Who made the first Laminated basses?

Gearhead43 · #1 11-03-2008, 11:06 AM

What year were they made, and by whom?

Educate me, please.

fretlessman71 · #2 11-03-2008, 11:19 AM

You mean "hippie sandwiches", or "plywood"? Both are laminated.

I think Alembic was the first bass maker to start doing the high-end laminates.

Marcus Johnson · #3 11-03-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

I think Alembic was the first bass maker to start doing the high-end laminates.

fretlessman71 · #4 11-03-2008, 01:01 PM

No? Do you know otherwise, Marcus? I don't understand...

shadygrove · #5 11-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

No? Do you know otherwise, Marcus? I don't understand...

I don't watch much TV, but I'm guessing that's the cast of Lost and Marcus is alluding to the fact you're posting in the doublebass forum.

Gearhead43 · #6 11-03-2008, 01:39 PM

I am talking about laminated Double Basses, but thanks for the contribution.

fretlessman71 · #7 11-03-2008, 01:51 PM

DANGIT! I always forget to look over there at that tiny little DB or BG when these threads pop up on the front page. My apologies!

I can only say that I'm aware of Kay being one of the earliest, if not THE earliest. Will continue to check into it...

toman · #8 11-03-2008, 02:49 PM

The earliest laminated instruments were definitely not Kays or other mass-production type things, and I imagine people have used laminated parts in various instruments just about as long as the instruments have been around. It isn't exactly a deep concept.

As for specifics, off the top of my head the best I can remember is that I know I've seen several different basses typically being represented as "old German basses" that looked to be early 20th century and ok, possibly German with multiple-ply flat backs. Seems like they were all in rather poor repair/health, with the backs not making up the bass' better aspects in that regard. The backs were probably three or four thick plys, and thick overall too with no shortage of delamination and cracking, warping, sinking, bulging, etc. The fact that the plywood itself was so degraded makes me wonder if it was some cheap, early ancestor to our modern day cheapo plywood (construction stuff) that was used by one or more repairers someplace.

MollyKay · #9 11-03-2008, 03:51 PM

Here is what I know about early American made plywood…

H.N. White, King Bass first year 1934
H.N. White, American Standard Bass first year 1936
Kay Bass first year 1937
Epiphone Bass first year 1939
Gibson upright bass first year 1939 imported from Germany

There is also Framus, Roth, Harmony and many others that I know nothing about.

Paul Warburton · #10 11-03-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

Here is what I know about early American made plywood…

H.N. White, King Bass first year 1935
H.N. White, American Standard Bass first year 1936
Kay Bass first year 1937
Epiphone Bass first year 1939
Gibson upright bass first year 1939 imported from Germany

There is also Framus, Roth, Harmony and many others that I know nothing about.

What Molly? HOW can you admit that you know nothing about something????
It seems to me that so many posters around here know everything about everything.
As usual, your posts are always refreshing to me.
By the way, my 1888 Joseph Bohmann has laminated ribs, as do many old Italian, French, English ETC basses.

Ike Harris · #11 11-03-2008, 04:12 PM

It is thought that the earliest King basses(among other string instruments) were imported from Europe c. 1934. This is from Chris Charvat, who runs the HN White website and is a descendant of the White family.

Ike

MollyKay · #12 11-03-2008, 04:27 PM

Yep Ike...you are right...I changed the first year for King Basses to 1934...I should not rely on my memory...thanks for catching this for me.

Gearhead43 · #13 11-03-2008, 04:53 PM

Very interesting stuff.

I was under the impression that it would have taken a press of some sort (and heat?) to form a laminated top or back, so that maybe it was not an available technology until after the industrial revolution. There would have needed to be a way to make the thin veneer used also. When were the first instrument grade veneers available?

If the first ply instruments indeed did come from europe, it would be cool to know who made them, if anyone has any info. Thanks guys so far.

llacnayr · #14 11-05-2008, 08:28 AM

My buddy's Kay is about 40 or 50 years old and is laminated.
It might be a bit earlier, but I would guess around that time, probably earlier

drurb · #15 11-05-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llacnayr

My buddy's Kay is about 40 or 50 years old and is laminated.
It might be a bit earlier, but I would guess around that time, probably earlier

Hey, take a minute to read the prior posts, especially MollyKay's. Most of us here are well aware of the history of Kay. They were certainly not the first.

llacnayr · #16 11-05-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Hey, take a minute to read the prior posts, especially MollyKay's. Most of us here are well aware of the history of Kay. They were certainly not the first.

Oh, sorry my bad.