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Double Bass Swanson Basses/ Wayne Holmes

#41
Paul,

If I understand the emoticon correctly, you're puzzled:

There were three of Bob Swanson's basses that Wayne Holmes had and restored at about the same time. As I was the first one to show much interest in them, I got the "pick of the litter" - what I call the "gullwing" at the front of the line of three in the photo. Dr. Rod picked up the other two after reading the threads about (I assume) in the Basses and Set-up forums.

I'm VERY happy with mine - it sounds as good as many orchestra basses I've tried in the $20-30K range, for basically a tenth of the price. The bass does have some issues - not the least of which is its ugly duckling nature, but those go away when you hear its sound.

Louis
 

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#42
the one I just got is the middle one from that picture, and it sounded wonderful after just putting it together quickly. I can't imagine what it's going to sound like once I get to know it and tweak the setup a bit.

My second swanson, which I believe is the right one on the picture, will come next week.
 
#44
LouisF said:
The third one, a real ugly duckling, is just firewood.
Click to expand...


Hi Louis

Thanks again for your helpful advice over the course of my Swanson saga.

I just got the third one today (my second Swanson), the one that you thought was firewood.

Well, perhaps it was the century old strings the bass had when you played it, or just a poor setup at that time, because the bass IS JUST INCREDIBLE. I mean "$80K incredible". I could not possibly have afforded a bass that sounded like this one under normal circumstances.

This bass has the resonance and "umph" that Albert Laszlo's Ruggeri has.

The bass is in perfectly playable condition, and in good shape all around, but it will need major work nevertheless: new fingerboard, raised saddle, maybe an extension, bridge re-shaping, new endpin. So I won't be playing it for a while, but I can't wait !
 
#45
Rod,

That's great! I'm glad the "runt of the litter" is holding up the family tradition. Mine gets deeper, warmer and richer every time I play it - and it does, indeed have the sound of an Italian instrument 10 or 20 x the price.

I'm planning to have a little set-up work of mine own done to it next month, plus change out the endpin and tailpiece, and have a C extension put on. The orchestra is planning to do the Brahms Requiem in the spring - I can hardly wait to try it out on "the Gullwing"!

Louis
 
#48
In the summer I acquired the middle bass in this picture: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=151518&d=1262561156
I drove a 3,000 mile round trip in two and a half days sleeping only a total of six hours, and only stopping to get gas and use the bathroom (besides the hotel and acquiring the instrument). I also handed over the money for it after being awake for thirty-something hours, laying my eyes upon it, and plucking a couple strings. I advise no one else ever do this. You'll either have no good luck or you'll use it all up in one poorly thought-out moment, like I did.

I have to say, I could not be happier with it, though, especially after a new set of strings and after I had my luthier re-plane the fingerboard and re-adjust the sound post from under the bridge foot. Other than it needing a new back, it has a great sound and had a beautiful price when I bought it. It also appears that the current back on it is slowly disintegrating (the edge on the treble side, top bout, nine inches from the heel past the top corner, has broken off at the purfling). This back is also a different color in regards to the rest of the bass. It's a yellow versus the rest of the instrument being a dark red. It all looks to be of the same hands as the rest of the bass, except for the neck and scroll (which came from, supposedly, Germany). It seems Bob Swanson made a second back on this bass or had one already made and finished before he made the rest of the instrument and had run out of the varnish he originally put on it, or something. The back is plywood, the rest of the bass seems to be carved.

The top is also real funky looking. In the f-holes, you can see a second layer of spruce glued to the inside of the top. Also, around the bottom near the block, it appears the top has sunken drastically. My luthier said, before he looked inside with a mirror, that it probably splintered. We now know that that is not the case. It appears to have been carved like that.:confused:

Can anyone else provide more information about Bob Swanson and give more examples of other basses he made and worked on other than what is in this thread, or is this it? After this hectic Christmas gig is over (playing thirteen Catholic masses starting tomorrow until the day after Christmas), I'll post pics of the instrument and its funked-up details. I'll be sure to break the rule of my luthier: "Don't look too close at your bass, everything is wrong!"
 
#52
Checking in with Wayne Holmes about tornadoes in his area, he passes the following on to me about Bob Swanson (from Bruce Wallace, whose father was in the Pittsburgh Symphony)

"... Bob Swanson was bass player who owned a farm in the south hills of PGH. He began building basses at his farm. Bob was able to sell his farm for a healthy sum and now the land is the site of the South Hills Mall. I believe his basses number up into the 60's but I don't know if he began with 01 or how he numbered them.

I also know that he was making them as early or earlier than the !960's. When I bought his molds etc. he had not made a bass for sometime, that was in the late 80's early 90's.

As you know he did not carve his tops and used laminate on most of his backs and sides. He also did not carve scrolls. Most of his necks and some of his sides were parts from old basses. My farther told me he used pictures of old basses, some of which he took in museums in Europe to come up with his designs, unfortunately he did not take measurements. He also put tops or backs on old basses and passed them off as the original with fake labels, but it is plain to see when this has been done."

Louis
 
#53
It’s coincidental that I read about Wayne Holmes since I just ordered a bass from him. Like Tim, I don’t about the Swanson basses, but I recently purchased a wonderful bass from Wayne Holmes and it could not have been a more positive experience. He did a super restoration on an 80 year old Yeager. I had several conversation with Wayne before I bought the instrument and I could immediately tell he was a truthful person. After talking to Wayne and having seen some pictures I bought it (at a good price) sight unseen and unheard. I love the rich sound of this instrument and thankfully so does my wife.
When the bass arrived there were a few accessaries he had included with it and to say the least he still contacts me to see if everything is all right. Of all the luthiers I talked to in person or on the, over 5 weeks of looking for a new bass, Wayne was really the one who managed to contact me on a personal level and was able to help me get the bass of my dreams. I believe he does good work and that’s the reason I shipped him my second bass which he is now restoring.
 
#55
I know that I am late to this party but I'll share my bass with the others.
I purchased it ~15 yrs ago from a fellow orchestra member, it's large, and dark and has an awesome sound. I do some work on it occasionally since it requires some care, but still cooking along and the envy of many.

Enjoy!
2018-04-22 08.27.52.jpg

20220322_174818.jpg
 
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