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Double Bass " Name That Bass "

#81
The Martini had 3 shims under the fingerboard to add lift but the neck was planed down below the peg box about 4-5mm. I made a single tapered Ebony shim to replace the old shims and lift the angle to get a slightly higher Bridge. It also needed a good bridge as well so I sent some walnut handled aluminum Adjusters to Biase to put in the new Bridge. Oh, and a new fingerboard as well of course.....

It was just a set-up but not a simple one....... I'll post new pics when it's all done.......
 
#84
I wasn't assuming it was sold...just wondering! I agree though. A bass should be in top playing condition, otherwise what is the point in owning it. I look forward to the hearing your progress in restoring the "Mystery Bass".
 
#85
The Mystery Bass was opened a few weeks ago. When I said hello to Paul on the phone that very day.. I heard some screams like Tarzan was having a bad day.. I asked "what was that"? He replied "your Bass, I just opened it up". He mentioned he was thinking for weeks which way to attack this Bass as the Ribs have to be fixed first along with either the top or back so the other plate can come off and have something to go back to.

Now for the discovery, The Bass currently has an 'X' Brace which we know was a 19th century repair in Mass or New Hampshire. We also know there is a set of scars from eariler cross bars that were the original, so we thought... BUT........ There is a "third" set of scars from even eariler Bars in this Bass that is quite unusal. Mainly the Bottom, widest point (originally about 29" wide) had a pair of thin TWIN Bars running across the Bass. This he said is OLDE English as in English Gambas.... The English made Gambas as far back as the 16th century. This Bass however is most likely no eariler that the mid 18th century as far as we can see for now..

Does any one here have any experience with these olde Gambas with Twin Cross bars at the Bottom?

>> More info to come if and when it develops.......
 
#88
KSB - Ken Smith said:
Well, I can bring a camera next time I go but I live over 100 miles away from his shop. I will have pics ofcourse of the b4 and after when the Bass is completed on my website but progress pics are a problem due to the distance between us.
Click to expand...

Maybe one of the TBDB locals would be kind enough to drop by with a digi camera and snap off a few every once in a while... if you and Mr. Biase would allow it.

BG
 
#89
I'm not so sure Paul would be comfortable with strangers looking over his shoulder in the middle of Major Surgery. Remember, this Bass is getting the works including a new upper bout shape. It is almost like re-making a Bass using 250+ year old wood.

I also would prefer being the only one owning photos of the progress unless I decide to post it on my website. If someone does go there, I am sure you can get a peak but he does his work away from the 'public' area. Most people do Not go behind his counter in the front.. Unless ofcourse you are invited..

All the same, thanks for the suggestion... It's not the place nor the project/luthier to do that type of thing.

Don't worry, there will be 'some' pics of the Bass but who would want to see lining repairs on the Ribs?.. I prefer 'Tony Romas' for ribs.....lol
 
#90
Looking forward to the progress reports! I am particularly intersested in the work involving the upper bout. I have always been impressed when a really good luthier cuts the shoulders down so that it almost looks like the bass was made that way.
 
#91
KSB - Ken Smith said:
... This he said is OLDE English as in English Gambas.... The English made Gambas as far back as the 16th century. This Bass however is most likely no eariler that the mid 18th century as far as we can see for now..
....
Click to expand...

Wow Ken, it seems like maybe youve have something that was originally not a true double bass. Maybe a D violone from the 1700's perhaps? Are the F-holes widely spaced? - Jon
 
#92
Please bring me up to speed on what a 'D' Violone is.?. It slips my memory....

The Bass now is close to it's original shape except the bouts were a litter wider and the head is not original. See here; Invalid Link Removed

The FFs are quite widely spaced but you be the judge of that.. It's just a BIG Bass to me. I don't know what it was then. It seems my Gilkes was a gut stringed/ cello pegged Bass Violone/Violin or Chamber Bass originally as well.. Those darn olde English!!
 
#93
KSB - Ken Smith said:
Please bring me up to speed on what a 'D' Violone is.?. It slips my memory....

The Bass now is close to it's original shape except the bouts were a litter wider and the head is not original. See here; Invalid Link Removed

The FFs are quite widely spaced but you be the judge of that.. It's just a BIG Bass to me. I don't know what it was then. It seems my Gilkes was a gut stringed/ cello pegged Bass Violone/Violin or Chamber Bass originally as well.. Those darn olde English!!
Click to expand...

Ken

Based on what I've read and deduced from various internet sources and books, a D violone refers to something like a 3/4 size DB or larger with 6 strings, gut frets and tuned in viol tuning from D below the DB E, to D two octaves above. This in comparison to the G violone which is smaller like a 1/4 size to 1/2 size DB and tuned a fourth higher. Most of the existing instruments from the 1600 and 1700's are apparently of the G variety, although some of the bigger ones do exist. There is some controversy over how common the D ones were, but my gut feeling is that most were converted at some point to double basses and that's whey they are so rare in un-modified form. That's all I know.

Jon
 
#97
Sounds good! I look forward to hearing more about it. I just picked up a small Prescott that I will be having restored with a new top block and neck graft in the next little while. Looking forward to seeing the Morelli completed!
 
#100
I have been asked about this Bass a few times in other Threads including my own known as "The English School of Double Basses".

I have been talking to Jiri Povolny a great and moden maker in Prague about a few things including the possible origin of my Bisiach labelled Bass but struck out with that as far as a Czech connection!

Today for kicks I emaild them back after some other unrelated discussions we were having and mentioned this olde Mystery Bass of mine that was now believed to be English by many including Tom Martin and Paul Biase. Many, for a lack of a better guess has suspected it to be of Bohemian origin as you can see earlier in this thread. The get closure on this matter, I thought it was worth a shot.

I sent the link of my webpage to Jiri today and this is the reply I got back;

‘As far as I can guess from the photos and dating (end of 18th or beg. of 19th century), this bass has nothing to do with the central European origin. This period in middle Europe was completely influenced either by Viennese makers like Posch (and their apprentices like Eberle, Willer) or by Saxony makers and their influence (Rauch family etc.)

The instrument on the photograph shows no similarities with any of these makers. I do not think there is any middle European influence on this bass’
Click to expand...

This in my mind rules out the Bohemian theory and points us right back to London.. :)
 

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