Double bass repair books

[essexbasscat]

Hi all

I'm looking at doing some repairs on a double bass (I'll get some photos up when I can get hold of a decent camera)

One book that keeps coming up is the Traeger's 'Set up and repair of the double bass for optimum sound', which costs around £55.00 for 375 pages (!)

Does anyone know of any other books on double bass repair that are worth buying ? Or any other books on associated repair work ? (i.e. similar info that can be tranferred across from Cello repair)

I've done some searching on Google, but not come up with much.

Any advice appreciated folks

Thanks all

[essexbasscat]

Is there really only one book ? is the knowledge secret of something ? anyone know of anything other than the Traeger book ?

How do DB luthiers pass on / learn the trade ? is it like the masons ?

Secret DB luthier handshake ?

[pete.young]

Luthier? This is double-bass we're talking, you need a cabinet maker or boatbuilder :-)

[zero9]

Not quite a repair book but very useful (and reasonably priced), is "To Make a Double Bass" by H S Wake:

[url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=2315"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=2315[/url]

[essexbasscat]

Zero 9 -

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU For offering a book name !

Pete - thank you for chipping in ! Good to hear from you again

[pete.young]

OK, well a quick bit of googling brings up this:

http://www.contrabass.co.uk/about_the_double_bass.htm

(By Peter Tyler, of Tyler Basses http://www.tylerbasses.co.uk/ )

I'm tempted to buy this myself, to find out how to lower the bridge on my upright since the action is much too high.

And also this: http://www.violins.ca/books/bass_making_book.html

I was only half-joking, I've met many violin-makers who won't touch double-bass because the size of the tools and physical effort required is too much.

[zero9]

No problem, I got mine from here some years ago:

[url="http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/products/books-plans-5/to-make-a-double-bass-h-s-wake-109.aspx"]http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/products/books-plans-5/to-make-a-double-bass-h-s-wake-109.aspx[/url]

Seems to be currently out of stock. The Traeger book looks good though, quite tempting...

[zero9]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1350136651' post='1835017']
OK, well a quick bit of googling brings up this:

[url="http://www.contrabass.co.uk/about_the_double_bass.htm"]http://www.contrabas...double_bass.htm[/url]

(By Peter Tyler, of Tyler Basses [url="http://www.tylerbasses.co.uk/"]http://www.tylerbasses.co.uk/[/url] )

I'm tempted to buy this myself, to find out how to lower the bridge on my upright since the action is much too high.

And also this: [url="http://www.violins.ca/books/bass_making_book.html"]http://www.violins.c...aking_book.html[/url]

I was only half-joking, I've met many violin-makers who won't touch double-bass because the size of the tools and physical effort required is too much.
[/quote]

My local luthier is a violin maker, who will touch double bass. As he likes talking about the subject, I've picked up some very useful hints from him when it comes to setting up the DB.

[essexbasscat]

Well done guys, I'll updated this thread if I pick up any more info.

There must be more out there - the guitar world is swamped with books on repair and build information.