Topic: The wife's new custom double bass / upright bass

[Norfolk Slim]

(its definitely a "double bass", for my American friends who call it something else :-))

Thought the luthiery minded weenies might appreciate this.  I got some work done on my Fraulini by a local luthier who, it turned out, made some flash custom cellos which he showed me when I visited.  My wife saw his website, and went for a look and a chat herself.  A couple of months (and a bank loan for Mrs Slim!) later, he has prepared the "mold" for a double bass sized version of his electric cello and the project is well under way.  She's very excited and not only because the new instrument is going to be much easier to lug around than her current traditional 3/4 bass.  Its going to be in natural light shaded wood "blonde".  Spruce top, walnut and possily a paduak back.  Ebony fingerboard.  It should have a decent acoustic sound, judging by the cellos. 

In progress pics below.  The bottom one is the Cello design its based on.  Luthier is Alan Miller of Glastonbury.  http://www.alanmillerguitars.co.uk/index.html

If nothing else, Mrs Slim's commission has given me a fine excuse to go custom guitar shopping myself :-)

[Prof Scratchy]

Yes, I think 2or3 custom guitars per bass is the current exchange rate...

Sent from my HUAWEI MT1-U06 using Tapatalk

[nobocaster]

Cool.  Thanks for sharing.  It's fun to see a unique approach!

[Norfolk Slim]

Some more progress pictures for those interested...

[uncle bud]

Nice scroll!

[Slack]

Very cool, what a unique instrument. - I didn't know your wife played upright bass!  Looking forward to how it sounds!

[frailer24]

I may have to get in touch with this fellow. Been thinking about getting a church bass.

[Pan]

That looks like the beginnings of a truly wonderful instrument!   

Congrats to Mrs Slim, and good luck figuring out how to counter that!

Cheers

Pan

[Norfolk Slim]

Hey Pan- I already have my counter to it all worked out.  Its going to be a while before it happens though...

Anyway- here;s the latest progress.  Its interesting that the thing is built around a series of wooden blocks at the angles, which is very different to how I understand guitars to be constructed.

[Norfolk Slim]

And some more... He's really motoring now.  Time to nail it all together? :-)

[Norfolk Slim]

The strings have been sent to the luthier so he can begin setting up / getting the angles sorted etc and the neck put on.  ?125 a set (thats the cheaper end of the market).  Somehow I ended up paying for them too.  How many sets of Martin Custom Lights or Newtones would that have got me!!!??

[Slack]

Very cool Simon.  I like the use of the bass clef symbol.

[Gumbo]

The strings have been sent to the luthier so he can begin setting up / getting the angles sorted etc and the neck put on.  ?125 a set (thats the cheaper end of the market).  Somehow I ended up paying for them too.  How many sets of Martin Custom Lights or Newtones would that have got me!!!??

you could count how many sets you go through before your wife changes her set


thanks for these pics. it's great to see a project in progress.

[Norfolk Slim]

I think the music must be the luthier's daughter's band- she uses one of his electric cellos.

[Johnm]

Wow, that looks fantastic, Simon!  Your wife must really be excited about it.  Congratulations to her--that's a big deal.
All best,
Johnm