Heavy antiquing and such

[toman]

I've seen some new and newer basses that are antiqued or distressed, and I'm not so sure I like the look. I'd like to see more of these instruments; does anybody have pics or links to some basses that are finished like this? I'd be particularly interested in new basses that have been patterned after old ones, and finished to match or ones that are heavily antiqued, not just darkly shaded and whatnot. Also, any luthier types want to share some details on the techniques used to achieve this? Thanks!

[Matthew Tucker]

Aren't Pollman supposed to be pretty good at this?

http://www.poellmann-contrabass.de/indexframe.htm

[Ken McKay]

Those Krahmer brothers are among the best I have ever seen at tasteful antiquing. Very believable...of course with the selection of wood they have it is a bit easier. I noticed a subtle aging of the wood as well as the varnish. This is really where the artestry comes to play.

It is hard to take western maple for example and make it look old no matter what varnish techniques are used. The planer the wood though the better the antiquing looks to my eye.

A lot of the really old basses that I have seen have so much shiney glop applied over the original varnish it is hard to tell much.

IMO the best way to achieve an old look without overly varnishing the instrument is to use artists oil colors in a glaze. That is what a couple of Ken's basses look like to me. (never seen them in person though).

Some the the antiqued bases that I have seen also have odd looking tool marks that don't make sense. For example, some deep gouge marks on the scroll that look as if the maker somehow forgot how to use a scraper between making the plates and carving the scroll. Kollstein comes to mind here.

[Matthew Tucker]

Toman, there are a few aspects to antiqueing and although I am no expert I have studied it quite a bit.

You can try to make the varnish look old by its composition and layering. Mixing layers of oil and spirit varnish can produce convincing craquelure (crazing) quite easily.

You can duplicate common wear patterns eg: near the corners, the E-side upper bout, the centre of the back, bow wear on the C bout edges etc, either by thinning the varnish or even wearing it away completely in spots. Look closely at the Rossi bass at http://www.rudolphfiedler.com/basses%5Cfull%5Crossi.jpg
look how the varnish has been scraped away across the front then covered with a lighter layer as if "touched up" over time. Also the faked bridge-foot damage. And you can put small dents and so-on in the varnish with a length of chain or the edge of a light hammer. If you really want to.

Then you can mimic the effect of dirt buildup (the famous bass smegma - remember this thread? one of my all time Talkbass favourites!! ) around the scroll, under the tailpiece, the upper corners where you lift the bass with greasy fingers, and the rosin buildup on and near the bridge. I think this is one of the most effective methods, can be done with carefully applied darker finish.

And blackening the insides of the F's.

And the crowning glory would be the tennis-ball-sized fake bass-mouse rolling around inside!

Personally, I like antiqueing if it looks like the bass has been loved and looked after during its life. But the fake bridge-foot damage and chipped varnish just looks like the instrument has been knocked around carelessly, and I don't like that much.

hey Ken how's that cornerless bass coming along?

[Jeremy Allen]

I was interested to find this one at the Bass Cellar:
http://www.stringbass.com/fetchImage.php?ID=90
Apparently the person who brought it in to sell thought it was like a 150-year-old Italian bass, but it is in fact a 20-year-old Czech bass. I've always sort of scoffed at antiquing, but this instrument plays great! Sounds huge, I haven't played anything for $10,500 quite as nice, and one doesn't have to worry about the "new bass look" stigma (if one worries about such things...).

[Jeremy Allen]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

How are they so sure it is Czech and not Hungarian or something else. I sent pics of my Bass to Jiri and he said no one in the Czech republic does antiquing quite that good over there and I should look to Italy or the Tyrol for my source. I have also heard that the Hungarians are the best antiquers in the world.

As a matter of fact, I think it's a misprint on their website. When I played the bass in person, I could swear that Andy told me it was Hungarian. I couldn't find it listed on the site later when I went to look for it, so I went by the price--and sure enough, the $10,500 bass labeled as Czech on the site was the Hungarian I had played in person.

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

It is also possible that if reality sinks in, he will have a stroke!

It is also possible that it's a great bass, no?

[Matthew Tucker]

You're right, of course. I guess I don't have much experience of what the value of $160,000 is!!!!!