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Double Bass The Talkbasses v.2 (bass eye candy collection)

John Sprague

John Sprague

Sam Shen's US Distributor
Mar 10, 2003
998
360
63
Rochester, NY
www.cscproducts.com
Disclosures
Sales Manager, CSC Products Inc.
#1
Alright v.2 of The Talkbasses is launched! :hyper:

This version will allow me to quickly add a nearly infinite number of basses as you guys & gals send them to me. The site outlines the criteria.

Please report any bugs or other issues here. The old link will no longer work. Requires the Flash player browser plug-in, v.6 or higher.

So, complete with its own proper web address, nothing but bass porn:

www.thetalkbasses.com
 
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#4
Well John, as you probably guessed, I just got out of the bathroom! The sense of release and relief is wonderful.....
I've spent a whole lot of time with Arnold's and Jeff's basses and of course all of Ken's babies in the past. This time, I really enjoyed spending some quality time with Nnicks bass. I love the scroll so much....many kudos Nnick!!!!
Jason's bass is really interesting in many different ways. It's great to see Sam's bass in detail, after wondering for so long how ALL of it looked.
And Monte's Solano has always been one of my favorites just for the pure size of it!
The new addition of Brent's basses, to me, is strangely appropriate not only for the colors, but Brent's eye for design is really wonderful. I'd love to hear how the Shen Argyle sounds and plays!
Anyway, you've done a spectacular job again John! Thanks....the amount of time and care you've put into BOTH versions of the TalkBasses should make those people whining about the measely $20 supporting member fee for TBDB feel really silly. Same goes for Damon's hosting of the Sampler!
 
#5
Unbelievable! John, my hat is off to you! You've done a great job and developed a resource that is gorgeous, valuable and fun.

At a time when some in the DB world charge people to look at photos CSC/Shen has taken a bold step in the other direction. Bravo!

This is going to be a serious distraction . . . .
 
#6
Wow! That is some hardcore bass pr0n! Great work John, thanks a lot - and thanks to all you guys for putting your fabulous basses on display for the rest of us to lust after :D


P.S. Paul, I'm sure this has been dealt with already, but as this is the first time I've seen your (outstanding) bass, what is the purpose of the double shoulders? Were they added after the original construction and so are they structural, purely cosmetic or what? Thanks!
 
#7
KRFC said:
Wow! That is some hardcore bass pr0n! Great work John, thanks a lot - and thanks to all you guys for putting your fabulous basses on display for the rest of us to lust after :D
P.S. Paul, I'm sure this has been dealt with already, but as this is the first time I've seen your (outstanding) bass, what is the purpose of the double shoulders? Were they added after the original construction and so are they structural, purely cosmetic or what? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The double shoulders, and this is just a guess, were included when the bass was made. Bohmann, in my opinion, was influenced by the work of the Brescian Master Maggini....Maggini made several violones with double shoulders similar to these. They are laid right on top of the ribs and are entirely decorative. They are hollow. I had to totally revamp my thumb position playing in order to get around comfortably up there.
This cat was really into that roccoco style lutherie. It's like he just couldn't stop carving and in-laying!!
The remarkable thing about this whole thing is that although the bass was made somewhere around 1888, i'm the first player! It was tied up in a family estate squabble. When my wife and I visited Kagen and Gaines in Chicago in 1978, we made an offer (the store was handling the sale for the family) and were turned down initially. I got a phone call a few months later from the store saying " Come and get it" We were in the car the next morning headed for Chicago.
 
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#8
Paul Warburton said:
The double shoulders, and this is just a guess, were included when the bass was made ... I had to totally revamp my thumb position playing in order to get around comfortably up there.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, very informative! From the look of the shoulders they were obviously an addition, but I was unsure as to why it would be done due to the problems you describe. Similarly I have only ever seen that feature on early music instruments, never on the bass. A great bass and a great story!

Paul Warburton said:
This cat was really into that roccoco style lutherie. It's like he just couldn't stop carving and in-laying!!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I dig those f-holes and the pinstriped back. And the neck. And the tuners... well all of it really :)
 
#12
KRFC said:
From the look of the shoulders they were obviously an addition, but I was unsure as to why it would be done due to the problems you describe.
Click to expand...
I'm either misunderstanding what you're saying or the other way around.
The shoulders are an original part of the bass. He included them when the bass was born. Not an addition.
 
#14
Paul Warburton said:
I'm either misunderstanding what you're saying or the other way around.
The shoulders are an original part of the bass. He included them when the bass was born. Not an addition.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm pretty new to this game, so misunderstandings on my part are not uncommon :)
I didn't mean the shoulders were a more recent addition, rather I meant that it looked as though Bohmann made a complete bass, then added the 'extra' shoulders. So they are, as you say, entirely decorative and added onto already complete ribs during original construction, rather than being part of the integral structure of the top/back/ribs. Sorry for the confusion!
 
#18
Added a nice one today: Brian Kobayakawa's Pollmann.

Just a couple of reminders: if you want any other desktop backgrounds made for the desktops section, let me know. Also I hope you are enjoying the music by Jim Furgeson, using the mp3 player at bottom left. All bassists should here that song at least once. ;)
 
#19
Brian's Pollmann is probably my favorite Pollmann! I like the way they kinda lightened the outline...it seems the Busetto corners are not quite as big and glaring as most Busetto's i've known. Also it's the only Busetto i've seen that has violin corners on the upper C bouts. I also like the machines a lot too.
Other than that, it's a real drag.

To the BATHROOM!
 
#20
Hey Ken you're welcome. :)

There are a few guys who are in the "when I get some better pics/get time to shoot/get around to it" mode. I have a couple more to add after the next round of travel next week. It's easier to do these in batches, so now would be a great time for anyone who has pics ready.

The more, the merrier!
 

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