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violin body/neck??

Posted by john mackay on January 10, 2015 at 7:11am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm currently working on that violin(cut thunb malarky before Xmas)lol

it was looking a sorry state so I stripped all the varnish off down to bare wood. and the wood grain does look really nice even though its pine wood.

I was going to re- varnish it in antique pine but decided to do light pine.

the neck is made from beechwood about 30mm thick and once the fret board is glued on itll have a depth of around 35/40mm thick.

scale length 31"bass.

now the question is 2 string it'll be fine but 3 strings?

would I be pushing if I use 3 strings??

folks on here have cut a slot in the neck to accomodat a flat bar etc.

I could easily do that but would I need to??

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Replies

  • john mackay February 5, 2015 at 2:49pm

    finally got her finished.

    I've used the 2nd/3rd strings red/black.

    just need a little adjustment to the nut a little spaced out compared to the iail piece otherwise quite pleased with end results.

    DSC02952.JPG

    DSC02953.JPG

    DSC02954.JPG

    • Scott aka Farmer Ted > john mackay February 5, 2015 at 3:38pm

      She looks great John. I bet Stradavari would be rolling his bones if he knew what people do with violins these days...(not his, of course).

  • john mackay January 12, 2015 at 3:30pm

    I think tom and Fred misunderstood what I meant.

    the guitar is a 31"  Bass not a normal standard cbg 3 string based.

    JL said I will need to put in a strengthener in.

    if so then I'll make it a 2 string if that makes things easier.

    I don't really want to mess things up  by putting a steel flat even though it'll be epoxy glued in and reallying on a fret board to hold it in place

    my son said Dad if your gonna make it a 3 string you may as well make it a 4 string in others words you may as well have your yamaha bass back!

    what I was thinking was that once I learn to play 3 strings etc then a 3 string bass should be that hard to play.

    what I do have in away of Bass strings these were off my acepro which is the same as my yam 34" scale.

    can any of these be use or do  I have to get the correct length?

    I didn't it would till I read some where that you need to get the correct length for a given scale.

    • Tom T > john mackay January 12, 2015 at 3:56pm

      You're right..........

      I re-read the initial post and finally came to the conclusion that you intended to build a bass. I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but I eventually figure it out.

      Considering that you intend to build a bass, then your idea of a pre-made bass neck makes a lot of sense. Still, there is the overall length issue that was previously noted. I don't think there is any way around the 34~35" scale.

      Keep everyone posted on what you decide to do. A nice bass may be fun.

    • john mackay > Tom T January 12, 2015 at 4:13pm

      will do Tom.

      the scale that I'll be working from is a 31" scale.

      this what is in my book of cbg making  in the music factory book that I have.

      I'll sort summet out next week.

      rather busy this week catching up with orders in my line of work.

  • JL January 12, 2015 at 7:11am

    Did you say you are making a 31" Bass from this?  if so, you might want to consider stiffening the neck with a steel rod or an adjustable truss rod.  Bass strings pull a lot more tension.

    • john mackay > JL January 12, 2015 at 9:13am

      thats the only info that I have on the bass  31" less would be better but??

      the only info that I have as far as Bass cbg goes is in the music factory book and that is a 31" scale.

  • john mackay January 11, 2015 at 9:21am

    thanks for the reply.

    yes I intend to make a few.its ma new hobby now and I enjoy making them.

    I intend to sell one every now and then just to help to pay for my new hobby.

    I've made 4 up to now and they have gone,2 to my son for his Xmas pressy and one for my nephew and the one stringer I gave to the postman for his kid.

    the olive electric guitar my son plays that more than his 6 stringer and loves every minute of it.

    tony.JPG

    • Tom T > john mackay January 11, 2015 at 12:26pm

      Nice looking Olive electric.

  • Michael Fred Johnson January 11, 2015 at 5:38am

    A three stringer won't need reinforcement,the only time I thought it necessary has been on six stringers with the flat bar vertical and epoxied into the slot to make a composite structure.Left loose the bar will have no effect.

    Judging by your neck photo you're planning to make a few then?Obviously got it bad!

This reply was deleted.