French Bass Brace advice

[Adrian Levi]

In this case where the back and top are off at the same time , which should go on first , and is it ever ok to have to push the ribs in a bit whilst gluing and clamping if they are a little out of position in a few places?

Ken also if the ribs get cut down at the end block , then surely the top overhang will differ slightly i.e , maybe more overhang in the middle of the lower bout than at the end block due to the top not being exactly shaped to the rib dimensions anymore ...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Levi

In this case where the back and top are off at the same time , which should go on first , and is it ever ok to have to push the ribs in a bit whilst gluing and clamping if they are a little out of position in a few places?

Ken also if the ribs get cut down at the end block , then surely the top overhang will differ slightly i.e , maybe more overhang in the middle of the lower bout than at the end block due to the top not being exactly shaped to the rib dimensions anymore ...

You tool both the Top and back off at the same time? Good luck with that. Generally I see the Top done first and then put on the Ribs and then the back off and done. If both off, get the Top done and Back on first and see if or how much you have to tuck in the Ribs at the block for even overhang.

If the Back is less work, then do that first since you have a mess to deal with either way from taking it all apart at once. Good luck!

[Adrian Levi]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

You tool both the Top and back off at the same time? Good luck with that. Generally I see the Top done first and then put on the Ribs and then the back off and done. If both off, get the Top done and Back on first and see if or how much you have to tuck in the Ribs at the block for even overhang.

If the Back is less work, then do that first since you have a mess to deal with either way from taking it all apart at once. Good luck!

Jeeez , now I feel like a war criminal...

Maybe I never had an option but to take the back off !!!

Firstly the bass came with the top off and in 3 pieces due to the fact that the back was glued on with a &^%&^ load of epoxy . Whoever epoxied the back made sure that the ribs were forced in by a good few mm all round , making sure that the opposing pressure on the top would pull it apart .
So what was I to do , rebuild the top to accommodate a very unique and asymmetrical rib shape and then once that was glued on remove the back and rebuild the back to mirror the top ??
My intentions are simply to learn as much as possible about repairing and maintaining basses.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Levi

Jeeez , now I feel like a war criminal...

Maybe I never had an option but to take the back off !!!

Firstly the bass came with the top off and in 3 pieces due to the fact that the back was glued on with a &^%&^ load of epoxy . Whoever epoxied the back made sure that the ribs were forced in by a good few mm all round , making sure that the opposing pressure on the top would pull it apart .
So what was I to do , rebuild the top to accommodate a very unique and asymmetrical rib shape and then once that was glued on remove the back and rebuild the back to mirror the top ??
My intentions are simply to learn as much as possible about repairing and maintaining basses.

Thanks for clearing that up.. Good luck with the project.