French...or not?

[Jake de Villiers]

Here are some pix of a ca 1900 DB belonging to a client. Really nice varnish, great f-holes, nice scroll with what appear to be original gears.

The swell in the back is deep and sharp. I've never seen a DB with this style of carved back but my experience with older symphony type basses is limited.

Anybody recognise the origin?

I should have said that more and bigger photos are online at www.thebassspa.com under Gallery --> Woakes Bass

[Tim Bishop]

Nope, don't have a clue, but, I'd put my money on Ken and/or Arnold to have the answer on this one ;). Any takers? :)

[Ken Smith]

Well, can you check a few things for me first?

Is the Varnish under UV light the same on the Scroll as the Back and Ribs?

If so, are those the original Gears to that Scroll?

If I had a dollar for every nice French looking German Orchestra Bass I've seen from the mid-late 19th century up thru the early 20th, I would have a few bucks in my pocket to say the least.

My gut feelings is German but French is possible too from the Pics you show. I am leaning towards German though from what I see overall.

[Jake de Villiers]

I know - I thought Germanic at first too but there's something...

That swell back looks positively violin-like to me, not the smooth, large-radius arc I'm used to seeing on basses. And there's the haughty scowl of the ffs and the gears and the linings. Did you check out the bigger photos?

I'll have a chance to look inside, check it with UV etc when I get the bass on my bench in late July - until then, the pix are all we have.

[Ken Smith]

I know - I thought Germanic at first too but there's something...

That swell back looks positively violin-like to me, not the smooth, large-radius arc I'm used to seeing on basses. And there's the haughty scowl of the ffs and the gears and the linings. Did you check out the bigger photos?

I'll have a chance to look inside, check it with UV etc when I get the bass on my bench in late July - until then, the pix are all we have.

The Gears are 100% German. I have them on my Storioni, replaced ofcourse as I have 4 of them on a 3-string Bass! I have seen these Gears on many basses. Usually German Basses.

Violin Like? The Germans didn't make Violins? Not every German Bass is a factory cheapo. Some are quite nice. I also suspect this bass was overvarnished at least partially from what I see. Yes, I looked at the bigger pictures. I see a hint of the Linings on one Pic and they don't look overly big or thick like on many French basses but anything is possible. The FFs don't look anything special to me at all as far as French or German go, just nicely cut FFs.

By the way, I have seen this exact bass before. The string length is 43", correct? I think the previous seller/dealer would have charged a bit more if he thought it was French but he believed it was Germanic as well.

It's a very nice bass regardless..

[Jake de Villiers]

You're misinterpreting my words Ken. I've never seen a back shape like that on any bass - not in person, not on your site, not on any English/French/German site. I can't recall seeing a cello with such a humpy back either - I've only ever seen violins with that shape.

43" string length, yes - have you seen the bass itself or just pictures of it?

[Ken Smith]

You're misinterpreting my words Ken. I've never seen a back shape like that on any bass - not in person, not on your site, not on any English/French/German site. I can't recall seeing a cello with such a humpy back either - I've only ever seen violins with that shape.

43" string length, yes - have you seen the bass itself or just pictures of it?

Just seen the pictures of it. My Gilkes (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/GilkesBass/GilkesBass.htm) has a huge swelled back. I have seen it before as well. My last Pollmann (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/Pollmann01/Pollmann_01.htm) had a huge swell in the back as well. My Martini (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/MartiniBass/martini_bass_2.htm) also had a huge back swell.

I have had and seen many basses with huge swelled carved backs. Nothing new in my book.