My Martini...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Aren Winebrenner

Will you be posting any pics of the work in progress? I'd love to see the action as it develops!

That depends on Arnold. He's the one doing the work. The bottom block is getting trimmed. A few pieces of inner linings are being replaced touching the Top/Rib joint. A rear soundpost patch touching the Back is being added. The Back is made in 3 pieces and one of the joints is within a few inches of the soundpost. As with all roundbacks, the post in the tighter winter months push the Back out over time. This was repaired but the joint is just slightly visible. Arnold will fix this cosmetically as it's even too small to get a thin shim inside it. The rear post patch is a corrective measure so after the back seam is repaired cosmetically, it stays that way. The Neck block is being modified from a hidden dovetail to a mortise. The Neck is getting its first graft into the original Scroll which is now 88-89 years old (depending on the month the Bass was completed in 1919). This and a few other things are on the restoration menu.

In my opinion, it is not all that exciting to document. When the Bass is done, it will be re-photographed for the Website. Other than the Neck Graft and a bit or Varnish touch-up, the Bass will mostly look the same as it did before.

It is totally up to Arnold if he wants to spend time taking and posting pics. I have 2 other much bigger restorations waiting for his bench so I personally would rather he spend his time on the Bass and not on the camera.