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Double Bass Swanson Basses/ Wayne Holmes
- Thread starter LouisF
- Start date
Brian:
Is that Swanson bass Sarah's with the two soundposts? It passed through my place a couple of years ago. It has it's own unique construction approach for more than a few things (Some folks say the same thing about my new bass....).
j.
Is that Swanson bass Sarah's with the two soundposts? It passed through my place a couple of years ago. It has it's own unique construction approach for more than a few things (Some folks say the same thing about my new bass....).
j.
Rod,
Thanks. I try and do it in my "day job" as well - but sometimes, well, we just have to suck it up.
Louis
Thanks. I try and do it in my "day job" as well - but sometimes, well, we just have to suck it up.
Louis
Heifetzbass
Commercial User
- Feb 6, 2004
- 774
- 118
- Disclosures
- Owner, Gencarelli Bass Works and Fine String Instruments, LLC.
Louis- This bass is something I would call a hybrid at best. However, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. It is put together with what ever was in the shop at the time. There are some really nice features that could make it look really old and possibly italian from a distance. However, when you look up close it really starts to show that it's not. There is some plywood in this bass. However, even in the state it's in, it sounds OK.
James- yeah, this is Sarah's. I told her I could do a few things for her... we worked something out. I was showing to some folks down here for her. I think the only reason it has two soundposts is the top distortion. This bass has been through it.
BG
James- yeah, this is Sarah's. I told her I could do a few things for her... we worked something out. I was showing to some folks down here for her. I think the only reason it has two soundposts is the top distortion. This bass has been through it.
BG
I set it up with just one post for her a while back and the top distorted a fair bit, so we put it back to the twins. It definitely sounded better as a single. Whatcha think about all of the extra stuff going on with the back????
j.
j.
When you had the single post, was the distortion mainly on the bass-bar side?
I can't remember the exact details- it was a few years ago. I took it out for her and a short while later she asked to have it put back in because the distortion was pretty obvious.
j.
j.
From some recent emails with Wayne, I've got (sort of ) the following info (it's all a best guess)
1)Swanson made several trips to Europe. The necks are all above average. Maybe the (or some of the) materials are from Europe which could explain the sound.
2) Swanson seemed to mix plywood and maple/spruce/pine either as he had it on hand or as the spirit moved him. Sometimes there are traditional one-piece tops; some are in layers - some a combination of both!! (Sometimes a single layer from the inside of the f holes out as a way of building the larger basses off of standard molds and forms).
3) Wayne will check with Bruce Wallace and some of the Swanson kin for more info.
4) Heck - it's sure more interesting than talking about Chinese or Romanian basses etc, ain't it?
Louis
1)Swanson made several trips to Europe. The necks are all above average. Maybe the (or some of the) materials are from Europe which could explain the sound.
2) Swanson seemed to mix plywood and maple/spruce/pine either as he had it on hand or as the spirit moved him. Sometimes there are traditional one-piece tops; some are in layers - some a combination of both!! (Sometimes a single layer from the inside of the f holes out as a way of building the larger basses off of standard molds and forms).
3) Wayne will check with Bruce Wallace and some of the Swanson kin for more info.
4) Heck - it's sure more interesting than talking about Chinese or Romanian basses etc, ain't it?
Louis
Wasn't very neighborly to chime in about John Schad bass without pics.
Link Removed
Again - per Bruce Wallace, Schad bought Swanson's stuff and continued to make some basses in Butler, PA. (Bruce is the one that found actual ID on inside of top. Pretty sure he knew what it was before seeing the label, though.)
Note:
- Odd applied "purfling" and corner trim on back.
- Relatively flat top, but no sinking in six years.
- Crude Fs
- Crude purfling channel on E-side rib corners. Whole front, really!
- What appears to be top three pieces of laminate. Odd little pin-holes on G side at meeting point. No corresponding holes on underside or on E side.
- Fitting of pegbox to neck was/is a disaster. (but solid now.)
- Rib grain goes horizontal. (ease of bending?)
- I obviously refinished this. Learned not to in the future. I used clear shellac topped with some tinted shellac. Toned down shine with 004 wool.
- Plays really nice. Not sure if fingerboard is ebony, but it's hard, thick and straight. Has a pesky wolf tone.
- Will probably wind up in classifieds soon.
Bill
Link Removed
Again - per Bruce Wallace, Schad bought Swanson's stuff and continued to make some basses in Butler, PA. (Bruce is the one that found actual ID on inside of top. Pretty sure he knew what it was before seeing the label, though.)
Note:
- Odd applied "purfling" and corner trim on back.
- Relatively flat top, but no sinking in six years.
- Crude Fs
- Crude purfling channel on E-side rib corners. Whole front, really!
- What appears to be top three pieces of laminate. Odd little pin-holes on G side at meeting point. No corresponding holes on underside or on E side.
- Fitting of pegbox to neck was/is a disaster. (but solid now.)
- Rib grain goes horizontal. (ease of bending?)
- I obviously refinished this. Learned not to in the future. I used clear shellac topped with some tinted shellac. Toned down shine with 004 wool.
- Plays really nice. Not sure if fingerboard is ebony, but it's hard, thick and straight. Has a pesky wolf tone.
- Will probably wind up in classifieds soon.
Bill
Wayne checked with Bruce Wallace on some points:
1) The Gull Wing's (i,e, mine) back is probably layers of maple or poplar,
2) , Dissecting the "middle bass" (in the photo with all three), it appears that the only part of this that is truly plywood is the back. The ribs as solid wood. The top appears to be is one solid piece, and rather than graduating the top in the traditional way, Bob apparently did it with layers.
Beginning at the inside of the f holes I see two more layers of spruce that run the length of the bass top. The single layer from the inside of the f holes out, tend to convince me that he used multiple layers of spruce about 1/16 inch thick rather than plywood..
According to Bruce Wallace, the necks are all above average (and he got them from Europe). He seems to have built the basses "top down" - starting with the neck and then working with whatever he hand in hand - or in mind.
The attached are photos of the "middle bass's" neck and purfling/cut-out(??) designs - which are very close to the Schad bass (as is the label).
Louis
1) The Gull Wing's (i,e, mine) back is probably layers of maple or poplar,
2) , Dissecting the "middle bass" (in the photo with all three), it appears that the only part of this that is truly plywood is the back. The ribs as solid wood. The top appears to be is one solid piece, and rather than graduating the top in the traditional way, Bob apparently did it with layers.
Beginning at the inside of the f holes I see two more layers of spruce that run the length of the bass top. The single layer from the inside of the f holes out, tend to convince me that he used multiple layers of spruce about 1/16 inch thick rather than plywood..
According to Bruce Wallace, the necks are all above average (and he got them from Europe). He seems to have built the basses "top down" - starting with the neck and then working with whatever he hand in hand - or in mind.
The attached are photos of the "middle bass's" neck and purfling/cut-out(??) designs - which are very close to the Schad bass (as is the label).
Louis
Attachments
I spent a little time with this bass earlier this week and I don't think I would call it "firewood." Ugly-----well, that is a strong possibility. Maybe unique is a more polite term.
The bass does have a pretty good sound; dark and thumpy. It reminds me of several of the better Kays I have played. It has a nice setup and is pretty easy to get around on. The neck is a little thin for my preference but someone accustomed to an Engelhardt or Kay would feel right at home.
I will probably be going back to Wayne's shop within the next few weeks. If I can, I plan on taking a camera and photographing both these basses (if they are still there!). If it works out, I'll post them for everyone's viewing pleasure.
Great! Wayne said he had been tweaking these two basses since they were "left behind". Sounds like he's made some improvements.
Louis
Louis
wayne holmes
Inactive
Thanks Louis and everyone for your discussion on the Swanson basses. Bob would be very proud. I enjoyed reading each one of them and I am happy to know that there are others who appreciate Bob's work.
Wayne
Wayne
wayne holmes
Inactive
Louis, looks like the party may be soon progressing to Canada where the new owner of Gullwings sibs lives. I'll send them off in warm bags. Gonna miss them.
btw, that bass that reminded me of Bob Swanson turns out to be one that he redid the top for Bruce Wallace's father Joe. I talked to Bruce on the phone today. He said that his father played it(G. Kschier bass) some in the Pitts S O. Joe had a car wreck, was insured and the bass top was demolished. Swanson took all the pieces and, like working a puzzle, glued them onto a piece from his stash of laminate- thus, the Swanson presence. It sounds, well, it has professional grade possibilities like his half brothers Gullwing, Slim and the Ugly Ugly one.
Talk to you soon, Wayne
btw, that bass that reminded me of Bob Swanson turns out to be one that he redid the top for Bruce Wallace's father Joe. I talked to Bruce on the phone today. He said that his father played it(G. Kschier bass) some in the Pitts S O. Joe had a car wreck, was insured and the bass top was demolished. Swanson took all the pieces and, like working a puzzle, glued them onto a piece from his stash of laminate- thus, the Swanson presence. It sounds, well, it has professional grade possibilities like his half brothers Gullwing, Slim and the Ugly Ugly one.
Talk to you soon, Wayne
Dear Colleagues
I just received one of the Swansons from Wayne Holmes (I bought both), and I am most happy with the sound of the bass and with the wonderful honest service from Wayne.
The bass sounds full and beautiful.
I am happy to be a member of the Swanson family !!
I just received one of the Swansons from Wayne Holmes (I bought both), and I am most happy with the sound of the bass and with the wonderful honest service from Wayne.
The bass sounds full and beautiful.
I am happy to be a member of the Swanson family !!
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