Double Bass I was shopping for an igloo

[Chris Fitzgerald]

The dog and bass are going to be a pretty good match, I think. I have a tortoise shell cat, and that's about the closest thing to a tortoise shell dog as I've seen. And since the bass is already a bit mottled, I think it'll be a match made in heaven!

 

[Hogslapper]

I lengthened the tail cable per consensus recommendation to achieve an approximate one sixth vibrating string afterlength.

The promised, hand cut, experimental, wild cherry bridge.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Lots of excess mass there to hinder transfer of energy. I’d thin it by about 20% on a belt sander.

 

[james condino]

Congratulations! While there are plenty of things you could do to fine tune the bass, I'd suggest get it running reasonable and play it for a while. The more you become acquainted with the bass, the more you'll notice subtle little things that could use some fine tuning & be better able to understand the effect and how the overall voice and setup change. Less workshop, more playin' tunes.....

See you on Thursday; safe travels.

 

[Chad Michael]

For future reference, it is called a 'dogloo'.

Just look at the time and effort that could have been saved <c:

 

[SAlcott]

View attachment 3834532 Just guessing at a length here, according to the pre-existing, 80 year old hanger wire. I will leave some extra for adjustment.

Use two clamps.

 

[Chad Michael]

Loving every bit of this thread, please more pics of your cool project bass !!!

 

[james condino]

'Got in a bit of laughter, passed off the missing tuning machine parts, and made a couple of new friends this afternoon. Cool old bass and an even cooler fellow with a great attitude about approaching life's challenges!

 

[Hogslapper]

Thanks for the “clandestine” meeting James! I’m sure the unveiling of the old AS in the HDepot parking lot didn't draw any attention. We made the rest if the trip to the low country of SC, and jammed with the kids three stringed! I’m anxious to get home and chuck that tuner in the lathe for a trim and string up. Here is a shot of

the prototype soundpost I devised fom the carbon fiber endpin leftovers. The caps are cut from rubber corks.

 

[james condino]

I've seen a lot more than just old basses passing hands out in the open in the Home Depot parking lot!!!!

 

[Hogslapper]

• Tuner getting a trim on the lathe
  
  Tuner in the pegbox
  
  One happy bass
  

 

[Bar Star]

Congrats! I wish you many years of happy playing with your family!

Can we see final pics of the end pin, please?!?

 

[Don Hergert]

It's really great to realize this double bass will continue making musical memories again, instead of ending its life in a pile of rubble somewhere. As an owner of a double bass that nearly experienced that same rubble pile, I'd observe that the promise of smiles and enjoyment is well worth the effort and/or expense.

Great job!!!

 

[Fretless55]

If ever a bass deserved the moniker “Lazarus” it’s this one.

Your work is truly ingenious and wonderful!
I’ve really enjoyed seeing your process and progress.

 

[Hogslapper]

Thanks all,
This project truly started without a plan, and certainly was no thought to doing work I would be posting online. I'm fairly sure, without the encouragement found here, it likely would have met with less success.
I’ve lots of details to work on still. The woodcarving on the pegbox end of the neck is another new thing for me. The endpin is still only temporarily plugged in place with a leather shim. The bridge and nut still need some paring. I’ve been scraping/shaping the neck each time I handle it. The top needs a protective finish, but I really want to preserve that hard earned, relic look!
Here’s a pic of the bona fides:

And one of the hogslapper tunin’ up

 

[Keyser Soze]

Great job, 'Slappy! I think you've got the right approach; The journey is often as rewarding as the destination.

Hat tip to James Condino for his contributions. You do TB proud.

 

[Hogslapper]

Ok, I’ve been working out with “Old Yeller” and stumbled on to a curiosity surrounding the endpin. As you can see, currently I have a carbon fiber tube, .4115” OD, stuck in the plug and grasped by a leather shim.

As I was thumping along, gloating over the booming sustain, I noticed the body was causing the endpin to flex back and forth. I know this won’t surprise anyone else, but to me it generated some thought!
Why would one want to stop that vibration? It is sound producing, correct?
Originally, consequential to my reading, I thought a rigid endpin was the most desirable?
Tradition isn’t my strong suit, so I’m wondering if there is real reason to eliminate the flex?
Thanks to James Condino for the anodized cable clamp, it is so cool!

 

[Roxbororob]

Thanks all,
This project truly started without a plan, and certainly was no thought to doing work I would be posting online. I'm fairly sure, without the encouragement found here, it likely would have met with less success.
I’ve lots of details to work on still. The woodcarving on the pegbox end of the neck is another new thing for me. The endpin is still only temporarily plugged in place with a leather shim. The bridge and nut still need some paring. I’ve been scraping/shaping the neck each time I handle it. The top needs a protective finish, but I really want to preserve that hard earned, relic look!
Here’s a pic of the bona fides:View attachment 3843614View attachment 3843615
And one of the hogslapper tunin’ up

Great photo!

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Well I replaced my metal tube endpin with a drum stick (VIC FIRTH SD2 Bolero), and I have not looked back.
To me it sounds/feels better. Perhaps mainly because it is lighter. But I am a "organic material" guy, with plain gut strings and even a gut tail gut. Have to say the end pin is pretty sturdy though.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Well I replaced my metal tube endpin with a drum stick (VIC FIRTH SD2 Bolero), and I have not looked back.
To me it sounds/feels better. Perhaps mainly because it is lighter. But I am a "organic material" guy, with plain gut strings and even a gut tail gut. Have to say the end pin is pretty sturdy though.

I choose to use a wood endpin on my jazz bass, have been for about 40 years. I have 3 of them depending on the length needed. 98% of the time I stand and use the same endpin. A trombonist glanced at it once and blurt out, on the band stand, ‘hey I’ve been looking for that for my plunger’!

Ray Brown used a wood endpin.