My custom-made bass from start to finish

[Lord Larehip]

In January of 2014, I commissioned a double bass. The one I was using was not adequate and I needed something on the pro level. When you take lessons on a double bass (and you really MUST take lessons to be any good), your instructor will have his or her own luthier--someone who can service it or the bow. You can't take a double bass to just any music store if you need work done on it. You need a luthier you can contact. Generally, you'll pick up the one your instructor has and this was the case with me. My instructor, in turn, picked up from his instructor who was the principal bassist of the Detroit Symphony for 34 years--Robert Gladstone. the luthier is Dan Seabolt who re-haired and repaired Mr. Gladstone's bows.

Dan made violins but did not make basses at that time. When he finally did start to make them, my instructor got the very first one--and a beautiful piece of work it is. I admired it so much that I decided to call Dan and see if he would make a bass for me. He said sure. So I drove across the state from Detroit to Muskegon where Danny lives and visited him in his workshop and we discussed what I wanted. I've always had a thing for medieval European art and music and said I wanted a bass with medieval themes. That peaked Dan's interest because he's always interested in doing something different.

After we had mapped out what I wanted, Dan set to work and kept me updated by sending me photos. I share them now with you:






The sides are a type of maple. Dan showed me the raw wood when I was there and asked me if I'd like for those to be used for the sides (or ribs, as they are called). It was beautiful wood with a find grain so I said yes.


The belly is made of European spruce.


Here you can see the beautiful texture of the grain.


The underside of the belly being carved out. The belly has a curved surface and it must be very carefully carved. The luthier will shave off some wood and then tap the belly and listen for the ping. It has to exude a certain pitch and it must be perfect.


F-hole cut into the belly.


Belly, ribs and back glued together.


I told Dan I wanted a knight's helmet for a scroll. He carved this based on images I sent him. He asked if it needed a grille in the visor. I said it did.


Grille added. Armed and ready for bass.

[Lord Larehip]

Instead of a scroll, I wanted a knight's helmet. I sent Dan some images and he carved this image and asked me if he should add in a grille. I said yes.


Grille added.


Neck glued to body, fingerboard (ebony) glued to neck. The straps and clamps simply hold the pieces together until the glue dries.


Purfling added to the back. Purfling is done to the front and back. It is both decorative and protects the edges of the instrument.

Next, we will see the finished product.

[jazzboCR]

When you said "grille", I was picturing something like this: https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/v...-fh_lsonsw

[Lord Larehip]

In January of 2015, one year later, I drove back to Muskegon to get my bass. My instructor, also a good friend, went with me. We took the bass to his house and he held it up for me so I could get photos.






This is called an Occitan cross--the official seal of Count Raymond V of Toulouse dating from 1165. Occitania is a region in southern Europe--mainly France. Dan and his band had gone to France in late summer and he sent me photos he had taken. One showed a type of cross carved on a wall and I told he'd have to put that on my bass since I wanted my bass to have medieval themes. I found this particular version on the internet and sent it to Dan saying that I wanted it carved on the back but he said that would compromise the wood. He suggested either inlay--very expensive--or oil painting--less expensive. He then would varnish o'er the paint making it permanent. So I said ok. He knows this lady who oil paints on instruments and hired her.


The lady decided that the cross by itself look a bit bare so she added a fleur-de-lys at the top and bottom. That was nice of her and it looks fantastic.

[Lord Larehip]

[Lord Larehip]

Dan asked if I would like him to carve the tailpiece to resemble a castle tower. I had no idea what he was talking about but it sounded cool so I said ok. Pretty neato-looking, eh?


Dan carves his own bridges. I had him fit one with a yamahiko pickup--considered generally to be best bass pickup on the market. It was $700 and I had to order it from Japan. I had to order the strings as well. These Helicore hybrid lights.


Dan studied how early violins were varnished and applied those techniques to the bass. I specified a varnish the color of a monk's tunic--sure, no problem, right? Nowadays, varnish is applied in a uniform coating that completely stains the wood. But the early varnish jobs were thin coats where the original color of the wood shows through. I've read that even on the old Strads, hairs from the brush and even small bugs could be found adhering to the wood. Notice here how the varnish near the edge has strokes following the outline of the body. That's how it was then.


The camera flash really makes the blonde of the wood glow.


Closeup of the f-hole. You can see the sound post inside.


The insane grain of the ribs.


Ebony bumpers were added to the treble side of the bass. Two shown here but there are four in all. That way, you can lay the bass on its side without the wood making contact.




Before leaving Muskegon, I had the artist pose with his masterpiece.


He's making a bow now but it's not done yet.

[SteveO]

Lord, she's a beauty! Fascinating history of the birth of your new upright bass! Who are some of your jazz favourites...what jazz do you play? I like Charlie Haden and Ron Carter just to name a couple.

[Lord Larehip]

My favorite bassists are Scott LaFaro, Mingus, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Neils Pederson and Jim Hughart. I play bop, cool, swing, free even dixieland. I don't do smooth or fusion though.

[Jerome]

Beautiful instrument Lord Larehip. Fascinating to see how it developed. Hope you and your new baby have years of fun together. Would it be rude of me to ask how much it cost?