507]

I'm not aware of a book on making by Traeger. He has two books that outline his ideas on repair and setup.

This is a good read if you have a few hours: Invalid Link Removed

 

[josiah goldfish]

Thanks, I've seen that before but forgot where it was.

Does anyone have a preference out of the two books I mentioned? I'll also get the chuck traeger book as well at some point but I can't set up a bass if I don't have a bass in need of a set up!

Thanks again,
Joe

 

[powerbass]

These are two print resources I know of
The Peter Chandler book http://www.amazon.com/you-want-make-Double-Bass/dp/0968935303

The Guild of American Lutherie has a two part series this is one of them Invalid Link Removed

 

[1st Bass]

I made my first bass using the Chandler book and his patterns. I also used the (first) Traeger book for the set-up portion of the project. Both books were indispensible to me.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

Chandlers book is fine as are his plans.

But you will also need to do other research because there's a lot in Chandlers book where detail is a bit thin on the ground, like, thicknessing and arching. I used the book to make my first bass; I have hardly referred to it since.