2023 UNH Violin Craftmanship Institute will be held online.
The class will focus on common problems in the bass repair shop. These will include:
REMOVING THE TOP
TOP REPAIRS
EDGE REPAIRS
FINGERBOARD
NECK REPAIRS
TUNING MACHINES
THROUGH THE f-HOLE — avoid taking off the top
FLATBACKS
C-EXTENSION
WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS:
Select a repair you'd like to work on. You should have tools and materials needed to do that repair. If you wish to focus on a topic not listed above, please contact us as soon as possible so we can be prepared to make your UNH-VCI experience as productive as we can. For larger projects we will help you map out next steps for work on your own time.
The class is open to students with previous experience in instrument repair or who have participated in the BASS SETUP class.
A full list of tools and materials can be found in the Tools & Materials tab above, or by clicking here.
Bass Restoration Fundamentals - Tools and Materials
Instructor: Robert McIntosh
Questions can be directed via email to mcinbass@gmail.com.
You should bring with you (shipping not advised) one standard ¾ bass (due to space and time constraints). Select a repair you'd like to work on, based on the topics in the course description. You should bring tools and materials needed to do that repair. As projects will vary, we hope to reach out to you for information on your project prior to the workshop. This will help to ensure that you can complete or make good progress on your bass. For larger projects, we will either work out next steps for your own work or you might bring it back at a future workshop.
| Required Reading | |
| Bruce Hoadley | Understanding Wood |
| R.G. McIntosh | Wood Drying (mcinbass.com) |
| Recommended Reading | |
| J.E. Gordon | The Science of Structures and Materials |
| J.E. Gordon | Structures, Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down |
| Henry Strobel | See his website for other titles |
| George Sturt | The Wheelwright’s Shop |
| Weisshar-Shipman | Violin Restoration: A Manual for Violin Makers |
| Henry Strobel | Useful Measurements for Violin Makers |
| Henry Strobel | Violin Maker’s Notebook |
| Bob Flexner | Understanding Wood Finishing |
| Recommended Tools (You should acquire the essential tools if you do not have them) | |
| Notebook and pencils | Essential |
| Violinmaking knife | Essential |
| Measuring tape | Essential |
| 6”, *12”, and 24” straightedge | Essential |
| Combination square or similar | Essential |
| White wax china marker | Essential |
| Fine-toothed saws, rip and crosscut | |
| Clamps | |
| C-clamps | |
| Spindle clamps | |
| Long-reach clamps | |
| Hot hide glue, dry and mixed | |
| Glue pot, brushes, rags | |
| Small spatulas (palette knives) | Essential |
| Scrapers | Essential |
| Sandpaper, sanding blocks, self-stick sandpaper | |
| Bench light | Essential |
| Planes, finger planes, chisels (I use a 1” mostly) | Essential |
| Gouges (#3 x 20mm recommended) | Essential |
| Heat gun | |
| Steamer | |
| Hygrometer | |
| Repair wood | |
| Sharpening equipment | |
| Cordless drill/driver | |
| Apron | Essential |
| Mallet, hammer | Essential |
| Tools that may be used in demonstrations | |
| Heat blankets and control | |
| Laser, jigs for aligning the bass and neck | |
| Tormek grinding wheel | |
| Grinding wheel | |
| Aluminum oxide and Arkansas stones | |
| Diamond hones | |
| Level | |
| Glue pot | |
| Titebond liquid hide glue | |
| Heat gun | |
| Steamer | |
| Spindle clamps | |
| Long-reach over-the-rib back clamps | |
| Long-reach bass bar clamps | |
| Cordless drill/driver | |
| Sling psychrometer |
Robert McIntosh is a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, and graduated Lynn English High School in 1969. He studied architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, class of 1973, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in the Building Sciences.
In 1977, He married Bliss White, who had built a house on her family’s farm in Cambridge, NY. They have two daughters, Annika, and Helen. In 1993, when Annika was 14, she said she wished she could play the bass.
At the time Robert was a cabinetmaker. A friend, fiddler George Wilson, gave him a wrecked bass that was in his woodshed. His violinmaker friend, Geoffrey Ovington, offered his guidance, which carried Robert as far as setting the neck, for which he would need the advice of a bass expert. Geoffrey introduced him to John Feeney who was in town to play the Dvorak Quintet. John urged Robert to call Lou DiLeone, the master bass restorer who had worked on his own bass. This serendipitous introduction was a turning point in Robert's life. Lou DiLeone was the teacher that his 20 years as a cabinetmaker had prepared him for.
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. He received a Certificate of Merit for Tone at the 2015 ISB, a Silver Medal for Tone a the 2016 VSA, and an Honorable Mention Convention Favorite at the 2017 ISB.
Keiran O'Hara is the owner and head luthier at O'Hara Fine Instruments, a shop just north of New York City specializing exclusively on Double Basses. Studying Music and Environmental Science at Florida State University, Keiran was drawn to work on instruments for the mix of art and science. While at Florida State, he took classes and independent studies in the Piano Technology Shop in the College of Music and then for four years taught a class in String Instrument Repair for Music Educators. Naturally, as a bassist he wanted to specialize in the instrument that felt at home with. This led him to work in the shop of Arnold Schnitzer. In the Schnitzer shop, Keiran grew to take on the duties of repairs, assembly and set up of the New Standard Basses, chromatic extension, and restorations. After eight years, Mr. Schnitzer retired and Keiran hung out his own shingle in 2017 to serve the greater bass community.
