The plan for building this huge bass instrument is beginning to come together. Last night I had the good fortune to attend a dinner party connected with Bellingham's annual Festival of Music. seated at the same table were two world class musicians, one a violinist, the concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony, the other a viola player the principal violist in the Philadelphia Symphony, both grand guys with wonderful senses of humor. They convinced me to make a two string instrument. They also explained how violins, violas, cellos, and bass viols attach their strings.
Today I made strides around town. Found the perfect metric threaded thumb screw for the End pin that was given to me by Kirk in Friday Harbor. It lacked only that screw. Then Ron, at Bellingham Music had an extra Tailgut that he sold me cheap. I am assembling the needed parts and beginning to understand how I am going to do this project.
Today I made strides around town. Found the perfect metric threaded thumb screw for the End pin that was given to me by Kirk in Friday Harbor. It lacked only that screw. Then Ron, at Bellingham Music had an extra Tailgut that he sold me cheap. I am assembling the needed parts and beginning to understand how I am going to do this project.
Here are the parts and pieces assembled so far.
1. The U shaped wire with threaded pieces on the ends has the unlikely name of "Tailgut" it loops around the groove in the wooden plug of the
2."Endpin", The end pin fits into a hole in the bottom of the instrument and can be adjusted for length and tightened to the perfect length with the new thumb screw. It has a sharp point to hold the instrument on the floor. Probably don't want to use that on your hardwood floors.
3. the Tailgut bends over a piece of hardwood built into the edge of the instrument called the "Saddle"and is connected to the "Tailpiece" which I intend to make from the piece of ebony shown.
4. The two strings will attach to the tailpiece . Shown is a very husky flat wound string which I hope will produce a loud and low sound. I have a couple of other strings that Kirk gave me. They are all 36 inches long.
5. the strings will run from the Tailpiece across a high bridge which I will make of maple, and end at two tuners set in a slot in the head at the end of the Alaska Cedar and East Indian Rosewood neck. I think I will carve a fancy classic Violin type head above the tuners.
6. hope to use Peghed tuners if I can find two large ones. Perhaps the cello model.
Having lots of fun trying to figure this out. Next will be a trip to Pacific Rim Tonewoods to find some nice fiddleback maple with which to carve a back. Son of Gut Bucket may not sound good but it is going to look good.
1. The U shaped wire with threaded pieces on the ends has the unlikely name of "Tailgut" it loops around the groove in the wooden plug of the
2."Endpin", The end pin fits into a hole in the bottom of the instrument and can be adjusted for length and tightened to the perfect length with the new thumb screw. It has a sharp point to hold the instrument on the floor. Probably don't want to use that on your hardwood floors.
3. the Tailgut bends over a piece of hardwood built into the edge of the instrument called the "Saddle"and is connected to the "Tailpiece" which I intend to make from the piece of ebony shown.
4. The two strings will attach to the tailpiece . Shown is a very husky flat wound string which I hope will produce a loud and low sound. I have a couple of other strings that Kirk gave me. They are all 36 inches long.
5. the strings will run from the Tailpiece across a high bridge which I will make of maple, and end at two tuners set in a slot in the head at the end of the Alaska Cedar and East Indian Rosewood neck. I think I will carve a fancy classic Violin type head above the tuners.
6. hope to use Peghed tuners if I can find two large ones. Perhaps the cello model.
Having lots of fun trying to figure this out. Next will be a trip to Pacific Rim Tonewoods to find some nice fiddleback maple with which to carve a back. Son of Gut Bucket may not sound good but it is going to look good.
