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An archtop bass finished (almost)
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=30020		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  An archtop bass finished (almost)
Here's the first of two that I'm building. This one is for a good friend of mine. Dimensions are as per Bill Moll (Thanks for sharing Bill!). Body is 22 5/8" long with 20" lower bout and 4" sides. Top carved to 1 1/8" height. 34" scale, joined at the 18th fret. Twin steel 1/8" x 3/8" bars in the neck and a two way LMI truss rod adding to the overall weight of just under 9 pounds.

Bigleaf maple back and sides, Engleman Spruce top, Macassar ebony fingerboard and headstock overlays, African blackwood fittings with the tailpiece made from brass plate countersunk into the wood. Maple and walnut 7 piece neck. The pickup is a Kent Armstrong floating humbucker. I still have to wire things up so not sure how it sounds plugged in. I made a thumbrest as well, but will let my buddy decide whether he wants one.

This was my first sunburst and it's far from perfect, but I'm quite pleased with it. Done with sprayed waterbase colours for the ground, then shaded lacquer for the dark edges.

I don't play bass other than a little noodling but am more than pleased with the acoustic tone so far.

Constructive criticism welcome!
Attachment:
IMG_0916 whole front.jpg
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An archtop bass finished (almost)
Attachment:
IMG_0924 whole back and soundhole.jpg
Attachment:
IMG_0923 whole back no soundhole.jpg
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IMG_0918 front.jpg
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IMG_0926 back.jpg
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IMG_0927 back headstock.jpg
A comparison shot with one of my 17" archtops.
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IMG_0928 both front.jpg[[attachment=0]IMG_0928 both front.jpg
Author:  DennisK [ Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An archtop bass finished (almost)
Very nice! Quite the blocks of wood you've carved there, bet that back was a lot of work! I'd love to hear some mic'd recordings of it. Never heard a luthier-built acoustic bass before, much less an archtop. I'll probably build a flat-topped one sometime, but perhaps an archtop would be in order as well :)
Author:  DannyV [ Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An archtop bass finished (almost)
Now that is cool Darrel! Have you plugged it in yet? How's it sound? Nice family you've got there. :D

Looked a little cool there during the CfL western final today. :shock:
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An archtop bass finished (almost)
DennisK wrote:
Very nice! Quite the blocks of wood you've carved there, bet that back was a lot of work! I'd love to hear some mic'd recordings of it. Never heard a luthier-built acoustic bass before, much less an archtop. I'll probably build a flat-topped one sometime, but perhaps an archtop would be in order as well :)


Thanks Dennis and yeah, the carving was not the most fun part of building this. The Kutzall disc did speed it up a lot though. This one is a lot louder and with more of an upright sound than any factory flat top I've heard to date, but that's coming from a non-bass player. I was getting a pretty good riff going last night however with a semblance of the bass line from "Don't Break the Chain" :D I played it for it's new owner over the phone and he can't wait to drive the 3 1/2 hours to come pick it up. I told him I had to keep it for at least a couple of weeks or more to tweak it ;)
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An archtop bass finished (almost)
DannyV wrote:
Now that is cool Darrel! Have you plugged it in yet? How's it sound? Nice family you've got there. :D

Looked a little cool there during the CfL western final today. :shock:


Thanks Danny. I will wire it up this weekend. I don't have a bass amp so will try it with my Peavey PA to get a feel for the plugged in sound. It's got Elixer bronze ABG strings on it right now so not sure how well the magnetic pick-up will work. Having lot's of fun plunking it acoustically right now. That black lacquer I got off of you mixed with a little dark brown dye came in handy for this one, thanks again.

The temperature for the Western final was about -17C yesterday, so yeah, just a bit cool for football. It's supposed to get down to -33 tonight. A chinook is on the way for Thursday, so back into the plus side for a few days at least.
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