Bacchus manufacturing vids

Aye, they are very cool. I had my reservations about posting another company's build process in the W forum, but I found them so interesting, I 'd never seen a router doing it's magic before. Bacchus is a small company in Japan, and it seems they are still doing many things by hand. When I think about precision in manufacturing process and attention to detail, the first countries that jump to mind are the Germany and Japan. Another thing, have a look at their bridge design!
 
Compared to Warwick,this is like watching the model T Ford being assembled.
 
Thompson's idealism and commitment to the process of bass making is admirable. The whole "it will be done when it's done" attitude goes again everything the "market" demands nowadays, but still he doesn't compromise his ideal. I've never seen a Carl Thompson bass "in the flesh", but heard wonders of them, and heard Les making magic on them millions of times.
 
I've played a couple CT basses.It's very obvious that they're all hand made.The routing looked like it'd been done with a pretty shaky hand,the small imperfections in the carving & sanding were obvious.The neck radius wasnt as consistent as it could've been.
Bascially,if you expect pefection in such a high priced bass,it's probably best to steer clear of CT's.
Now for the positive.
Both basses were a real pleasure to play & had great responce,with a beautiful organic,woody tone.
I'd love to try one with a wooden bridge.
 
How are the back of warwick necks shaped? I presume not by hand...
 
jester said:
How are the back of warwick necks shaped? I presume not by hand...
Click to expand...

Basically, like in the video, except we use a CNC machine, two software and a programmer :o)

For us, it starts with a accurate 3D model done with a nice CAD software. When the model is done and 100% accurate, I send it to the CAM software, where I program our CNC machines. Basically, it takes a 30mm ball mill and a couple of straight bits, as well as some time, and then you have a Warwick neck, always the same, because that's what you want, not a different one every time, no?

Then, it is just a matter of surface sanding, you guys should harass Matthijs to get pics before/after. That's a pretty cool process.

8:
 
Alexandre said:
Basically, like in the video, except we use a CNC machine, two software and a programmer :o)

For us, it starts with a accurate 3D model done with a nice CAD software. When the model is done and 100% accurate, I send it to the CAM software, where I program our CNC machines. Basically, it takes a 30mm ball mill and a couple of straight bits, as well as some time, and then you have a Warwick neck, always the same, because that's what you want, not a different one every time, no?

Then, it is just a matter of surface sanding, you guys should harass Matthijs to get pics before/after. That's a pretty cool process.

8:
Click to expand...

Great idea!! Now where is Matthijs.....
 
*walks by*

...

*sees people wanting stuff from him*

...

*runs*
 
Nah... :)


Look out for one of the next newsletters where we will have the report on the first stages of the build process for three new Thumb NT's for Jack Bruce.
 
look for precision in a handmade instrument is kinda waste of time. The dispute handmade x machinemade is pointless too. I'm all for machinemade, provided it maintains a high quality standard (like WW), just because is easier to get a very good instrument, there is little variation from each instrument. I would like very much to have a CT, but wouldn't look for precision in it's dimensions. Each handmade instrument is supposed to be unique.
 
drews said:
look for precision in a handmade instrument is kinda waste of time. The dispute handmade x machinemade is pointless too. I'm all for machinemade, provided it maintains a high quality standard (like WW), just because is easier to get a very good instrument, there is little variation from each instrument. I would like very much to have a CT, but wouldn't look for precision in it's dimensions. Each handmade instrument is supposed to be unique.
Click to expand...


Yeah, right... Depends what you call "Handmade", too... You should define precision, too. It's not pointless to look for accuracy and precision when hand-building, especially when it comes to Fret layout or bridge placement or neck angle :o)

And I have to disagree (being a trained guitarmaker and having friends in the "handbuilt" business)... Handmade instruments are not at all supposed to be unique in most cases. Every builder is looking for constancy. You don't want to build 10 pieces of the same model and end up with 10 different instruments. You end up with variations, which depend on material and building methods. But the goal is always constancy in sound and quality!

What we have here is tooling, machines and software helping us to maintain minimal variations, maximal constancy on a much larger scale.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Alexandre, By precision I mean "micrometric precision in all dimensions". There is constancy in instrument making, I'm positive on that, but computer controlled sawing and drilling will ever be more precise, more uniform. I'm not taking sides here.
 
Well, the earliest Warwick models are great as well aren't they?
I hear a lot of people stating that early wicks are better then the new ones.
I know this isn't true as the 2008 SSI is just as grande as my two old wicks (the dang bass OOZES tone!) and the preamp on it is even nicer in my humble opinion.

The thing is... thoughts may vary.

So just play what you like whether it be a T-Ford or a YF-22.
 
Alexandre said:
Basically, like in the video, except we use a CNC machine, two software and a programmer :o)

For us, it starts with a accurate 3D model done with a nice CAD software. When the model is done and 100% accurate, I send it to the CAM software, where I program our CNC machines. Basically, it takes a 30mm ball mill and a couple of straight bits, as well as some time, and then you have a Warwick neck, always the same, because that's what you want, not a different one every time, no?

Then, it is just a matter of surface sanding, you guys should harass Matthijs to get pics before/after. That's a pretty cool process.

8:
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for the info. This sounds like the best of both worlds!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top