I'm not so happy with how this turned out right now. The light makes such a big difference on how it looks. Kind of like checking out mixes on different sets of speakers. Sometimes it looks nice and even and a rich amber/brown (in the basement varnishing). In other lights it looks pretty splotchy and orangish (upstairs in the sun). Oh well, if the bass sounds killer, it might get a re-varnish, although right now I can't imagine jumping into that again. It's all part of the learning process I suppose.
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Double Bass finished varnishing pics
- Thread starter Don Harris
- Start date
I wonder if I had sun tanned the bass or artificially aged the wood if it would change less in different light. It could be that bright new wood popping out from under the varnish. My buddy built a violin and sun tanned it a bunch and ended up with a crack on the top plate before he started varnishing. I was wanting to avoid that.
The light from the sun brings with it a lot of heat and that tends to dry out the wood. If you sunned it with adequate humidity, that probably wouldn't result in cracks.
I think the varnish looks good in the pictures, Don. It's hard to get varnish on wood to look right in a photo. Wood has a lot of red in it that shows up to cameras more than it does to our eyes. Digital cameras seem worse to me than film, but film had a similar less pronounced problem also.
That purfling on the back is still one of the most elegant patterns I have seen.
- Nov 6, 2007
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- humble instrument maker
+1.
It looks great to me too. Whenever I record in a studio, I always try to wait 2-3 weeks before I listen to it. Otherwise the tiny little mistakes over shadow what is good. Perhaps following this guideline would be good for looking at varnish too.
It looks great to me too. Whenever I record in a studio, I always try to wait 2-3 weeks before I listen to it. Otherwise the tiny little mistakes over shadow what is good. Perhaps following this guideline would be good for looking at varnish too.
Good advice. Thanks. I'm taking it to my luthiers group tonight. It will be good to get their impressions.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Don,
In my woodworking experience, I've learned that a finished piece will change in appearance over a relatively short period of time. This may be due to the finish curing or the wood reacting to light. I don't really know why this happens but it does.
You have done a magnificent job, but don't be surprised if the bass looks even better by Christmas.
Also, once you get a fingerboard and tailpiece on it the bass will look different.
I absolutely love the color just the way it is.
In my woodworking experience, I've learned that a finished piece will change in appearance over a relatively short period of time. This may be due to the finish curing or the wood reacting to light. I don't really know why this happens but it does.
You have done a magnificent job, but don't be surprised if the bass looks even better by Christmas.
Also, once you get a fingerboard and tailpiece on it the bass will look different.
I absolutely love the color just the way it is.
)
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
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- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
That's a beautiful bass Don! Outstanding for your first one. I love the colour and the shapes too. 
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Thanks all. The luthiers group tonight liked it a lot. Didn't seem to notice the warts that bothered me. In fact in the light there, it looked good to me too.
- Nov 6, 2007
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- humble instrument maker
It'll take some time to see you're varnish the same way as others do. You're eyes are still focused on it like a laser. Like a kinda hyper-vision or something.
Again, Don, very impressive.
Again, Don, very impressive.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
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- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
I like it too. And basses get knocked around a bit anyway. Can't be too precious about a perfect finish
Looks like you have about 40mm overstand there. Is that right? Or optical illusion?
Looks like you have about 40mm overstand there. Is that right? Or optical illusion?
Looks super Don!
The varnish will darken (or yellow) with time, and the wood will mellow; In 30 years it will look incredible!
The varnish will darken (or yellow) with time, and the wood will mellow; In 30 years it will look incredible!
The overstand is 34mm. I think the illusion is partially because this is a smallish bass. Last night I routed and epoxied in a graphite neck reinforcement. Would have been easier before the neck was on and shaped, but it was kind of an afterthought. Now I find that the fingerboard has cupped (convex on the flat side) and twisted slightly so I'll need to get that fitting again. I cut in the saddle yesterday too. Now that was a bit nerve wracking-- putting a knife to a freshly varnished top. It went fine though.
Thanks for all the encouragement!
Thanks for all the encouragement!
