Official Luthiers Forum!

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








Back








Front








Bridge








Headstock front








Headstock back

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

No less than I've come to expect from your work Arnt, it looks immacculate.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Really nice Arnt!
Makes me want to play bass.

Joe

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

Thanks, folks!



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"!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Very cool looking instrument.

thanks for posting the pics.

Dave

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

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

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?

Beautiful!!!!!

Thanks again, you are very kind!


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.


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


Its not your computer, its my fault... Sorry about the web page, its been on the "to do list" for way to long...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Very nice!

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Brad
Avon, OH

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!

Arnt,
Thanks for posting the pictures. Your work is first rate !! What is the rosette made from.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

That's great Arnt!!! Bass people must be way cooler than 6 string judging by the tuners. Out of curiosity, how thick did you make the top?

Cheers,
Danny

Arnt,
very, very, very, nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Arnt, you never disappoint sir! Lovely work in every way.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Very nice looking bass Arnt. The back of the headstock looks really nice on it.

Hi, Arnt,
You have such a fine eye for design. This instrument is absolutely elegant looking.
Patrick

Thanks!

It's made from offcuts from the back, and there's som BWB purfling around the perimeter.


The back is about 3,0 mm in the middle and up, down to 2,2 mm around the perimeter of the lower bout.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

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!

Beautiful Arnt!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Arnt,
that is beautiful. Way to go!
Actually my best friend asked when I would start building acoustic bass guitars. Seeing your outcome, I might give it a try.