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drop tops

#21
for some perspective, here's an image with the necks matched to their respective bodies.

R16501_NeckTestFit_1b.png
R16502_NeckTestFit_1b.png


next up for these: add the matching headstock laminate and then get to applying the finish
 
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#22
more drop-top goodness hot off the router table - this time it's Masur Birch on Mahogany with a Peruvian Walnut accent.

R16507_DropTopBody_1a.png


R16507_DropTopBody_1c.png


I have one additional bass to get going for NAMM, but it will feature a conventional carved forearm to highlight the accent layers instead of just the figured top
 
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#24
a drop-top implies that the bookmatched top is bent over (i.e. 'dropped') the forearm contour. traditionally, all of the wood laminations are glued up flat, and the forearm contour is carved thru the top and into the body. this reduces the top and exposes the core like this image

RM11502_BodyFront_1024.jpg
 
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#27
honza992 said:
Without using heat etc, and just using the vacuum bag, what sort of thickness of top can you use with this method? Are there some woods that work better than others?
Click to expand...

Thickness will be depend on the surface you're bending over combined with how much vacuum your pump can pull. So far I've had success up to 1/8" thick with the surface geometry I'm using for my forearm. If the wood piece was pliable, I could probably go another 1/32" in thickness before I needed more vacuum or a softer curve.

Brittle woods, or top sets with lots of internal cracks don't seem to work so well for obvious reasons. A wood that is too stiff at 1/8" thick might be a reasonable candidate at 3/32" or thinner - it's the beauty of learning thru experimentation, and taking the time to dig into why something fails to know how to massage a workflow and/or spec to where the material becomes predictably usable.

I would also guess that oily woods which are difficult to glue would also be a problem ... but I don't know this from direct experience (yet) If a Cocobolo fretboard is difficult to glue to a neck shaft when there is no radial stressing, I can't imagine it would play nice when used as a drop top without some kind of additional steps being used to force it into submission
 
#28
Rodent said:
a drop-top implies that the bookmatched top is bent over (i.e. 'dropped') the forearm contour. traditionally, all of the wood laminations are glued up flat, and the forearm contour is carved thru the top and into the body. this reduces the top and exposes the core like this image

View attachment 753945
Click to expand...
Ahh. Now I see and understand. I learned something new then. Thank you.
 
#30
next up on my drop-top agenda: massaging the process to adapt it for basses I build that utilize a center block with sandwich cheeks. these I carve similar to the Koa topped body - but I would like to have the option to keep the look of the top all thru the contour. this would also allow me to utilize lighter, sometimes softer woods in the sandwich core as they'd be better protected from abuse.

R16603_Maple2.png


based on what I've done so far, I can't simply vacuum the top down onto a cheek and get consistently good results. the issue has to do with keeping the top face planar, and limiting the distortion to only within the forearm contour's drop zone.

I have an idea on how to accomplish this, but it's going to need to wait until after NAMM before I have time to code the cutting tool paths and give it a test drive
 
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#31
Here's a look at how the drop top finishes out on a completed bass. I really like how both the figured top flows over the forearm contour and how the Walnut accent layer rolls along to highlight the drop top even further
R16506_Finished_ForearmDropTopDetail.png


and a shot of the completed bass, ready to ship off to NAMM in 10 days or so.
R16506_Finished.png


if you're at NAMM this year, come see this in person and share your thoughts on how these drop tops came out - I'd love to hear both the good and other :)
 
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#33
and to bring completion to the images shown in posts #21 & #30 of this thread, here's those basses in their completed state. I continue to like how the drop-tops on the 5-strings work, and this sentiment was repeatedly confirmed by the many people who dropped by our booth at NAMM to experience these first-hand.

R16501_Complete_Front_small.png
R16502_Completed_Front_small.png
R16603_Complete_Front_small.png
 
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#35
Basshappi said:
Those tops are stunning!
How did things go at NAMM?
Click to expand...

Thanks - definitely hard to let these go off to dealers.


NAMM totally exceeded our hopes for the show for both the basses and also a new brand of pickups we spun off from the bass business. We have several new domestic dealers and a couple international dealers for our bass offerings, and a significant number of new builders (some very well known) joining those who are relying more and more on our pickup offerings. All of the hard work behind the scenes is starting to reap measurable rewards.

We once again had a great team manning the booth this year
RGW_HB_BoothTeamMinusRich_NAMM2016.png
 
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#37
Even the wife, when shown these pics, realizes the efficacy and coolness of these. I, of course, also heartily approve.
Most excellent.

But that guy in the "booth crew" pic with Miley Tongue Disorder? Please get him proper medical attention.
 
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