2011 double bass build

[matthew]

So now, I push part of the mold down to allow the linings to be fitted.



The linings are made from scrap Kauri from the floor at Anagote.



After shaping both edges I rip the strip down the middle.







The stuff is like rubber!





You can never have enough clamps.



Unfortunately I don't have enough clamps ...



It's tricky, you have to work really quickly and the thin wood means that the glue cools fast. A few times I've had to give the ribs a blast with the heat gun to reactivate the glue. Usually this works fine, but sometimes the plastic I use to protect the wood from the clamps melts ...

Today, I learned that the best way to do the inner bout linings is to use unshaped linings, because if you bend the shaped linings on the hot iron, for some reason the thing doesn't glue flat to the rib. So when the mould comes off I'll have to shape the c linings a bit. The upper and lower bout linings bend the other way, and it doesn't seem to be a problem.

For the moment though, the mould stays in as its easier to work on the neck mortise when the thing is rigid.

[walter]

Awesome thread!

[Josh Bee]

updates? loving this build!

[matthew]

Sorry I haven't been very well, so things have slowed a bit.

And, I don't think I have any chance now of making my end-of-May completion target

[Nick]

Sorry I haven't been very well, so things have slowed a bit.

And, I don't think I have any chance now of making my end-of-May completion target

Bummer Hope your health picks up soon Matthew.

[bernm]

Sorry to hear about your health. I hope you feel much better soon.

Whether or not you meet that deadline, this has been an exciting, inspirational and very informative thread for us all. So, end-of-May or end-of-whenever, there has been so much value in you bringing us all through the build, and I'm sure I'm speaking for many when I say that I'm looking forward to the rest of the build, in your timing.

Many thanks for what you've been posting so far, and again, very sorry to hear about your health and possibly not meeting the original goal date.

Bern

[Lillian]

I know you are disappointed you'll miss the competition, but your health is more important. Much more important.

We'll be here when you're feeling better. I for one wouldn't miss this for the world.

[matthew]

I'm OK now, but I have less thyroid and more scar than I did before, and being run-down has slowed the bass-burst.

I've done a bit of work on it in the last few days, but nothing worth posting at this point. Hopefully updates will follow over the next few days. And I'm going to try to enlist my Dad's help when he visits later in the week.

[Lillian]

Scars can be sexy.

Things will even out in a bit once you get your meds dialed in. Fran has to take her's on an empty stomach. Says its like taking vitamins on an empty stomach if she takes her thyroid med with food.

[matthew]

empty stomach? What's that?

[Lillian]

empty stomach? What's that?

I wake her when I get dress, around 4:00 am.

[matthew]

OK ... my least favourite part - sanding the ribs.





The wood's gonna be stunning though.



I had to set the bandsaw up for a bit of ripping bracewood.

Will this blade cut a candle?



Yes.





Meanwhile, get Dad onto his first scroll carving job:



Wasting out the pegbox with forstner bits.





Then start wasting out the spirals with the dozuki. Careful now.



Whoops. We had a bit of an early slip-up but we can recover it, and only the angels will know:







Note that we have added "ears" to make up the extra width needed.

After the first turn, clean up the towers with a nice sharp.



starting to look like a scroll:





Looking thick and clunky, but quite symmetrical - which is the REAL challenge at this stage.

[J.F. Custom]

... and only the angels will know ...

What did he just call us ??

Looking great Matthew. Good to see you back at it with everything you've had on your plate too.

And that Silky Oak will look fantastic - great choice.

Jeremy

[charangohabsburg]

Will this blade cut a candle?
[...]
Yes.
[...]

I'm impressed. But keep that ring off the blade, these blades don't like gold.

I am also impressed with the rest of these pictures (as always in this thread). I really like to follow the construction process of this baby. Glad to see your father sharing your workshop for this build, that sounds like a lot of fun.

[matthew]

@ Jeremy: Sorry, I meant fairies.

@ Markus: Unfortunately my Dad lives 2000 km away in Tasmania. Tried to talk him into staying longer but he had the garden to tend to, and other chores. He would make a good apprentice. Maybe I'll have to order scrolls from him by mail. BTW that is a 14" bandsaw. I'm really pushing my luck with that blade.

[Alastair]

@ Jeremy: Sorry, I meant fairies.

@ Markus: Unfortunately my Dad lives 2000 km away in Tasmania. Tried to talk him into staying longer but he had the garden to tend to, and other chores. He would make a good apprentice. Maybe I'll have to order scrolls from him by mail. BTW that is a 14" bandsaw. I'm really pushing my luck with that blade.

Hi Matthew,

Do you have any problems with "diagonal washboarding" (at least that was what Henry Bros called it) with that blade.?

Tried one like it on my 14", and cut like butter, but left a surface like corro' iron, from harmonic vibration of the blade in the kerf. No amount of playing with speed, feed rate or tension had any effect.

[matthew]

not really alastair. But the cut is not smooth, as you'd expect from such a murderous pitch, and I just have to plane it smooth. I must say though, I don't enjoy using that blade.

[christian]

Thanks so much Matthew for sharing this project with us all, its fascinating to see another form of luthiery, by an obviously super talented craftsman, can't wait for the next installment.
I got given some beautiful silky oak (see below) the other day and after seeing what you have created with it, I'm very eager to try it out on a guitar or two.

Cheers,

Christian.

[needsmorecowbel]

Matthew, It must be damn hard to source timber for the tops that are that wide (like up to14-15 inch unless i am mistaken). But I imagine if you made the top out of more than 2 pieces you would definitely see the whole bass top implode under the string tension. On the Back you have grafted on the 'wings' but surely you can't do that to the front? Like below

[matthew]

That's exactly what I do. And there is no issue if the joint is well glued with hide glue. This bass is 27" across at the widest part, and the plates are 46" tall.

Yes it is hard to find wood wide and thick enough - it needs to be 45mm thick for a carved top!

Ribs need to be at least 9" wide. I could probably make ribs and back from guitar backs left long.

[needsmorecowbel]

Cool it just seemed like a stupid question haha.

[matthew]

Remember, the top is a carved arch, not flat like a geetar ...

[1st Bass]

Ah, Matthew!

Great thread! I am building my first cello, now, but hope to get going on my next bass early next year.

This is a great forum...I wish I had found it earlier.

Chet

[matthew]

Sorry Chet ... didn't I tell you about this one? I thought i did.

Anyway - things have slowed a bit on this build; I just had three repair jobs come in at once including a Kay neck reset which involves cutting out the original dovetail and converting the thing to a more conventional neck joint. Still trying to get it straight.

Getting back to THIS build, I have just received a nice Auriou hand-cut rasp for a birthday present, which will make the scroll carving a lot easier. I never thought I'd get excited over a rasp, but this is very nice.

Anyone want to see a cello build?

[1st Bass]

You are building a cello next? I'd love to see it.

Chet