The point is, it struck the O.P. as hefty. I personally have never bought a book over $100, but I sure understand why certain ones cost -- and are worth -- more.
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Double Bass What do I need to build a double bass??
- Thread starter zerotonine
- Start date
The point is, it struck the O.P. as hefty. I personally have never bought a book over $100, but I sure understand why certain ones cost -- and are worth -- more.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
That better be one hell of a read
It is, if you go by what the table of contents says.
I have the Traeger book plus the Coda and a couple of books by Harry Wake. I'm going to buy the Weisshar and the Chandler eventually.
Each of these books is an incredible value if you think about it. Chuck T.'s book has already paid for itself several times over.
Your aversion to spending the money on necessary instruction IMO doesn't bode well for your chances of success. It creates the impression that you don't grasp what a big deal it's going to be. You'll end up spending a lot of time money and effort building a BSO (bass-shaped object) that could have been a decent instrument if you had known what you were doing.
Just as an example - when carving the plates, thicknesses should be accurate within a tenth of a millimeter or less. Also, the thickness of the plates is not uniform. It changes from center to edge.
How do you plan to determine the contour of the bassbar, the thickness and length of the neck, the shape of the scroll, construction of the rib form, depth of the ribs, thickness of the ribs, and other issues WAY too numerous to mention? ... have you ever used hide glue?
FYI - It takes an accomplished builder about 3 months worth of full-time effort to build a bass. If you have a couple of hours a day to devote to it - you might finish your first bass in a couple of years.
If it still sounds like fun...
Each of these books is an incredible value if you think about it. Chuck T.'s book has already paid for itself several times over.
Your aversion to spending the money on necessary instruction IMO doesn't bode well for your chances of success. It creates the impression that you don't grasp what a big deal it's going to be. You'll end up spending a lot of time money and effort building a BSO (bass-shaped object) that could have been a decent instrument if you had known what you were doing.
Just as an example - when carving the plates, thicknesses should be accurate within a tenth of a millimeter or less. Also, the thickness of the plates is not uniform. It changes from center to edge.
How do you plan to determine the contour of the bassbar, the thickness and length of the neck, the shape of the scroll, construction of the rib form, depth of the ribs, thickness of the ribs, and other issues WAY too numerous to mention? ... have you ever used hide glue?
FYI - It takes an accomplished builder about 3 months worth of full-time effort to build a bass. If you have a couple of hours a day to devote to it - you might finish your first bass in a couple of years.
If it still sounds like fun...
+1 - I went over mine until I was literally dreaming about them. Now I fall asleep at night to visions of wood grain.
On the other hand, I didn't buy Chuck Traeger's books until after I built my bass. Nor did I ask any questions on this forum until that time. I own both the "Setup" and the CODA books now, and love them both. However, my bass was a major success without these books. I used the main book exactly for what the book claims - setting up the bass for optimum sound. After reading it, I made a new end pin, shortened my tail piece, pinched my tailpiece wire closer together, installed aluminum bridge adjusters, and raised string height. Advice and tips I read on this very forum went a long way as well, for example, using better methods for fitting bridge feet. The results were pretty dramatic. I didn't get much out of the CODA book, since it mostly went over things already covered in the "Setup" book. But I like both and like to have both as a complete set - the CODA book was cheap.
As far as your example of thinning the plates to less than a tenth of a mm accuracy, I didn't understand that - it should be accurate within a tenth of a millimeter to what? No set of plans will tell you exactly how thick the plate should be - each piece of wood is individual and must be thinned to whatever makes it sound good. Any printed pre-determined thickness/graduation measurements are only a starting point. At least that is how I understand it, and that is how I carved my top.
I am not by any means trying to simplify the task of building an upright bass. It takes quite an effort, and in many cases, it will take years, or it may never get completed.
I am not a professional luthier, and I very much respect the work they do. After getting a feel for how much work is involved in every part of the building process, I don't for a second question the cost of finished instruments. I do have a very strong passion for instruments and I am very handy with tools. I built my bass over the course of about 4 months, working on it in the evenings/nights and over weekends. Further set-up tweaks and modifications are an ongoing process. If I had any less passion for it, I am sure it would have taken me years. But again, the bass turned out better than I ever dreamed of, and it has been used regularly ever since.
These are only my opinions, based on my experience of building just one bass (and no, I did not build a violin or a viola first, though I'm thinking about the latter at some point).
Good luck to the OP.
George
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
- Disclosures
- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
George you are spot on, accuracy a tenth of a mm is unrealistic. To the closest mm is fine! We're dealing with wood here.
Other than that, BOBG, your post is also spot on.
Also worth noting that neither Traeger nor Chandler go into much detail regarding arching shapes and carving techniques. Yes there are the plans, but that's only half the story.
Other than that, BOBG, your post is also spot on.
Also worth noting that neither Traeger nor Chandler go into much detail regarding arching shapes and carving techniques. Yes there are the plans, but that's only half the story.
I knew it... I AM OCD.
Is this why I'm perpetually disappointed?By the way OP, I'm not trying to discourage you, but I think you need to go in with your guns loaded.
I knew it... I AM OCD.
By the way OP, I'm not trying to discourage you, but I think you need to go in with your guns loaded.
Absolutely! It is a monster project, so whatever drives it, it better be 100%. In my case it was my passion for the work itself, as well as the desire to have a bass to play.
And I know all about OCD!
George
Thanks for all the advice so far.
I realise I've underestimated the knowledge I will need during the process. So I've decided to first buy both books and study them thoroughly.
Right now I am going to buy some decent tools for this project. I'm going to build some other instrument(s) while I prepare for the double bass. That should give me ample opportunities to practice my carving skills. I think it will take a while to gather all the equipment and wood and everything anyway. So I hope to get this project started in a few months. When I do get started I will make sure to make lots of pictures and post here about my 'adventure'.
Thanks again.
I realise I've underestimated the knowledge I will need during the process. So I've decided to first buy both books and study them thoroughly.
Right now I am going to buy some decent tools for this project. I'm going to build some other instrument(s) while I prepare for the double bass. That should give me ample opportunities to practice my carving skills. I think it will take a while to gather all the equipment and wood and everything anyway. So I hope to get this project started in a few months. When I do get started I will make sure to make lots of pictures and post here about my 'adventure'.
Thanks again.
I would buy the tools on an "as-needed" basis, unless of course you can grab an unbelievable sale, or other opportunity that you can't turn down.
For example, I didn't buy my gouge until I was ready to carve the top.
For me, the first requirement was to have a perfectly flat, large surface to work on. It all starts with that.
George
I've found a tool store that has lots of quality tools for sale but it's kinda far from where I live so I don't intend to go there too often. That's why I'll just buy the basic tools I'll need now and get some more when and if necessary.
When I am going to start on the double bass I am going to do it with someone else which is probably going to make it a lot easier and save us a lot of time. Also, there will be two of us to tackle any issues that we will come across.
When I am going to start on the double bass I am going to do it with someone else which is probably going to make it a lot easier and save us a lot of time. Also, there will be two of us to tackle any issues that we will come across.
Good, wise decision. These books were compulsory reading for me in my attempts to deal with my own instruments, performing set ups and minor repairs. I knew the use of the carving tools from my violin building experience but the DB lutherie is something else and needs specialization. Needless to say that the help provided by the seasoned pros of our forum was great. Their opinions, offered with an understanding and humorous way, have been valuable for me.
Good luck in your DB venture!
Mike
