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Acoustic bass guitar
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31080		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:23 am ]
Post subject:  Acoustic bass guitar
I posted a picture of this newly finished bass, and was asked to post some more pictures and details.

The top is Lutz, back and sides are Koa (thanks, Perer M!), mahogany neck, fibre binding, nitro finish. It sounds surprisingly nice, if I may say so! Thanks also to David Berkowitz, who was helpful in answering some questions I had about these beasts. I'm delivering it today, so no time for a proper photo session, but here are some snapshots from the shop.

The whole thing

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Back

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Front

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Bridge

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Headstock front

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Headstock back

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Author:  Colin North [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
No less than I've come to expect from your work Arnt, it looks immacculate.
Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Really nice Arnt!
Makes me want to play bass.

Joe
Author:  Glenn LaSalle [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Very nice! Did you use plans for this? My Son has played bass in rock bands for awhile now - I would love to build him one some day.

Glenn
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Thanks, folks!

Glenn LaSalle wrote:
Did you use plans for this?


I don't know if there are commercial plans available. I made one, based on my "SJ" guitar shape, with a 32" scale, joined then neck at the body at the 17th fret, and adusted things around that. I made the top quite flexible around the perimeter, but on the thick side in the middle, and it seems to give a nice, woody "ooomph"!
Author:  Dave Livermore [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Very cool looking instrument.

thanks for posting the pics.

Dave
Author:  Sondre [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Arnt, that's awesome! Is the bridge bolted? Are the holes plugged, or is there a veneer over the top of the bridge? Looks great anyway!

Thanks,
Sondre
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Very well done as usual Arnt. Did you put a pick-up in it or is it strictly acoustic?
Author:  oval soundhole [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Wow that is flawless. On your website, it appears to only be one page. Is that it or is my computer not loading every thing?
Author:  CharlieT [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Beautiful!!!!!
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Thanks again, you are very kind!

Sondre wrote:
Arnt, that's awesome! Is the bridge bolted? Are the holes plugged, or is there a veneer over the top of the bridge? Looks great anyway!

Thanks,
Sondre

Sondre, its a pinless bridge (as per the customer's request), carved from a solid chunk of African Blackwood. The strings are go through it at an angle, and are anchored at its rear, where the string balls are half way hidden in a rabbet of sorts... It is also quite high, the bridge itself is 15 mm, and the strings are 18-19 mm over the soundboard at the saddle. There are no veneers or anything like that.

Darrel Friesen wrote:
Very well done as usual Arnt. Did you put a pick-up in it or is it strictly acoustic?

There is a Shertler Bluestick in there (no, its not a piezo) http://soundltd.stores.yahoo.net/sabzipchroma.html

oval soundhole wrote:
Wow that is flawless. On your website, it appears to only be one page. Is that it or is my computer not loading every thing?

Its not your computer, its my fault... Sorry about the web page, its been on the "to do list" for way to long...
Author:  Brad Way [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Very nice!
Author:  AlexanderLou3 [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
I too was curious about if it had pickups. I'm glad you did! Before I started playing guitar I played bass. I almost bought an acoustic but none of them had the volume unamplified that would be needed to play with acoustic guitars.


This bass is sweet looking. Thanks for sharing!
Author:  Link Van Cleave [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Arnt,
Thanks for posting the pictures. Your work is first rate !! What is the rosette made from.
Link
Author:  DannyV [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
That's great Arnt!!! Bass people must be way cooler than 6 string judging by the tuners. wow7-eyes Out of curiosity, how thick did you make the top?

Cheers,
Danny
Author:  alan stassforth [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Arnt,
very, very, very, nice!!!!!!!!!!!
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Arnt, you never disappoint sir! Lovely work in every way.

Steve
Author:  Mark Groza [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Very nice looking bass Arnt. The back of the headstock looks really nice on it. [:Y:]
Author:  cphanna [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Hi, Arnt,
You have such a fine eye for design. This instrument is absolutely elegant looking.
Patrick
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Thanks!

Link Van Cleave wrote:
What is the rosette made from.
It's made from offcuts from the back, and there's som BWB purfling around the perimeter.


DannyV wrote:
Out of curiosity, how thick did you make the top?
The back is about 3,0 mm in the middle and up, down to 2,2 mm around the perimeter of the lower bout.
Author:  Sondre [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Quote:
Sondre, its a pinless bridge (as per the customer's request), carved from a solid chunk of African Blackwood. The strings are go through it at an angle, and are anchored at its rear, where the string balls are half way hidden in a rabbet of sorts... It is also quite high, the bridge itself is 15 mm, and the strings are 18-19 mm over the soundboard at the saddle. There are no veneers or anything like that.


Arnt, thanks for that info! What I was trying to ask was whether the bridge is bolted to the top (as opposed to glued). I guess I was a bit unclear there... Again, it looks stunning!
Author:  Darryl Young [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Beautiful Arnt!
Author:  Christoph [ Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic bass guitar
Arnt,
that is beautiful. Way to go! [:Y:]
Actually my best friend asked when I would start building acoustic bass guitars. Seeing your outcome, I might give it a try.
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