- Jan 12, 2004
- 1,493
- 1,270
- Disclosures
- Owner, Stand Up Guy Basses (Repair/Sell/Buy upright basses)
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Double Bass Resuming a build that was set aside years ago.
- Thread starter 1st Bass
- Start date
The only bass bow I have is extremely cheap, so I decided I had better make a bow, so I could play the bass...
This is my first bow... I realize now that I went at a lot of things backward, but I'm ready to hair the thing. Just gotta locate the bass bow hair I bought for it. (Black, coarse hair, very unlike the hair I bought for other bows.)
I also did not use really "traditional" materials: I had 30-year-old hickory, and figured that for a first try at bow making, I shouldn't waste pernambuco. I found stainless steel easily available, so... no silver. African Blackwood was on hand, so, no ebony. I did buy gold mother-of-pearl stars, and thin slices of the same stuff for the slide, etc.
Anyway, the tip cap is stainless steel, as are the underslide and the heel cap on the frog... and the adjuster/button thing on the frog screw is stainless and Ipé.
I can see why good bows cost so much. There is a lot of work in making one! Especially if you don't have bow making tools.
This is my first bow... I realize now that I went at a lot of things backward, but I'm ready to hair the thing. Just gotta locate the bass bow hair I bought for it. (Black, coarse hair, very unlike the hair I bought for other bows.)
I also did not use really "traditional" materials: I had 30-year-old hickory, and figured that for a first try at bow making, I shouldn't waste pernambuco. I found stainless steel easily available, so... no silver. African Blackwood was on hand, so, no ebony. I did buy gold mother-of-pearl stars, and thin slices of the same stuff for the slide, etc.
Anyway, the tip cap is stainless steel, as are the underslide and the heel cap on the frog... and the adjuster/button thing on the frog screw is stainless and Ipé.
I can see why good bows cost so much. There is a lot of work in making one! Especially if you don't have bow making tools.
I gave up on finding the hair I bought back when I began, and just ordered new hair. While I waited, I installed the leather thumb-pad and the wire windings, and cut the blocks and spreader-wedge for the frog.
So, this morning I got busy and haired the bow, struggling a bit, as usual (bow re-hairing is not in my comfort-zone, just yet. Too clumsy, I think....)
At any rate, here it is...and best of all, it works quite well; considerably better than the cheap student bow I had. It is plenty stiff, and the hair ribbon is hard enough and flat enough to draw out good sound.
Over-all I feel quite pleased with the project, and I may make another, just so I don't lose whatever insights I may have gained in this build.
(Just a glutton for punishment, huh? )
However, I will definitely switch over to silver in place of stainless steel, and probably try Ipé wood next.
So, this morning I got busy and haired the bow, struggling a bit, as usual (bow re-hairing is not in my comfort-zone, just yet. Too clumsy, I think....)
At any rate, here it is...and best of all, it works quite well; considerably better than the cheap student bow I had. It is plenty stiff, and the hair ribbon is hard enough and flat enough to draw out good sound.
Over-all I feel quite pleased with the project, and I may make another, just so I don't lose whatever insights I may have gained in this build.
(Just a glutton for punishment, huh? )However, I will definitely switch over to silver in place of stainless steel, and probably try Ipé wood next.
Wonderful result Chet. May I ask what destiny awaits the fruit of your punishment?
Chet
Martin Brunkalla made great bows out of osage. You might try that sometime, too.
Martin Brunkalla made great bows out of osage. You might try that sometime, too.
I expect that some Osage orange (also called "Bois d'Arc"— wood of the bow) is in my future. There is a fellow who sells split billets for archery bows. I expect I should probably get some from him.
It is a brilliant yellow-orange, but it fades to a dark brown with exposure to light and time.
It is a brilliant yellow-orange, but it fades to a dark brown with exposure to light and time.
Not sure I understand the question, yeronner!
Do you mean what am I gonna do with the bow? Play the bass for which it was built!
Do you mean the bass? Hoping for a buyer.
I had one of Martin Brunkalla's osage orange bows for several years. Very sweet tone, but still full bodied and well balanced. It's a wood that should be used more. Friends of mine in Germany have started making bows out of other alternative/historical non-endangered woods:
Alternative woods for bows
Alternative woods for bows
These lil' bitty screws are hard to come by!
But they finally arrived, so I was able to drill and countersink through the stainless steel under-slide, and complete the final step.
And I bought a packet of 100, so if I build any more bows and frogs from scratch, I'm in good shape.
could you tell me something more about the mineral ground and sealer you used? I'm very interested in this process.
thank you
Roberto
BTW, it's a really gorgeous work!
The mineral ground in my case is just very finely ground gypsum, in a suspension in water... or in coffee, if I want more color.
I brush it on, and immediately rub it in with my fingers as thoroughly as possible, them rub the excess off the surface using a rag.
After it is dry, I use very fine abrasive paper to remove any dry excess.
Then I seal it, using a mixture of rosin dissolved in turpentine and alcohol.
When the sealer dries, I rub the whole instrument down with alcohol, to remove any residue on the surface.
After that, any sort of varnish could be used. I am using a spirit varnish.
I'm glad you like it.
I brush it on, and immediately rub it in with my fingers as thoroughly as possible, them rub the excess off the surface using a rag.
After it is dry, I use very fine abrasive paper to remove any dry excess.
Then I seal it, using a mixture of rosin dissolved in turpentine and alcohol.
When the sealer dries, I rub the whole instrument down with alcohol, to remove any residue on the surface.
After that, any sort of varnish could be used. I am using a spirit varnish.
I'm glad you like it.
Gotta have a stand for the bass...can't let it just lie around the house.
The next project has got to be a travel case for this bass. A "Travel-bass" with a removable neck is less than optimal without a case in which to travel. And such cases don't seem to be readily available for reasonable prices.
So, it is back to the drawing-board for me.
Probably looking at a foam-core fiberglass case. Shouldn't be too much harder than building a boat.
The next project has got to be a travel case for this bass. A "Travel-bass" with a removable neck is less than optimal without a case in which to travel. And such cases don't seem to be readily available for reasonable prices.
So, it is back to the drawing-board for me.
Probably looking at a foam-core fiberglass case. Shouldn't be too much harder than building a boat.
I've really enjoyed watching your build.
You've included a lot of, to my mind, useful innovations on a truly one of a kind, masterfully crafted instrument.
I've never fancied a five string, but on a smaller bass with a removable neck, brilliant!
For the same above reason the sound post portal is also a welcome addition to a bass that's made to travel.
Kudos on a beautiful bass very well done .
You've included a lot of, to my mind, useful innovations on a truly one of a kind, masterfully crafted instrument.
I've never fancied a five string, but on a smaller bass with a removable neck, brilliant!
For the same above reason the sound post portal is also a welcome addition to a bass that's made to travel.
Kudos on a beautiful bass very well done .
I'm ok… not terribly functional, though.
Ann has been living at her parents' house for the last nine months, caring for them, as they are elderly and quite fragile.
I have been doing more writing than building. Covid shut down most venues where musicians congregate, as you know, so instrument sales have been very slow. Repairs on our home and vehicles have taken time and energy as well. (Sounds like life, doesn't it?)
I have enjoyed playing that bass, but I can tell it needs some adjustments: the fingerboard needs more relief; bridge needs adjusters, etc. Perhaps I will get going on it again, soon.
Good to hear from you. I hope all is well with you, Louis.
Ann has been living at her parents' house for the last nine months, caring for them, as they are elderly and quite fragile.
I have been doing more writing than building. Covid shut down most venues where musicians congregate, as you know, so instrument sales have been very slow. Repairs on our home and vehicles have taken time and energy as well. (Sounds like life, doesn't it?)
I have enjoyed playing that bass, but I can tell it needs some adjustments: the fingerboard needs more relief; bridge needs adjusters, etc. Perhaps I will get going on it again, soon.
Good to hear from you. I hope all is well with you, Louis.
