Double Bass Lack of EUB plans: own design started

[MARCOvdBoogert]

Getting there but not right yet. An in between?

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

Hard to find the right shape for the side:

What do you guys like??

 

[Phil Smith]

Personally I want a EUB to have the ergonomics of an actual DB which is why I like the Yamaha Silent Bass. Yamaha has gotten it right in my opinion.

 

[GKon]

I don't play the DB, so I'm just going by looks alone. I like the photo on the left.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The curvature of your original design (posting #41) is nice, specially on the top (where it is important), but I would prefer a a bit thicker rib like in the last right drawing and with a bit of a bottom part (think like this part would have been a cutout of an acoustic double bass without the top part) which also makes it more stable.
I think this is most important for holding it securely.

The lower bout is not needed for a bass when standing and when sitting it is the bottom needed, not the rib. I would drop that part. If you want a cello the lower rib is important, but this is a bass and holding it is totally different from a cello.

 

[rgarcia26]

If you move the bridge, you also move the interval at the end of the neck which is a major orientation point for a double bass player. So, if you don't want to (re-)learn two different neck scales, better decide which scale or neck scale you want and fix the bridge.
Otherwise you need to make you nut moveable too (but then you loose the half position neck orientation point).

+1

 

[rgarcia26]

With tumb on lowest neck position the tone on the G string is equal on the lower Eb on the D string with an octave difference of course.
I presume I'm on the save side!?

check this video we DB players use the neck heel as an reference point, if an important concept once you know there is D or Eb on the (G string) , you can find out where is C, B or E, F ect, the other strings I think is more common to have a D on the heel position.

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

Thanks!
I tried to retune it to a D neck but it didn't work out. Seems logical to me. The length of the neck didn't change or am I thinking wrong.

Got a piece of bendable ply and made a jig today. Hope three layers of 5mm would do the trick but it is extremely bendable. Glued them up with hide glue so it needs a decade to dry.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

For a D-neck, your total vibrating string length needs to be much longer than with the Eb-neck, probably around seven or eight centimeters longer if you want to use your neck as it is.

Most necks are made for a 105 cm vibrating string length and a D neck. Those made for an Eb neck on 105 cm need a really long vibrating string length of around 112 cm when a D neck is the goal with this neck.

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

Best design ideas come spontaniously! After building a one of my earlier designs I came up with the 2nd pic! How cool is that!
All Ikea designers eat your heart out! Very scandinavian looking don't you think! Danish designpiece!!!!
Ah well, not bad for a dutch guy. I'm very happy with it! Have to remake one piece which is pretty easy so one hurdle less to take!

 

[GKon]

Pic on the right=Very cool!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Put something arced at the lower end of the upper bout (lke you did at the upper end of the lower bout), so that it wouldn't bend. I like the right design much better than the left one. So you can use the lower bout if you want and can omit it if you don't need it.

Could habe been danish design, but IKEA is swedish...

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

I'll make them detachable for travel use. Tried to make the neck detachable also but fastening the screws is a hell of a job. The top triangle is a bit to narrow for my tools and fingers. I think I can make the top bout floating. At least I'll try! Otherwise a rectangular piece would be nice I guess.

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

No problems with the upper bout floating DoubleMIDI!
Works fine, stiff enough using three bolts! The middle arced piece isn't working though. Bolting the lower bout on the body meant the arch had to be rebend. So tonight I'm going to make a new one.

 

[Upright4]

I like the look of your bass. Here's how the detachable neck is joined to the body of my 70's eub. I've had this bass for 21 years, and it's held up fine.

I like the upper bout in post #41. To me, it looks like part of the overall design. The others (once again, to me) look added on.

Good work!

 

[Upright4]

Sorry, I should have included a description of this set up. The block coming from the bottom of the neck is in a metal sheath. There's a threaded insert in the hole in the block. A large bolt goes through the body into the block.

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

How simply could it be!
For the next project I probably use this method.
Depending on the result I consider to build a closed semi acoustic version of this one.

I like the #41 design also but it was a bit to classical for me. For an open version I'd like it to be more modern. For a close version I agree with you!

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

sideview and mockup. Balance is spot on. Don't need hands for balance. Shape not 100% yet

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Support the upper bout near the lower end towards the bass body to avoid bending and maybe round the lower corners of the upper bout too and you might have finished your instrument.

Looks really nice!

 

[MARCOvdBoogert]

Ah. That's what's wrong. You are right. I have to round the corners! Good suggestion!

Support is really not necessary!