Jay VandeKopple
Julius J. VandeKopple has had a bass shop in northern New Jersey since 1979. He studied bass repair and restoration from 1978 to 1982 with Joseph Cilecek of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, luthier to many of New York's finest bass professionals; and violinmaking with Karl Roy at the UNH Violin Craftsmanship Institute during the summers of 2003 to 2008.
Robert McIntosh
For 25 years Robert's clients have included local high school students and the bass section of the Met. He just completed his 12th handmade bass. #9 received a Certificate of Merit for Tone at the 2015 ISB. #10 received a Silver Medal for Tone a the 2016 VSA. #11 received Honorable Mention Convention Favorite at the 2017 ISB.
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Bass Set-up is a hands-on introductory workshop addresses the basics for a good setup on a standard ¾ double bass. You will learn basic tool skills, including sharpening and proper use of the band saw and drill press. Topics include endpin installation, tailpieces and tail wires, dressing fingerboards, nuts, fitting and adjusting sound posts, sizing and fitting bridges, installing 1/4x20 adjusters, string selection, and tonal adjustment.
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Students will gain experience to address the most common problems in bass restoration. These include 1) how to safely remove a top (preparations for conserving the shape, bracing the neck, replacing the top, and when to re-line the edge), 2) how to safely remove a neck (preparation of neck mortise and alignment of new/restored neck with a laser), and 3) How to remove/replace a fingerboard.
