• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass scroll progress pic

D

Don Harris

Feb 21, 2003
273
6
Colorado Springs
Visit site
#1
Here's what I've done on the scroll so far. I still need to clean it up and chamfer the edges. I'm debating whether to do the fluting, at least on the front, to the center, or leave it where it is to the stripe, or even do a third fluting on the bubinga stripe. I have a whole new appreciation for what goes into hand building a bass.

I went a little further than I was suppose to on the final turn, but what the heck? -don
 
#3
Looking great Don! Don't you just love hogging out the pegbox :(

To my eye, and from the angle shown, the centre turns of the scroll are still a bit tall and the "flats" are slightly rounded ... they'd look better completely flat or slightly concave. See how the first turn has a slight concavity to it; the next turn, to my taste, should follow it. easier said than done.

That centre strip is quite striking, though unless you finish the bass as a blonde the effect will be toned down quite a bit under varnish. I would have fluted the stripe itself, except that at the back you have already committed to finishing the button a certain way.

More thought needed!
 
#5
<<you have already committed to finishing the button a certain way.>>

I think I like the back the way it is, so I was thinking about only changing it on the front and over the top, then flaring out to the flat stripe. Thanks for the comments.

I think having the stripe toned down is cool with me. I'm thinking of doing a rich, dark varnish. Maybe french polish (I've had some experience on furniture) and top coat with oil varnish, although I don't know how intensely I can pigment a french polish approach. -don
 
#14
The Bohman is beautiful Paul. I thought about your bass when I laminated the neck. Thanks Jake!

I ended up fluting the bubinga stripe over the top and then did a bone-head thing. I had in mind some cool carving to go from the bubinga fluting to flat on the back of the scroll. I started doing it and it wasn't working the way I'd hoped, so in a moment of over-confidence, I broke throught the maple ridges to do something "dramatic". Dramatically bad actually. It looked ok from the top, bottom and straight on, but from the side it looked like a big hollow spot on the back of the scroll. Very ugly. I was hoping some brilliant idea would come to me on how to save it, but none came. I ended up flattening the mess in the center of the fluting, making a new laminate sandwich, and grafting on over the fluted ridges and reshaping it this morning. I used epoxy, so the glue lines are pretty obvious, but it looks ok. I'm hoping varnish will hide some of my sins. I keep telling myself that this one is to learn on, and I learned loads yesterday about what not to do. -don
 
#16
Don Harris said:
The Bohman is beautiful Paul. I thought about your bass when I laminated the neck. Thanks Jake!

I ended up fluting the bubinga stripe over the top and then did a bone-head thing. I had in mind some cool carving to go from the bubinga fluting to flat on the back of the scroll. I started doing it and it wasn't working the way I'd hoped, so in a moment of over-confidence, I broke throught the maple ridges to do something "dramatic". Dramatically bad actually. It looked ok from the top, bottom and straight on, but from the side it looked like a big hollow spot on the back of the scroll. Very ugly. I was hoping some brilliant idea would come to me on how to save it, but none came. I ended up flattening the mess in the center of the fluting, making a new laminate sandwich, and grafting on over the fluted ridges and reshaping it this morning. I used epoxy, so the glue lines are pretty obvious, but it looks ok. I'm hoping varnish will hide some of my sins. I keep telling myself that this one is to learn on, and I learned loads yesterday about what not to do. -don
Click to expand...

Glad the Bohmann was an inspiration!
 
#20
Thanks guys. I've been dreaming about bending wood and carving for a long time, so to actually be doing it without totally sucking is a thrill. It's a rush to see it taking shape.

The body style is a copy of a Pietro Pallotta. It's a little bass which I hope will be good for solo Bach kind of stuff and some jazz. Here's a link with info about the bass style: Link Removed

I'm getting the top plate edge thickness happening now and need to start practicing purfling, plus I need to get the linings on. I'm losing weight because I never want to stop to eat (a little OCD maybe?), plus I'm getting a good upper body workout every day with chisels, gouges and planes. -don
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back