Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Unable to upload a sound clip either. Seems this is not possible for Apple Quicktime mov videos or m4a soundclips. How does one upload sound clips?

I tried to upload a short video, but it wouldn't load. Ross, I've fitted Helicore Hybrid srings and a fishman BP100 pickup with the piezo fitted in the wings of the bridge. I didn't spring the bass bar.

Hi everyone, It's been a while since I posted anything about my double bass build, but I've been steadily working on it. I won't say it's finished because I reckon I'll be tweaking the set up for a while to come, but the build stage it complete. It's now in action at gigs and I'm pretty happy with t...

Thanks for your suggestions Matthew. I appreciate it and will follow them on the next build. The soundboard is already arched and I glued the bass bar in this week. Regards the neck mortice, I'll take your advice and cut by hand before gluing on the top and back. Currently working on completing the ...

Thanks for all the great encouragent and advice fellas. I appreciate it. I'm still very much a novice and I've made heaps of mistakes (and running repairs, etc) but it's all part of the learning curve. And the proportions do boggle me at times. Sometimes it feels like I'm building a boat! I think I ...

I haven't posted in a while, but the build is slowly progressing. Here's a few progress photos.

Been a while since I posted. The Macrocarpa boards for the soundboard didn't work out because they had two large unstable knots in critical places. Chalking that up to experience. So I'm looking for new double bass sized boards to use for the soundboard. No luck so far, but I'm wondering about using...

Progress Photos. I got the last rib glued in and clamped it today. Bastard of a job to self teach, but I know how to do it now. Also got the boards for the belly planed and joined. Now just waiting for glue to dry.

Thanks for all the great advice fellas, I appreciate it. I'd already figured out that routers are a bit like tattoos. You get one, and then another, and before you know it... At the moment I'll probably only need a router for one job i.e. cutting the mortise, but I imagine once I've got the hang of ...

Since I'm no longer a new member and my double bass project has been going for a year now, I'm continuing the 'New member New build' progress updates in this thread. Anyway, the build is still moving forward...slowly...and with plenty of um... "excitement." In short, after a few weeks of neck mortic...

And a few more photos. I steam bent my first double bass C Bout today with a home made candle powered steam bender. A bit scary and certainly a good learning experience, but not without a few issues and setbacks. I got what looks a lot like a C Bout, but with tear out in a few places and one crack. ...

Been a while since I last posted. Had an enforced break due to health issues, etc, but back at it now. Here's a few progress pics on the double bass build.

rocket wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:43 am

Very nice work Michael you must be happy with that!

Rod.

Thanks Rod, Yes, I'm very happy with it for a first effort.

Cheers, Michael

Just jump right in John! Life is short! It wasn't until I came out the other side of a serious nervous breakdown (that forced me to make lifestyle changes) that I realised I really must make the time to do this. Fortunately I have a wonderful and fully supportive wife and kids, and life is a whole l...

No worries John, I'm enjoying the journey and everything I'm learning along the way. Can't wait until I'm finally playing a bass I've built.

Hi all,

I'm in the process of carving my first double bass scroll. Not perfect, but I'm learning a lot and so far, I'm happy with my efforts.

More photos are posted in my 'New member new build' thread.

Cheers,

Michael

Hi all, it's been a while since I posted as I've been busy running around after family and playing a few gigs on double bass. The double bass build continues slowly and steadily as time and finances permit. Today I've been out in the shed carving my first double bass scroll. So far so good.

Had a bit of shed time this arvo. Cut a neck blank from the Queensland Maple boards I laminated with a redgum centre board during the week. The join turned out olay for a first effort. Room for improvement, but so far so good.

I went with redgum. Tricky to plane and dress, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Needed a fair bit of sanding though. Anyway the boards are glued.

Nothing like dressing a nice bit of redgum to get some morning exercise!

Thanks Pete, it's all great learning for me. Still going ahead with the redgum. If it doesn't work out I'll try something else. Cheers, Michael

Ah. Thanks for the heads up Martin. Did you find a workable solution or did you have to go with something else?

Cheers,

Michael

Thanks Curly Pete for flattening that Queensland Maple board for me today. Also for supplying the rest of the timbers for my bass build. Thanks also to everyone for all the great feedback on how to go about this. Much appreciated. I've got the boards inside (where the relative humidity is around 45-...

Thanks Allen, HHG it will be. Cheers.

Hi Dave, I'm interested in Monterey Cypress myself. I see the trees all the time where I live and I'm curious if anyone has ever used it for a soundboard. I'm considering giving it a go for a soundboard for a double bass. I noticed yesterday that some large trees have been cut down at one of the loc...