Double Bass "....the top might need a little work...."

[james condino]

Just put a Stewmac Bridge Doctor in there and your good to go.

Well....I actually installed hundreds of those when I worked with Kim Breedlove at the guitar factory 20 years ago. They are designed for a flat top bridge where tension pulls away from the top, not carved top instruments where the tension pushes down on the top.

The JLD Bridge System

I'd prefer to call it the JLD Bridge doctor system, originally invented by Don Kendall, not Stew Mac.

 

[RSBBass]

Well....I actually installed hundreds of those when I worked with Kim Breedlove at the guitar factory 20 years ago. They are designed for a flat top bridge where tension pulls away from the top, not carved top instruments where the tension pushes down on the top.

The JLD Bridge System

I'd prefer to call it the JLD Bridge doctor system, originally invented by Don Kendall, not Stew Mac.

I was joking. I know a devise intended for flat top guitars wouldn't work on a bass. Also even if it were a guitar in that condition it wouldn't work. I was trying to take off on the idea of a little work...

 

[RCWilliams]

James,
do you use the positive form much?

 

[james condino]

Yes sir!

I've been using all of the vacuum forms plus a brand new set for fabricating factory spec American Standard laminated ribs (a cure for the dreaded vintage American Standard rib cancer!). Over the last six months, I've made approx. 35 different combinations of test pieces and should have an article on the process and results out sometime before the end of the year.

I also just added a cnc to the shop as of last weekend, so I'm expecting some big new developments coming soon.

BTW, the old deformed bass in the start of the thread has been completely rebuilt, all the arches back to original spec, and it has been back out in the trenches playing gigs since the end of April!

 

[Levin Hannaford]

Yes sir!

I also just added a cnc to the shop as of last weekend, so I'm expecting some big new developments coming soon.

Fully expecting it to receive a sunburst finish to match your table saw stand!

 

[james condino]

This one?

 

[james condino]

A little update:

The original top was in even worse shape inside and the lower bout was trashed. The owner had a good looking new old stock Englehardt top with pretty nice maple on the outside layer, so it got the swap. Here it is before the varnish:

 

[james condino]

A bit of outside work on the color matching & ground coat from last week:

The final version:

Looking good after the first coat of varnish!

More edgework and little details coming; 'just wanted to get the base work laid down....

Overall it is a pretty good recovery for a trainwreck 70 year old bass with a factory 2nd replacement top combining two (!!!) companies that are out of business.

This old bass should be back on the job two weeks from today!