You live in one of the best places in the world to find beautiful instrument grade woods; I lived there for 20 years.
Sitka spruce, giant firs, western red cedars, huge pines, et cetera.
If you are trying to prove a point, that is one thing. Many of us have built instruments from salvage materials and recycled dumpster diving. The amount of money you will spend on better materials is almost irrelevant to the time you will put into a double bass build.
If you call around, you'll be able to find a good sitka top, especially a B grade one with a blem of two for maybe $200; I've purchased several dozen of them over the years, some as low as $50 per top....$50!
For a $20 US forest service firewood permit, you can cut an entire pickup truck full of beautiful spruce, plus you'll learn a ton about that individual tree.
You should be able to walk out on the local beach and find giant, usable spruce washed up on shore. I've done it, same with giant redwoods.
Call Bruce Harvey at Orcas Island Tonewoods & explain your situation. He'll set you straight. For a $15 bus ticket and a $10 walk on ferry ticket, you can go straight to his place from Anacortes, pick your favorite top, and return home that day. Also check with Bruce Kreps on Lopez Island. Almost every decent marina in your area will keep giant spruce on hand.
Sitka spruce, giant firs, western red cedars, huge pines, et cetera.
If you are trying to prove a point, that is one thing. Many of us have built instruments from salvage materials and recycled dumpster diving. The amount of money you will spend on better materials is almost irrelevant to the time you will put into a double bass build.
If you call around, you'll be able to find a good sitka top, especially a B grade one with a blem of two for maybe $200; I've purchased several dozen of them over the years, some as low as $50 per top....$50!
For a $20 US forest service firewood permit, you can cut an entire pickup truck full of beautiful spruce, plus you'll learn a ton about that individual tree.
You should be able to walk out on the local beach and find giant, usable spruce washed up on shore. I've done it, same with giant redwoods.
Call Bruce Harvey at Orcas Island Tonewoods & explain your situation. He'll set you straight. For a $15 bus ticket and a $10 walk on ferry ticket, you can go straight to his place from Anacortes, pick your favorite top, and return home that day. Also check with Bruce Kreps on Lopez Island. Almost every decent marina in your area will keep giant spruce on hand.
