French Bass full restoration

[Matthew Tucker]

Well, here we go again.

the last few days in Sydney have been in the 23-26C range which isn't bad for midwinter.

I decided I really need to get the back off next. Normally i would at least tack the front back on the ribs, but I suspect I'll have to work from inside and out to get this apart, so instead I just made sure the blocks were well braced in position.

The chalk marks show where there are rib cracks that will need attention.



Carefully directed steam from the inside.



Here's a shot of the thick centre linings very typical of this sort of bass. A big glue surface, not easy to make it let go!



Here's another nicer view. The slab-cut centre brace is flush with the linings, probably didn't help cracking when the back shrunk a little!

That's a rib crack you can see above the lining. Look how well finished these corner blocks are!



I love these corners





... but I have to start somewhere.





After a lot of wiggling, hammering, steaming, tapping, more steaming and more wiggling and lots of cursing, the back is finally off!



So here's a good shot of that centre brace. It has split right through, and it will have to go.
It is, however, stuck on very well!