a New Breed...

[Ken McKay]

White Pine Log being cut in half to fit into the bandsaw.


The log just barely fit, in fact we had to trim some off.



Stickered to air dry




I check in here every now and then to make sure I haven't missed anything important and saw Ken Smith's post on Mike Magee.

I have been making guitars lately but am collecting wood and devising plans for my next couple double basses. I have some pine seasoning that I milled and a some photos that show the top wood being milled by my sawyer. White pine was good enough for some yankee makers and might be good enough for me. It is about ready to run some tests on weight, density, speed of sound, radiation ratio and a few other tests that might prevent me from making a BSO from it if it doesn't compare well to Bosnian or the other available spruce wood.

I am copying a William Tarr that is in possession at the Guarneri House in Grand Rapids MI. It is a very pedestrian bass, designed by Tarr who was a player and prolific maker. I have always leaned "Italian" but this is a work-horse and that is what I am after.