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Double Bass Resuming a build that was set aside years ago.
- Thread starter 1st Bass
- Start date
"Yup... Just like a huge building project, the 80/20 rule applies... It takes ~20% of the time to get the first ~80% of the job completed, then it takes ~80% of the time to get the last ~20% of the job completed."
Thanks! I never heard that rule before, but it rings true. Same goes for sailboat-building, I guess. I'm told that building the actual hull and house is about 20% of the cost, though it looks like the whole vessel. I guess that is why I always enjoyed framing houses more than I liked all the finish-work. It's all part of the job, though.
I'm glad you like the Ipé wood.
Thanks! I never heard that rule before, but it rings true. Same goes for sailboat-building, I guess. I'm told that building the actual hull and house is about 20% of the cost, though it looks like the whole vessel. I guess that is why I always enjoyed framing houses more than I liked all the finish-work. It's all part of the job, though.
I'm glad you like the Ipé wood.
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Well, the glue seemed to have finally held securely, so I trimmed off the ends of the tailpiece fret, filed them smooth, sanded down the whole tailpiece with 400-grit, and applied a thinned coat of linseed oil/ turpentine.
And... as I admired the finish... the glue popped loose again!
(Arnold, you are prophetic!) I wish I had chosen the hide-glue, now, as I really didn't have a problem with it. But the next step may be epoxy, now.
Anyhow, here it is:
And... as I admired the finish... the glue popped loose again!
(Arnold, you are prophetic!) I wish I had chosen the hide-glue, now, as I really didn't have a problem with it. But the next step may be epoxy, now.
Anyhow, here it is:
Attachments
Nothing worthy of a photo, but I did get the "fitting" portion of the neck-set done last night, so I cut off the heel where the "removable" aspect will begin, and added carbon fiber reinforcements and anchor points.
Hopefully, today, I can accomplish the "fasteners" portion of the removable neck, and actually be able to say that the neck-set is complete.
Hopefully, today, I can accomplish the "fasteners" portion of the removable neck, and actually be able to say that the neck-set is complete.
I made some visible progress, today: the neck is currently held in place by a single 4" screw, through the block, from the inside. The last little segment, aft of the breakaway joint (currently glued with paper for easy disassembly) is solidly glued into the mortise, and will be glued to the back button as well. It sports a carbon fiber ledge, under which a matching carbon fiber bar (attached to the neck heel) slips, as an anchor point.
The rest of the neck heel is only there to maintain perfect alignment until the glue on the heel "root" portion is dry. Then I will remove the neck once more, install the insert into the heel, and counterbore the block for a 3/8" bolt. I intend to also epoxy in place a plate washer, on the inside face of the block, so the bolt can't start digging into the spruce.
All told, I feel good about today's progress.
Not the best photo opportunity, but it's where is, as is!
Next step will be to complete the bolting arrangement, as I said, then I hope to complete the side access port, as planned.
After that, I will saw off the excess heel stock at the back of the block, clean up the interior, and, hopefully get ready to install the back, and get the corpus closed up.
The rest of the neck heel is only there to maintain perfect alignment until the glue on the heel "root" portion is dry. Then I will remove the neck once more, install the insert into the heel, and counterbore the block for a 3/8" bolt. I intend to also epoxy in place a plate washer, on the inside face of the block, so the bolt can't start digging into the spruce.
All told, I feel good about today's progress.
Not the best photo opportunity, but it's where is, as is!
Next step will be to complete the bolting arrangement, as I said, then I hope to complete the side access port, as planned.
After that, I will saw off the excess heel stock at the back of the block, clean up the interior, and, hopefully get ready to install the back, and get the corpus closed up.
Shaping the blocks and linings... cleaning up the interior.
I got the threaded insert installed in the heel of the neck, too.
The side access port is next, I guess.
I got the threaded insert installed in the heel of the neck, too.
The side access port is next, I guess.
Ok... interior is pretty close to complete: linings and blocks are shaped and scraped...(although I will probably spend some more time on them.)
So I went ahead and cut the access port.
I don't like the pull-handle I had chosen... I'll have to change that.
But, once I get the interior just the way I want it, and the access port door fitting perfectly (I don't think the magnets I ordered are going to work... they are too small) then I will be ready to close the corpus, I think.
So I went ahead and cut the access port.
I don't like the pull-handle I had chosen... I'll have to change that.
But, once I get the interior just the way I want it, and the access port door fitting perfectly (I don't think the magnets I ordered are going to work... they are too small) then I will be ready to close the corpus, I think.
Maybe just a simple hole rather than a knob?
Really enjoying your build. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! It had not occurred to me to use a hole instead of a knob. I'll give that some thought.
I guess I prefer the idea of having it "close all the way," but I am aware that lots of makers are starting to put "sound ports" in odd places. Not sure that would be my choice for a sound port location.
I laid it out with a compass, cut it out with an X-acto knife.
Looks great to me!!! I'm undeniably sold on access ports!
(In my experience, for an access port to also work well as a driver-side sound hole, it would need to be up on the shoulder, which might make other important things inaccessible.)
(In my experience, for an access port to also work well as a driver-side sound hole, it would need to be up on the shoulder, which might make other important things inaccessible.)
THANK You, Chet!
How about a small (1/2in.) hole? It would blend in nicely with the smooth surface of the bout.
Just long distance spitballin'.
Thanks.
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Well... gotta be big enough for a finger. I haven't got any fingers that'd fit in a half inch hole.
1-1/4" would prolly work. Yeah, I didn't like the knob.
1-1/4" would prolly work. Yeah, I didn't like the knob.
Ended up making the hole 1" diameter, adding doublers to the back for strength, as well as making it more comfortable on the finger.
You can see the tiny holes where the neodymium magnets will be installed.
The magnets are pretty tiny. I hope they will be sufficient. Total should be a 2-lb. pull.
Anyway... that's where it stands today.
Looks like great work! Is there any reason you chose to use the bass side instead of the treble side for your port?
To attach or detach the removable neck, one reaches through the side access port up to the neck block to either secure or disconnect the retaining bolt.
Since most people's dominant hand is their right hand, it is much easier to access the bolt from the bass side.
That was my reasoning, anyway.
I'm glad you like the bass.
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