Help! RE: Boston String Instrument Company?

jamackay · #1 01-05-2007, 09:22 AM

Hello TB community!

I am looking for information about the Boston String Instrument Company. Prior to moving to California in 2000, I placed an old bass in poor repair with Ivo and Benjamin Pires at BSIC. The repairs had gone slowly, but every year I have been contacting them to see if the bass is nearing completion. Last week I tried contacting them again, only to find that their phone number is now disconnected. Not living in the area, I'm having a hard time tracking down what might have happened to my instrument. I am hoping that someone on this forum might know how to get in touch with them. If so please post or contact me at jamackay2@yahoo.com.

The bass had an extremely warped face with a deep depression to the left of the bridge, that they were working on reshaping. The wood was a dark reddish brown wood with significant damage to the ribs and shoulder. The back of the instrument was in relatively good condition.

Any information that you might have about where to contact the previous owners of the Boston String Instrument company would be greatly appreciated!

Andrew MacKay

ps. I was referred to talkbass.com by Eric Roy at Upton

Eric Hochberg · #2 01-06-2007, 03:58 PM

I was in Cambridge a couple of years ago and walked into the Cambridge Violin Shop. Telephone: 617-492-4142. I seem to remember that they gave me contact info for someone associated with BSI Co. Also, try Rutman Violins in Boston, 617-578-0066 or Volker Nahrmann in Belerica.

**Freddels** · #3 01-06-2007, 04:18 PM

I went looking for the Boston String Company a few years ago too. I was directed to a building where it was last located. The guy at the door told me that they went out of business and didn't know what happened to any of the instruments that were there. I went up and knocked on the door of a few of the neighbors (other music type businesses) and they directed me to Rutman's (I was looking to buy some bass strings).

I think your best bet would be to contact the guys at Rayburn Music. They knew the guys from Boston String and might be able to get you some info. Here's a link to Rayburn's. http://www.rayburnmusic.com/

Call the Boston location.

Good luck.

Fred

Wil de Sola · #4 01-08-2007, 09:27 AM

Last known contact, end of '04: South End String Instruments, Boston, 617-292-7788, speak with son Roosevelt; and 606 N. Cherry St., Brockton, MA. (no phone)

jamackay · #5 01-08-2007, 11:40 AM

Hi!

Thanks for all the information. I talked with R. Pires at South End Stringed Instruments (Boston, MA). He told me that he would contact his father Ivo Pires at his home in Brockton. Also, I sent a letter to the above mentioned address in Brockton. I am still looking for a direct phone number for Ivo, but hopefully this will work. Thank you everyone for your advice so far. I will post again when I find my instrument.

Thanks,
Andrew

jamackay · #6 03-22-2007, 09:20 PM

Dear Talkbass community,

I would like to thank you all for helping me to get in touch with Ivo Pires regarding my old bass. Your information, from back in January, helped me to track him down.

I would like to find a Boston based professional bass appraiser to inspect the repairs. Can anyone recommend a respected appraiser of double basses?

Best wishes,
Andrew MacKay

LouisF · #7 03-23-2007, 01:49 AM

I would check in with Volker Nahrmann in Billerica (978-667-0206). he has one of the larger bass shops in the Boston area - or Gary Upton in Mystic CT.

Just on a personal note, I grew up in Boston and Mel Peabody, who had the Boston String Instrument shop, was always very kind and generous to me, even letting me use his personal bass when I performed in Boston. I'm sorry to hear what's happened to his shop.

Louis

Tim F · #8 03-23-2007, 09:14 PM

I remember stopping in there many years ago....I still may have Mel's card somewhere!

relacey · #9 03-24-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamackay

I would like to find a Boston based professional bass appraiser to inspect the repairs. Can anyone recommend a respected appraiser of double basses?

Andrew, does this mean you found your bass?

jamackay · #10 04-01-2007, 09:39 PM

Hi Relacey,
Actually, I. Pires contacted me and would like to get my bass back to me. I was able to get in touch with him through his mailing address and son's phone number, both of which I found through Talkbass. Having said that, I haven't seen my bass. Now, I am thinking of finding/paying someone to go and take a look at the work on it. I have grown rather suspicious of handing money over to him as this process has taken 7 years and given me a lot of headaches. So, if you know of any good bassists who do appraisals in the Boston Area, please let me know.
Best wishes,
Andrew

Simandl Fan · #11 06-09-2011, 10:20 PM

Bump. Andrew, did you get your bass back and did you get it appraised? Dennis Roy (BSO section) does wonderful repair work; he just did a neck graft and C string on my bass, and appraised my basses, too. I bought this bass from Mel Peabody in 1969 and still have the original sales slip. Mel was quite a character; he once showed me the revolver he kept under the counter. I'm sorry to see his shop go. I wonder when he passed.