Double Bass duh... 3-string restoration photos

[LouisF]

sorry to be so dense, but... what's the trick on downloading/uploading photos? Nick Roubas has finally taken the three string Tyrolean bass apart and is beginning to reconstruct it, and I'd like to share the process.

We found the signatures of three luthiers (er, maybe garage mechanics) dated 1911, 1927 and 1956 inside. Cracks had been patch with cloth, cereal box tops (no joke) and elmer's glue.

A new back was cut from plywood and SCREWED on with a brace. How the thing survived is beyond me!

I try to send up photos as soon as I figure out how

Louis

 

[toman]

Sounds like an interesting project. You can post pictures here by either attatching them to your post, or by hosting them yourself someplace else and then linking them in your post.

 

[LouisF]

first two

 

[LouisF]

boy, this is fun... hmmm....

 

[LouisF]

two more...

 

[LouisF]

for now... we figure it's an 8 - 10 month project (part-time) solo fingerboard and high grade tuners from Upton, Camelopard endpin, and maybe a Pecanic tail piece.

We're looking for some really good wood for the back (if anyone has a lead let me know)

More as we progress -- and thanks for the computer up date on the photos Thoman

Louis

 

[Bob Branstetter]

We're looking for some really good wood for the back (if anyone has a lead let me know)
Louis

I've done a couple of similar projects and was able to get some very nice wood for replacing the flatback from Randle Woods. 360-497-2071

Let them know the minimum size you need and they will send you photos of the wood planks so you can choose the figure you want. They do resawing, but you will need to have access to a thickness sander and jointer.

 

[LouisF]

Thanks, Bob. We'll chek 'em out!

Louis

 

[mpm]

I get a lot of wood from Reel Lumber in Riverside, CA. They had some really nicely flamed soft maple a couple of months ago.

 

[LouisF]

thanks!

louis

 

[LouisF]

Nick is working away on the bass (between his violin making projects) and sent the following photos. He says that in the three times that the bass has been opened up, it has been repaired (on the inside) with cereal box tops, silk stockings and something that looks lumps of silly-string.

I'm hoping to have the bass ready for June.

Louis

 

[LouisF]

2 more pics

 

[Jake deVilliers]

What, no chewing gum or duct tape?

It really does make you wonder, doesn't it?

 

[LouisF]

last one for now

 

[LouisF]

Ken,

That's actually what he's working on now! We should (with luck) have new bass made with basically 200 year old wood when we're done.

Louis

 

[Andy Allen]

I was out at Nick's place a week or so ago to discuss a little cosmetic work on my bass and saw the peices of that bass stacked in the corner.

Nick gave me the whole story of the, ahem...'creative' maintenance that had been done to it. That's quite a project.

Nick's an interesting guy - very detail-oriented.

Andy

 

[LouisF]

VERY detail-oriented!

Louis

 

[LouisF]

Here are some photos of the inside of the Tyrolean bass - the bass bar is still under construction, but the sides and ribs (not shown) have been relined. Slowly moving forward!

Louis

 

[SAlcott]

I hope you're planning to install a proper neck block; my bass was one of the "blockless wonders" and that one bit of work made it into a much better instrument.

 

[LouisF]

oh yes! thanks.

Louis