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Double Bass What do I need to build a double bass??

Z

zerotonine

Jun 7, 2008
43
1
The Netherlands
#1
I am going to build a double bass and I have been looking for information on everything I need. Does anyone know where I can find a list of MATERIALS and TOOLS I'd need in order to build myself a double bass? I have a rough idea of what I'll need but I'd like to get my hands on some sort of list so I can get a better grip on what I am getting myself into.

I'd really appreciate any informations, links and/or book recommendations you guys might have for me so I can get started with this project.

I have never built a double bass before and I appreciate any concerns you might have in regard to the feasability of this project but I am determined to give it my best and learn along the way. I am determined to make lots of mistakes to improve my skills... :bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
#5
Hi.

zerotonine said:
I saw that but I think it's too expensive. $80 for a book is kinda crazy if you ask me. It's not even a 100 pages and it's just a soft cover. I don't understand where that price comes from. Is this the only book on double bass building out there or something??
Click to expand...

:hmm:, You're looking something in the ballpark of 1000-2000€ minimum on the tools and wood and consider 57€ for the book too much?

Now I don't own that book, and probably never will, but I've seen that on many occasions when someone pops the question, that's the go-to book/site.

I do understand the desire to build something as complex as a DB, but from personal experience I can say that it's better to start from something little less demanding. Regardless of the hobby.

IF an upright is a must, and an archtop ABG is out of the question, perhaps a "coffin" bass would be a good place to start?

Not necessarily coffin shaped either, but one that follows that very basic construction.

Regards
Sam
 
#6
zerotonine said:
I saw that but I think it's too expensive. $80 for a book is kinda crazy if you ask me. It's not even a 100 pages and it's just a soft cover. I don't understand where that price comes from. Is this the only book on double bass building out there or something??
Click to expand...


HAHAHAHA.
You're never gonna build one if this is your attitude towards a guide to building and haven't apprenticed.
Well, good luck and post lots of pictures of your progress.
 
#7
Rebop said:
HAHAHAHA.
You're never gonna build one if this is your attitude towards a guide to building and haven't apprenticed.
Well, good luck and post lots of pictures of your progress.
Click to expand...

I just want to know why this book is so expensive. I don't see why that is so strange and I don't see what that has to do with my attitude.

I am not worried about paying 2000€ on materials and tools. I'll gladly pay that money.

I am just wondering why the book is so expensive. There must be a good reason?! :hmm:
 
#8
When you buy a book you're not just buying paper, ink and a hard cover. You're buying information, time and effort from the author to tell you a story or teach you something. You're buying expertise and know-how that you don't have, otherwise you wouldn't need it. You may also want to go to a luthierie school which will cost a bit more...
 
#10
You are buying a book of limited production that is catered to a very specific niche market. I own this book and another Invalid Link Removed on the subject. I'd say these are required reference for anyone building a bass.
 
#12
I own all of those books mentioned and built a very nice bass using them. They are not perfect, but unless you've got a lot of experience handling and working on double basses and have the tools and skills required to make a very accurate blueprint of another bass that you'd like to copy, those are one of the more common places to start your build for someone with limited access to a more experienced bass builder. Have you noticed that many of the people around here who own those books have a LOT of exerience ( many own their own instrument shops), and yet they still find the information worth the price? I spend more money on a single G string ( For my bass- don't get sidetracked!) that lasts me about 8 months than I did for two of those books mentioned.....

Is the small, simple Peter Chandler book worth it? For about $75 street price you get the information and knowledge shared by someone who built approx. 30 basses and is no longer alive. What about Chuck's thick book that shares a lifetime of repair and restoration information in a manner such that Ron Carter gives the introduction? How do we even put a numerical value on something like a dead guy's treatise or a living legend's stamp of approval?

On a side note, having built hundreds of instruments and also taught close to a hundred students how to build their own instrument....if you want to build a double bass, do it right and build a double bass. Building a violin or a hurdy gurdy or any other such thing will teach you some skills that have application, but will not really get your desired outcome of building a bass. Carving violin tops are nice; carving a huge double bass top is pretty much a completely different set of skills. Don't buy Siminoff's bluegrass mandolin book and think you'll somehow leap up from an F5 to a Prescottttttttttt..........

Don't look at it like it is an overwhelming task ( which it is....). You don't need every single tool and material up front. If all you can afford is a $30 small board and a couple of handtools- great. Start there and build a tailpiece that will work on your current bass. Then move up to the next step- maybee a medium grade top and a couple of round bottom planes. Then you'll be set for the next four months carving the top...then worry about the purfling channel.... you get the idea. For many first time builders, I recommend sticking to the initial goal of something like that. Build a carved top that you can retrofit to an existing bass and try that for a while until you get the rest of the body built....smaller manageable steps that will lead to an organized, methodical end result.

'Nuff said for the old crusty bass builder rant....

j.
 
#13
DallasStrings said:
You are buying a book of limited production that is catered to a very specific niche market. I own this book and another Invalid Link Removed on the subject. I'd say these are required reference for anyone building a bass.
Click to expand...

Do you think I would need both or just one of them? And if one would be enough which one would be best? Do they have a lot of information about tools as well?
 
#14
zerotonine said:
Do you think I would need both or just one of them? And if one would be enough which one would be best? Do they have a lot of information about tools as well?
Click to expand...
I've read the Chuck Traeger book. It's fairly exhaustive and a very insightful read, but I think a lot of his ideas are unconventional.

If you can afford both, you might as well surround yourself with as much useful information as possible. Book prices can seem outrageous in a world where most written content can be instantly downloaded at no cost, but $80 is totally reasonable.

I've wanted to buy Raffin's books on the history of bow making, but the set is $2,500. However, given the amount of information and beautiful photography the price does seem about right.
 
#16
If you REALLY want to build a bass, you need to buy BOTH books and read each of them cover to cover, several times ... then read them again.

Neither of the books gives you ALL the information you need. But between the two of them, you can kind of fill in the gaps.

What you learn will save you more than what they cost in the first place.

James' advice is spot on, read it again till you get what he's saying.
 
#18
Imagine how many people in the world build double basses. (Maybe several thousand, on this planet of 7 billion? If it reached 5 figures, I'd be shocked.)

Now how many of them will end up buying this specific book? Surely a small percentage of those thousands of bass luthiers -- many of whom are already established in their methods.
If the sales amount to a couple of thousand copies over a decade, I'd be really surprised.
And much of the gross retail book sales $$ will go to the bookseller, the book distributor, the publisher, and the printer.

So if an individual, as an esteemed master luthier, distills the gist of his/her decades of experience, sweat, and talent into an instructional book like that -- should they hope to recoup a decent return on their efforts?

The only way for it to be worth their while is with a hefty sale price.

You simply can't compare the price of a super-specialized book like that with the price of a best-seller -- nor with any book whose field is of semi-wide interest.
 
#19
c'mon, its not even a hefty price. Unless you're not used to buying books :-\

THIS BOOK is not cheap, but everyone who has it say it's worth every cent. Maybe someone kind will buy it for me for my 50th birthday. If they don't , I will.
 
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