swanson bass info

runtune · #1 02-24-2007, 07:09 AM

Hello..I'm new to talkbass. I joined with hopes someone knows about Swanson Basses. I think it was built in the 40's.
Where were they made? Are they a quality bass for Jazz?
What is there value? I did a google search on Swanson Bass and came up with nothing.
Thanks

jallenbass · #2 02-24-2007, 08:00 AM

They were made in Pittsburgh. The only one that I heard was very dark sounding. Good for orchestra. Don't know about value. I saw one very recently for sale on the internet or Ebay but I can't remember.

skullhead · #3 02-26-2007, 11:08 AM

Bruce Wallace is the one you're looking for. [url="http://www.wallacebassshop.com/"]

I own a refinished "John Schad" c1980 who supposedly bought Swanson's operation and ran it from Butler, PA. It's a hybrid round-back gamba-shape. I think it's made from parts (neck definitely) of older basses Nothing fancy. Dark sounding. Doubt it's worth more than 1500 or so.

shwashwa · #4 02-26-2007, 11:14 AM

i friend of mine had one once and it was a great sounding bass for jazz. very loud too. he may still play it for all i know. i liked it so much i've been looking for one ever since, but have had no luck finding one, and have had no search results looking on the internet for "swanson bass" other than my own website, since that's my last name and that's what i play :-)

Heifetzbass · #5 02-26-2007, 12:38 PM

Try this link:http://wallacebassshop.com/inventory/

billferg · #6 02-03-2012, 11:22 PM

Looking at some old posts
I've now on a swanson 4/4 its built Like a tank but plays and sounds

truckplayer · #7 02-04-2012, 07:52 AM

There are two shops that have Swanson basses: Upton and Holmes. Upton has one available for sale, Holmes has one in restoration.

uptonbass · #8 02-04-2012, 03:46 PM

These basses are freaks, crude if not questionable work... But great if you like that big, boomy feel it in your gut sound. In a blindfold test the one I have Swanson No 63 Swansons Fiddle Shop, Pittsburgh PA - Upton Bass String Instrument Company reminds me most of the Prescott I have. No I'm not saying it's a Prescott!

I think its wise (just like the Prescott) that the ff's are left connected for top stability. Massive deep ribs, paper thin tops, one way to get that sound with a big pattern.

Gary

Michael Case · #9 02-04-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uptonbass

These basses are freaks, crude if not questionable work... But great if you like that big, boomy feel it in your gut sound. In a blindfold test the one I have Swanson No 63 Swansons Fiddle Shop, Pittsburgh PA - Upton Bass String Instrument Company reminds me most of the Prescott I have. No I'm not saying it's a Prescott!

I think its wise (just like the Prescott) that the ff's are left connected for top stability. Massive deep ribs, paper thin tops, one way to get that sound with a big pattern.

Gary

Wow, that is a very interesting bass. Do you have sound clips of it?

TPugh · #10 02-04-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Case

Wow, that is a very interesting bass. Do you have sound clips of it?

+1

I too would love to hear that thing.

Thomas

uptonbass · #11 02-05-2012, 09:52 AM

Well, I guess I have my camera work cut out for me on Tuesday.

longfinger · #12 02-05-2012, 10:28 AM

I recall that Talkbass user "LouisF" has first hand experience with Swanson basses.

Swanson Basses/ Wayne Holmes

Try contacting him for more info. Looks like he bought it from Wayne Holmes and is selling it through Upton. Is this accurate?

==

(edit)
Maybe not. Here's another TB thread...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f210/*...llwing-659161/

Michael Case · #13 02-05-2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uptonbass

Well, I guess I have my camera work cut out for me on Tuesday.

Awesome! I look forward to hearing that bass.

LouisF · #14 02-05-2012, 10:05 PM

No - not accurate. I bought what I called "The Gullwing" from Wayne Holmes a few years ago (for @$3K) and sold it about a a year or two later to a dealer in the midwest (not Upton). They're big basses, fun for a while, but a bit crude as Eric has said - and - at least in my case, instruments that need a lot of TLC.

The one that Wayne Holmes is restoring now is a Swanson that needed two sound posts to keep the top up. I don't know anything about the one Eric has at Upton, but I can tell you this: one of the factors in selling the Swanson, was that I could get a bigger sound out of my (then brand new) Upton Karr Hybrid than I could (sadly) out of the Gullwing.

It's a fascinating footnote in terms of bassmakers etc; but not a bass I'd want to live with everyday.

I hope that helps.

Louis