Saw this unusual scroll on a post-war German laminate for sale in Southern California. Anyone have insight regarding its design? An unusual replacement for broken volutes? A slow day at the factory?
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Double Bass Unusual scroll(s)
- Thread starter marcox
- Start date
Maybe we can start a thread of unusual/wacky/cool scrolls? (Tried to find an existing one without success.)
I think that might be a German thing - I have a 1950s Germany bass viola da gamba with similar "scroll"...
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Whoa. Whoa! This is so ugly I started to like it... very much, actually. If you come to an audition with this bass, I don't much doubt they'll hire you on the spot. I'm curious if anyone knows some details.
[Don LaFontaine] In a world where all scrolls look the same . . . one builder stepped boldly forward . . . [/Don LaFontaine]
Which one? If my post just previous to yours, it's an early 1930's Alcoa (aluminum) double bass.
I was speaking with a maker in Denver, and he said some of the best sounding basses he had ever heard were built by another Denver area builder, and they had very unconventional - essentially no - scrolls. He said the guy had no web presence or anything.
Wondering if any of you had encountered such basses and, if so, if you had pics to share. (Yeah, I probably should just contact the guy I talked to, but I'm hesitant to waste his time, especially since I'm not interested in trying/buying one.)
Wondering if any of you had encountered such basses and, if so, if you had pics to share. (Yeah, I probably should just contact the guy I talked to, but I'm hesitant to waste his time, especially since I'm not interested in trying/buying one.)
The scroll certainly has an influence on the tone.
That wood mass is acting like a pump with the body.
That wood mass is acting like a pump with the body.
Yes, the mass has an effect, so sawing your scroll off will have effects you might not like. But if the bass is constructed from the beginning based on a different scroll, I think it would taken into account. See James Condino's basses with abbreviated scrolls.
Thanks.
Makes sense to me.
I'm just repeating what I was told by a builder/seller whom I believe is pretty well respected. I visited his shop and said I was simply interested in the best sounding bass I could afford, and he mentioned this other builder's basses. I should have asked him for contact info when we were speaking.
Makes sense to me.
I'm just repeating what I was told by a builder/seller whom I believe is pretty well respected. I visited his shop and said I was simply interested in the best sounding bass I could afford, and he mentioned this other builder's basses. I should have asked him for contact info when we were speaking.
I'm guessing he was talking about Kent Mclagan? his scrolls are interesting and his bases are generally fairly unconventional. Everyone I know loves them though; my main teacher has one of his basses and it does sound pretty fabulous.
yeah, I personally don't love that pegbox design, but it certainly cuts down on time to make the bass! i know Mark Dresser plays one of his basses too
Two similar abbreviated scrolls from different basses; the first with ziricote accents from 2017 and the second with Macassar ebony from 2009:
