LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner
10K views 65 replies 9 participants last post by  robscastle 
#1 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
 

Attachments

See less See more
10
#2 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
Interesting. With a job like that I might bust out a spokeshave after the saw, and before the rasps.
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
In the words of Jerry Lee Lewis: there's a whole lotta shapen going on …..
As an alternative process next time, perhaps a pattern could be used to cut out the profile in the separate boards on the bandsaw, then laminate and attack it with files, rasps, spokeshave, sandpaper, etc.
Oak is typically pretty porous, will you use grain filler to get that smooth shiny black neck?
Looking good so far.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
Very interesting!
 

Attachments

#5 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
Interesting. With a job like that I might bust out a spokeshave after the saw, and before the rasps.

- Dave Polaschek
DAve, I tried using my spokeshave. There just isn't enough of a run between the pegbox and the root of the neck to make it worthwhile. Maybe a small draw knife would work, I dunno.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
(snip)
perhaps a pattern could be used to cut out the profile in the separate boards on the bandsaw, then laminate and attack it with files, rasps, spokeshave, sandpaper, etc.
(snip)
- Oldtool
Now THAT's an idea that could work for me. I could easily glue up two half-wide necks, cut most of the debris out on my scroll saw and glue the two 'halves' together. I'll try to remember that for the next on as it will at least halve my work!
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
(snip)
Oak is typically pretty porous, will you use grain filler to get that smooth shiny black neck?
Looking good so far.

- Oldtool
The actual fingerboard I am making from mohogany. I've had good luck with it so far in other projects.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
Roughing out the neck

A co-worker asked if I could build something like a bass viol for him. I told him that it sounded like a long process, but I did not say 'no."

Below is what a bass viol can look like. Mine whon't quite look like it, but it should act like it. I will be making every piece of this aside from the strings.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Classical music Wood


For me, the neck starts out as a glueup of four oak boards. Oak is what I got and oak is what I'm using.

Wood Flooring Audio equipment Engineering Hardwood


Onje end of this has to remain too thick to fit in both my bandsaw and my scroll saw, so I used my handheld circular saw to roughly cut the taper down the lenth of the glueup.

Musical instrument Wood Outdoor bench Plant Grass


I drilled 3 large holes in the blank to act as relief cuts. Because of the dimensions I will do it all by hand using a saw, chisels and rasps.

Wood Hand tool Tool Metalworking hand tool Gas


And here you can see I have it roughly roughed out.

Table Wood Gas Engineering Machine
Ahh well. The smallest drawknife i have is pretty handy too. I think it came from woodcraft, and I used it quite a bit before my shop was done. Now it's in one of the piles of tools waiting for a home. I think all my shaves and drawknives will get a rack on the door of my plane till, but I still have to figure out the details and then actually get it built. Just a couple dozen more bookcases to finish first…
 

Attachments

#9 ·
The pegbox

I'd love to say that I have some super precise measurements when I've created a pegbox, but really, aside from knowing how far forward to put it and about how long it should be, I just wing it.

I roughly mark it out and drill holes inside to help with the carving. The drilled holes also help me keep the depth pretty much uniform.

Wood Tool Machine Engineering Lumber


It still looks a bit rough, but I refine it as I go along and work on the scroll.

Wood Tool Machine Engineering Art


Here I am creating the fluting that runs around my custom Dave Rutan style scroll. The fluting also runs down the back of the scroll. No real measurements here either. I just make it look even and smooth.

Wood Tool Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire


Except for some fine tuning, the scroll and pegbox are good to go. No fine sanding has happened yet.

Wood Hardwood Hand tool Wood stain Table


I say this every time, but SOMEDAY, when I get a few good gouges, I'll try making a traditional style scroll. Until then, I'm sticking with my design.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
The pegbox

I'd love to say that I have some super precise measurements when I've created a pegbox, but really, aside from knowing how far forward to put it and about how long it should be, I just wing it.

I roughly mark it out and drill holes inside to help with the carving. The drilled holes also help me keep the depth pretty much uniform.

Wood Tool Machine Engineering Lumber


It still looks a bit rough, but I refine it as I go along and work on the scroll.

Wood Tool Machine Engineering Art


Here I am creating the fluting that runs around my custom Dave Rutan style scroll. The fluting also runs down the back of the scroll. No real measurements here either. I just make it look even and smooth.

Wood Tool Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire


Except for some fine tuning, the scroll and pegbox are good to go. No fine sanding has happened yet.

Wood Hardwood Hand tool Wood stain Table


I say this every time, but SOMEDAY, when I get a few good gouges, I'll try making a traditional style scroll. Until then, I'm sticking with my design.
Does the peg box dimensions make a difference?, I am of the impression it's function is simply to hold the pegs and make room to wind the strings around them.
As for a "traditional style scroll", I say go for it. You can shape the scroll with any sharp tool, just make good layout lines and adhere to them. I've read articles where a beading tool was made from a screw & block of wood. The screw head filed sharp to scrape out the bead. With some thought, I'm sure a cutting or scraping device could be devised.
Have you seen anything like this? I've read about and tried filing a profile on a broken hack saw blade, and mounted it in a wooden handle to scrape the product. A hard and sharply filed piece of metal leaves a surprisingly nice finish.
Food for thought.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
More neck and pegbox

Having got the pegbox in good shape, I shaped the remainder of the neck fo the most part and then the base or 'root' end. You may notice that I glued some mohagany onto the neck to make the root the correct length.

Wood Automotive tire Tool Bumper Flooring


Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Saw


Back to the pegbox where I am drilling pilot holes for the tuning pegs.

Wood Musical instrument Hardwood Folk instrument Plucked string instruments


And then I ream them out minimally to receive the tuning pegs which I have not made yet.

Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Engineering Hood Tool


And my little mascot, Scratchy poses in the pegbox.

Musical instrument Wood Musical instrument accessory Hardwood Percussion mallet


THere will be a delay of a few days while I build something to photograph on this project.
 

Attachments

#16 ·
More neck and pegbox

Having got the pegbox in good shape, I shaped the remainder of the neck fo the most part and then the base or 'root' end. You may notice that I glued some mohagany onto the neck to make the root the correct length.

Wood Automotive tire Tool Bumper Flooring


Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Saw


Back to the pegbox where I am drilling pilot holes for the tuning pegs.

Wood Musical instrument Hardwood Folk instrument Plucked string instruments


And then I ream them out minimally to receive the tuning pegs which I have not made yet.

Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Engineering Hood Tool


And my little mascot, Scratchy poses in the pegbox.

Musical instrument Wood Musical instrument accessory Hardwood Percussion mallet


THere will be a delay of a few days while I build something to photograph on this project.
If you're making a bass viol, what's Scratchy? A violino piccolo?

Looks like good progress so far, and thanks for the tutorial, Dave!
 

Attachments

#20 ·
The Ribs

What got my customer excited was a look at the box cello I made for my wife. I convinced him to let me try something creative to add some curves to this instrument. I'm making the body like I mede the sound box for my wife's second mountain dulcilmer.

Fist thing was to cut the wood to a generous length and resaw it partially. Then I finished the resawing with a hand saw.

Wood Engineering Lumber Metal Scrap


Then I brought them down to about 1/8 thick using my thickness planer.

Wood Engineering Lumber Machine Motor vehicle


I made a pair of endbocks from mahogany to match the ribs and slotted them to accept the sides. One block got slots at 15 degrees and the other (the bottom) got angle slots at 20 degrees. I did this to hopefully make the bottom of the instrument look a bit fuller than the top.

Wood Rectangle Table Window Shelf


Wood Gas Hardwood Cylinder Machine


Wood Chair Gas Automotive exterior Wood stain


Put it all together with a spreader brace and the ribs are done. I've wetted the ribs several times hoping it will help them relax before I put the back and face on.

Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Wood stain
 

Attachments

#21 ·
The Ribs

What got my customer excited was a look at the box cello I made for my wife. I convinced him to let me try something creative to add some curves to this instrument. I'm making the body like I mede the sound box for my wife's second mountain dulcilmer.

Fist thing was to cut the wood to a generous length and resaw it partially. Then I finished the resawing with a hand saw.

Wood Engineering Lumber Metal Scrap


Then I brought them down to about 1/8 thick using my thickness planer.

Wood Engineering Lumber Machine Motor vehicle


I made a pair of endbocks from mahogany to match the ribs and slotted them to accept the sides. One block got slots at 15 degrees and the other (the bottom) got angle slots at 20 degrees. I did this to hopefully make the bottom of the instrument look a bit fuller than the top.

Wood Rectangle Table Window Shelf


Wood Gas Hardwood Cylinder Machine


Wood Chair Gas Automotive exterior Wood stain


Put it all together with a spreader brace and the ribs are done. I've wetted the ribs several times hoping it will help them relax before I put the back and face on.

Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Wood stain
Please clarify: you wet the ribs?, or the sides?
Wait, I think your referring to what I would call sides as the ribs. Dang, I'm catching on to this.
 

Attachments

#25 ·
Peg Prototype

Mainly because of the width of the pegbox, I need to manufacture the pegs myself. I'm using mahogany which will contrast well with the oak neck and tie in with the ribs, fingerboard and tailpiece.

Cutting scraps to size. I only need 7 pegs, but I'm making about a dozen to have spares on hand. It's a custom made peg after all.

Wood Floor Hardwood Flooring Engineering


After turning the first one, I'm keepting it as it was turned to compare with the one I'm currently working on. I think thewre is a better chance of keeping them each very much the same this way.

Wood Gas Hardwood Wood stain Machine


Three down, a bunch to go. At this point I'm stopping until I can take one to work and make sure I'm doing this right, IE shaft length and diameter, etc.

Wood Musical instrument Gas Brick Metal


Cutting off the unneeded bits.

Wood Line Font Gas Brick


I thinned down the knob, keeping the wood grain in mind. Then I used my disk sander to create a contour to make it look classy. Then I gave the knob end a light sanding to remove the rugh edges. and dunked in bloiled linseed oil for bit.

Hand Wood Gesture Finger Thumb
 

Attachments

#26 ·
Peg Prototype

Mainly because of the width of the pegbox, I need to manufacture the pegs myself. I'm using mahogany which will contrast well with the oak neck and tie in with the ribs, fingerboard and tailpiece.

Cutting scraps to size. I only need 7 pegs, but I'm making about a dozen to have spares on hand. It's a custom made peg after all.

Wood Floor Hardwood Flooring Engineering


After turning the first one, I'm keepting it as it was turned to compare with the one I'm currently working on. I think thewre is a better chance of keeping them each very much the same this way.

Wood Gas Hardwood Wood stain Machine


Three down, a bunch to go. At this point I'm stopping until I can take one to work and make sure I'm doing this right, IE shaft length and diameter, etc.

Wood Musical instrument Gas Brick Metal


Cutting off the unneeded bits.

Wood Line Font Gas Brick


I thinned down the knob, keeping the wood grain in mind. Then I used my disk sander to create a contour to make it look classy. Then I gave the knob end a light sanding to remove the rugh edges. and dunked in bloiled linseed oil for bit.

Hand Wood Gesture Finger Thumb
Yep, that looks like a peg. Hope it fits!
 

Attachments

#31 ·
Linings

Linings are strips of wood added to the edges of the ribs/sides to increase their width for gluing. I was lucky to have cut-offs from the ribs that were perfectly usable for this task.

This first picture shows a rib without a lining, on the left, and a lining being applied, being held on by modified clothes pins, on the left.

Wood Flooring Hardwood Wood stain Plywood


This second picture shows a bit more detail of the lining and the clothes pins. In actuality the clothes pins will have no real space between them.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Rectangle


And this last one shows both linings in the completed state. I will be planing the edges a bit before installing the front or back.

Wood Flooring Hardwood Plywood Event


PS. I did finish all of the pegs. I soaked them in linseed oil for a few days:

Wood Font Hardwood Tool Metal


PPS. Currently working on the fingerboard.
 

Attachments

#32 ·
Linings

Linings are strips of wood added to the edges of the ribs/sides to increase their width for gluing. I was lucky to have cut-offs from the ribs that were perfectly usable for this task.

This first picture shows a rib without a lining, on the left, and a lining being applied, being held on by modified clothes pins, on the left.

Wood Flooring Hardwood Wood stain Plywood


This second picture shows a bit more detail of the lining and the clothes pins. In actuality the clothes pins will have no real space between them.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Rectangle


And this last one shows both linings in the completed state. I will be planing the edges a bit before installing the front or back.

Wood Flooring Hardwood Plywood Event


PS. I did finish all of the pegs. I soaked them in linseed oil for a few days:

Wood Font Hardwood Tool Metal


PPS. Currently working on the fingerboard.
So your garland is moving right along, and the pegs are done. Sounds like good progress is progressing!
 

Attachments

#37 ·
Fingerboard

I mostly work on this project at my place of work and a pile of broken cellos and double basses delayed this post.

To create the fingerboard (and tailpiece) I laminated together a piece of mahogany and oak. (Note to self, the oak can be thinner next time.)

The first thing I did was to cut it to length (a little oversize) and plane the sides down to the appropriate taper. Then I planed the radius on the mahogany side.

Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Gas Engineering


Then I flipped it over and coved out part of the underside. This is basically done to lighten the piece and make it look less blocky. One of the cellos I repaired recently had a fingerboard that was not coved out and it looked very much like a toy.

Motor vehicle Wood Automotive tire Gas Engineering


Here's the fingerboard, neck and the ribs set together. Before I set the neck, I'll temporarily glue the fingerboard to it to aid in visually aligning things.

Musical instrument Boat Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Vehicle
 

Attachments

#38 ·
Fingerboard

I mostly work on this project at my place of work and a pile of broken cellos and double basses delayed this post.

To create the fingerboard (and tailpiece) I laminated together a piece of mahogany and oak. (Note to self, the oak can be thinner next time.)

The first thing I did was to cut it to length (a little oversize) and plane the sides down to the appropriate taper. Then I planed the radius on the mahogany side.

Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Gas Engineering


Then I flipped it over and coved out part of the underside. This is basically done to lighten the piece and make it look less blocky. One of the cellos I repaired recently had a fingerboard that was not coved out and it looked very much like a toy.

Motor vehicle Wood Automotive tire Gas Engineering


Here's the fingerboard, neck and the ribs set together. Before I set the neck, I'll temporarily glue the fingerboard to it to aid in visually aligning things.

Musical instrument Boat Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Vehicle
Nice work, you're becoming quite the master at this.
I like the note to self, I often go back to my posts to see how I did things, can't remember anything anymore.
 

Attachments

#43 ·
The Bass Bar

Since this is basically a cello-size instrument, I'm installing a cello-size bass bar in it. I'm starting with a piece of spruce that is a little taller than I need. For those who don't know, the bass bar in a string instrument adds strength to the top against the pressure of the bridge.

I actually put off this step by a day because my 'bass bar' clamps got left home after my teardrop fiddle build earlier this year.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Wooden block Plywood


After it's glued in, I shaped it using the usual assortment of chisels and planes. Note that I also cut the C -shaped sound holes. It's always easier doing that before gluing in the bass bar.

Wood Table Drawer Wood stain Hardwood


The ends get tapered on either end from a plateau in the center. The edges also get a rounding over for esthetics. This is important to impress whatever luthier opens up the instrument in the far distant future.

Surfboard Wood Automotive tire Automotive exterior Surfing Equipment


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor
 

Attachments

#44 ·
The Bass Bar

Since this is basically a cello-size instrument, I'm installing a cello-size bass bar in it. I'm starting with a piece of spruce that is a little taller than I need. For those who don't know, the bass bar in a string instrument adds strength to the top against the pressure of the bridge.

I actually put off this step by a day because my 'bass bar' clamps got left home after my teardrop fiddle build earlier this year.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Wooden block Plywood


After it's glued in, I shaped it using the usual assortment of chisels and planes. Note that I also cut the C -shaped sound holes. It's always easier doing that before gluing in the bass bar.

Wood Table Drawer Wood stain Hardwood


The ends get tapered on either end from a plateau in the center. The edges also get a rounding over for esthetics. This is important to impress whatever luthier opens up the instrument in the far distant future.

Surfboard Wood Automotive tire Automotive exterior Surfing Equipment


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor
I understand the necessity for the bass bar and the strength it adds, but pardon my ignorance and explain why it is off center? Isn't the bridge centered on the top?
 

Attachments

#48 ·
Attaching the top/front

With the bass bar installed and the sound holes cut, it's time to glue the front (or to) into the ribs. Leaving the back off makes fitting the neck and end pin easier. (And just to prepare you, I forgot to take lots of pictures of that part of the process :-( My bad.

Automotive tire Wood Auto part Automotive wheel system Musical instrument


Automotive tire Wood Wheel Font Bicycle tire


I did, however make all tghose spool clamps. I want to make just another dozen.
 

Attachments

#49 ·
Attaching the top/front

With the bass bar installed and the sound holes cut, it's time to glue the front (or to) into the ribs. Leaving the back off makes fitting the neck and end pin easier. (And just to prepare you, I forgot to take lots of pictures of that part of the process :-( My bad.

Automotive tire Wood Auto part Automotive wheel system Musical instrument


Automotive tire Wood Wheel Font Bicycle tire


I did, however make all tghose spool clamps. I want to make just another dozen.
Just as the old adage states: You can never have enough clamps.
 

Attachments

#51 ·
Attaching the neck and end pin

I mentioned earlier that I neglected to photograph the mortising necesary to attach the neck and the end pin. For that I apologize. I have instead included a few close-up shots of the neck where it meets the body. Suffice it to say that the neck fits into a mortise in a block of wood to which the sides (ribs) are attached.

Musical instrument Wood Air gun Musical instrument accessory String instrument


Brown Wood Wood stain Flooring Floor


Amber Wood Comfort Tints and shades Hardwood


Unlike a cello or a doublebass, the end pin on a viol da gamba is more of a peg that stands up above the top. The tailpiece will hook onto this. The end pin is set into a mortise, or dado, really. The bottom end of it is set deeper into the end block that the upper end.

Wood Floor Flooring Gas Hardwood
 

Attachments

#52 ·
Attaching the neck and end pin

I mentioned earlier that I neglected to photograph the mortising necesary to attach the neck and the end pin. For that I apologize. I have instead included a few close-up shots of the neck where it meets the body. Suffice it to say that the neck fits into a mortise in a block of wood to which the sides (ribs) are attached.







Unlike a cello or a doublebass, the end pin on a viol da gamba is more of a peg that stands up above the top. The tailpiece will hook onto this. The end pin is set into a mortise, or dado, really. The bottom end of it is set deeper into the end block that the upper end.

Nice!

Have you seen the interview with Ed Maday on the Lost Art press blog? I think you'll be interested.
 

Attachments

#56 ·
Doing some finishing

I brought the instrument home to stain and spray it with lacquer. It's one of the many times I wished that they had a spray booth at work.

When the weather permits, I prefer to spray outside, otherwise I use the spray and run method in my basement.

Wood Window Handle Musical instrument Natural material


After many (perhaps 4) coats of spray lacquer, I scrub the instrument down with steel wood and windex. Then I give it one more spray coat and scrub it down aghain to give it a semi-gloss finish. Trust me it works for me.

Then I can glue on the fingerboard.

Boat Wood Naval architecture Vehicle Toy


Bringing it back to work, I can create and install the nut. This one is made of cherry that I had from an old tree.

Wood Automotive design Hand tool Tool Metal
 

Attachments

#57 ·
Doing some finishing

I brought the instrument home to stain and spray it with lacquer. It's one of the many times I wished that they had a spray booth at work.

When the weather permits, I prefer to spray outside, otherwise I use the spray and run method in my basement.

Wood Window Handle Musical instrument Natural material


After many (perhaps 4) coats of spray lacquer, I scrub the instrument down with steel wood and windex. Then I give it one more spray coat and scrub it down aghain to give it a semi-gloss finish. Trust me it works for me.

Then I can glue on the fingerboard.

Boat Wood Naval architecture Vehicle Toy


Bringing it back to work, I can create and install the nut. This one is made of cherry that I had from an old tree.

Wood Automotive design Hand tool Tool Metal
Getting closer! Hope to hear it play.
 

Attachments

#60 ·
The Bridge

I may have mentioned that I had to make every bit of this instrument save the strings. Supposedly a bridge for this is available, but I wanted to do it myself.

I found an eBay seller who graciously put the measurements in the photo for the auction, so I took the picture, sized it properly and printed it out for use as a template.

Wood Rectangle Gas Font Flooring


Then I used my scroll saw to roughly cut out a pair of blanks. N.B. I messed up these first two in the final fitting and ended up making a third one. The first two were from some kind of maple. The third was from white oak. Purism aside, it will work for this purpose.

Wood Helmet Art Metal Personal protective equipment


Personal protective equipment Gas Space Metal Wood


After giving the bridge blank a going over with rasps and files, I fit the feet to the top of the instrument with sandpaper and a bridge-fitting jig.

Hood Sleeve Wood Automotive design Eyewear


Then I put the correct curvature on the top and make sure the height holds the strings at the appropriate height. When that's done I locate and file the 7 grooves, making sure they are equally spaced.

Hand Wood Finger Hand tool Tool


Lastly I rubbed on some boiled linseed oil to let the grain pop. I'm not sure if this is typically done, but I did hear one violin guy on YouTube say that he does it, so I guess it does no harm.

Wood Table Eyewear Art Sunglasses
 

Attachments

#61 ·
The Bridge

I may have mentioned that I had to make every bit of this instrument save the strings. Supposedly a bridge for this is available, but I wanted to do it myself.

I found an eBay seller who graciously put the measurements in the photo for the auction, so I took the picture, sized it properly and printed it out for use as a template.

Wood Rectangle Gas Font Flooring


Then I used my scroll saw to roughly cut out a pair of blanks. N.B. I messed up these first two in the final fitting and ended up making a third one. The first two were from some kind of maple. The third was from white oak. Purism aside, it will work for this purpose.

Wood Helmet Art Metal Personal protective equipment


Personal protective equipment Gas Space Metal Wood


After giving the bridge blank a going over with rasps and files, I fit the feet to the top of the instrument with sandpaper and a bridge-fitting jig.

Hood Sleeve Wood Automotive design Eyewear


Then I put the correct curvature on the top and make sure the height holds the strings at the appropriate height. When that's done I locate and file the 7 grooves, making sure they are equally spaced.

Hand Wood Finger Hand tool Tool


Lastly I rubbed on some boiled linseed oil to let the grain pop. I'm not sure if this is typically done, but I did hear one violin guy on YouTube say that he does it, so I guess it does no harm.

Wood Table Eyewear Art Sunglasses
The bridge is just held on by the tension of the strings, right?

I think finish on the bridge won't hurt anything. It's transmitting the sound via vibration, so as long as you don't finish inside the grooves or on the bottom of the feet, I think everything will be ok. Or that's what my memory of my acoustics physics class almost 40 years ago tells me.
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top