If I find a couple of beaters in my area, I'll give tearing em apart and putting em back together a shot. It can't hurt...and would be cheaper then screwing up nice wood that I buy myself.
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Double Bass Build your own upright bass feasibility?
- Thread starter nicfargo
- Start date
try to talk to that violin guy you mentioned, tearing them apart isnt as simple as chainsaw or axe meets wood haha
I've got to know. What makes a 20k bass a 20k bass? I was reading the thread "New basses by independent builders vs old basses" and the OP is talking about new basses and old ones costing 20k and up. Now I know I'm not building a 20k bass here...but what makes those basses worth so much...especially the newly built ones? I know certain woods cost more then others, but even if the whole thing were made of ebony (which would sound completely awful) you still wouldn't even come close to that price point. They don't have gold machinery for the tuners, so there's really no added cost there. Is the workmanship really worth that much? If so, why can't it be duplicated? Just some thoughts running through my scary little head.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
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- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
So you're saying if I'm a wizard I can pull of a 30k bass...awesome. I need to be practicing magic not luthery! Off to buy the Harry Potter box set!
(I'm really tired and extremely bored at work today)
(I'm really tired and extremely bored at work today)
also sometimes pedigree, quality of craftsmenship as matthew stated, most trained with the best bass luthiers in the world
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
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- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
If you have bred good looking pups, free of disease and mental illness, that turn out to be great dogs, you have pedigree ;-) You can charge a higher price for your pups, and people will pay. That's not to say they'll all turn out champions.
If your workmanship is proven - proven to last, proven to sound good, your instruments are proven to improve with age, are proven to be good value for money - then you have pedigree. Everyone wants to have an investment that will increase in value both in sound and money terms. If your basses have a track record of doing that, then you have pedigree. You are a better investment than an unknown maker whose bass looks and sounds wonderful but which cracks and falls apart at the seams after three years. Who'd sink good money into that?
Woof!
If your workmanship is proven - proven to last, proven to sound good, your instruments are proven to improve with age, are proven to be good value for money - then you have pedigree. Everyone wants to have an investment that will increase in value both in sound and money terms. If your basses have a track record of doing that, then you have pedigree. You are a better investment than an unknown maker whose bass looks and sounds wonderful but which cracks and falls apart at the seams after three years. Who'd sink good money into that?
Woof!
Hey,
This is really cool, that you are brave enough to go for something like this. I am not handy at all, I'm actually pretty ******** when it comes to anything involving tools, so I really admire people who do this kind of stuff.
My intent is not to discourage anyone, really. I just had a thought, and this might have been said already, I didn't read through the whole thread.
If you have never played the double bass, how are you so sure that you want to build one? What I mean is, what if you go through all the labor and expenses and everything, and build yourself a nice bass, only to discover that you don't really like playing double bass at all? I don't play double bass myself, but I was just thinking about this possibility.
Maybe you should learn to play before you start building, you can always rent. And if this has already been said, disregard my words.
But, seriously, my best wishes to you, I hope it all turns out well in your project
This is really cool, that you are brave enough to go for something like this. I am not handy at all, I'm actually pretty ******** when it comes to anything involving tools, so I really admire people who do this kind of stuff.
My intent is not to discourage anyone, really. I just had a thought, and this might have been said already, I didn't read through the whole thread.
If you have never played the double bass, how are you so sure that you want to build one? What I mean is, what if you go through all the labor and expenses and everything, and build yourself a nice bass, only to discover that you don't really like playing double bass at all? I don't play double bass myself, but I was just thinking about this possibility.
Maybe you should learn to play before you start building, you can always rent. And if this has already been said, disregard my words.
But, seriously, my best wishes to you, I hope it all turns out well in your project
manutabora,
I know what you're saying...but I'm pretty sure I know I'll like it...just one of those things. And if not, I'm sure if I build a quality bass I could sell it to someone. I played cello for years and enjoyed that...and I love the sound a double bass can make...so I'm pretty confident about this. Thanks for bringing it up though!
I know what you're saying...but I'm pretty sure I know I'll like it...just one of those things. And if not, I'm sure if I build a quality bass I could sell it to someone. I played cello for years and enjoyed that...and I love the sound a double bass can make...so I'm pretty confident about this. Thanks for bringing it up though!
Has anyone seen an upright bass with black and white ebony fretboard, or even maybe a wenge fingerboard? Would there be a disadvantage to using the black and white ebony or wenge as a fretboard? I don't think it's (black & white) any softer then black ebony, but I could be wrong. I know wenge is, but by enough to be considered a non-option? I know there's a lot of tradition with the upright bass, but why can't things be changed? I know traditionally people use black ebony, but why couldn't something else be used in its place? Just some thoughts.
Thanks,
Nic
Thanks,
Nic
Ken Smith has a modern Italian bass by Giuseppe Lombardi for sale that has a wenge fingerboard Invalid Link Removed. On his site he is recommending eventually replacing the wenge with ebony, though. You might want to contact him as he knows a lot about different kinds of wood both for double basses and electric basses.
Well, if Ken recommends replacing it, that's good enough reason to stay away. Ken knows his stuff and I definitely respect what he says.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
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- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
Ken knows his stuff alright. But he didn't explain why he *might* replace it. Perhaps its perfectly good, but to ensure a sale, it needs ebony. Or, perhaps the board isn't well shaped and may be worth the extra work. Or maybe wenge is soft as butter (doubt it). Or maybe he doesn't like the look.
There are many factors to look at; don't always take online comments at face value.
*I* think that if the wenge or streaky ebony is properly shaped it would probably be fine for the bass you may build.
That said, shaping a fingerboard from scratch is a heck of a big undertaking especially for your first bass.
As you can buy a reasonable standard black ebony fingerboard blank already 90% shaped, for not too much money, why bother using anything else?
Nic;
I buy my fingerboard blanks at International Violin Co. in Baltimore-- you can find them on the Web. BTW, that's also where I bought all the fittings, etc. for my first bass. I'm sure there are other, possibly better sources, but that is a good place to start.
I know you can do it, but it will take some determination, and initiative. Good luck on it. PM me if you like, and I will be happy to offer encouragement...but there are many here who are far more experienced.
Chet Bishop
I buy my fingerboard blanks at International Violin Co. in Baltimore-- you can find them on the Web. BTW, that's also where I bought all the fittings, etc. for my first bass. I'm sure there are other, possibly better sources, but that is a good place to start.
I know you can do it, but it will take some determination, and initiative. Good luck on it. PM me if you like, and I will be happy to offer encouragement...but there are many here who are far more experienced.
Chet Bishop
Hi Nic! How's your home-made double bass coming along? Got any pics you can share with us?
Bass, that's some dedication. But like most projects, once the money comes out and the parts start accumulating, it quickly becomes discouraging.
We should have a newbie link at the top that outlines the price of putting together your own bass. Something like "So you think a starter bass is too expensive and you want to make your own?"
We should have a newbie link at the top that outlines the price of putting together your own bass. Something like "So you think a starter bass is too expensive and you want to make your own?"
No pics right now, but it's coming along (not physically, but ideas are happening). Working with my Father-in-law running ideas back and forth (he also does carpentry). Also, just trying to decide style, woods, etc. Not working on it full-time by any means, just when I have some free time that I'm not dedicating to my playing. Also, the wife decided to get pregnant, so most extra money right now goes towards that, but it's not something I've abandoned. Just takes time is all!
