Frantisek Posta bass

[Michael Lewis]

Does anyone know what happened to Frantisek Posta's Grancino Bass.

[Ken Smith]

Does anyone know what happened to Frantisek Posta's Grancino Bass.

Ah, let me look under the Bed!:D

Hey, wasn't that a 'state' owned bass like it belonged to Russia?

[Michael Lewis]

According to cozio.com there is a 1687 Grancino bass in the Russian state collection. I'm not positive thats the one, but they're aren't many Grancino's just laying around are there :cool:
1665
1672

[Anselm Hauke]

i remember the bass being for sale in the U.S. some time ago, but can´t remember where. i think there was an advertising in db-magazine.

[Michael Lewis]

Do you know which article and where to get it

[Anselm Hauke]

sorry, i don´t know

[Thomas Erickson]

That's a pretty bass - anybody have more photos of it?

[Anselm Hauke]

That's a pretty bass - anybody have more photos of it?

i think its an ugly bass, but have 2 more pics:

[Ken Smith]

i think its an ugly bass, but have 2 more pics:

Look at the FFs! These are two different basses. Both look like Grancino's so maybe one was his and one was the State's.

[Carlos Villarreal]

Mmmm the Russian state lending a state collection instrument to a Chekoslovakian player ,that,s odd??? Why wouldn.t they lend that instrument to one of theirs (Azharkin, Rakov, Levinson etc...)

[Mikko Moilanen]

Mmmm the Russian state lending a state collection instrument to a Chekoslovakian player ,that,s odd??? Why wouldn.t they lend that instrument to one of theirs (Azharkin, Rakov, Levinson etc...)

I heard from my teacher (who was Postas student)
that this bass went to Postas daughter.
My colleagues remember that there was a G. They still do!
Where is it now?
I remember Prof.Stoll having a similar shape and varnish BUT it is not certainly this "G" we are talking.

And Carlos: you must be right! All the basses that russians did sell...they were something!
Many original Italian,Mittenwaldian etc.
Two G basses I have seen: Contrabass shoppe and Postas only on pix. Also Prof.Stoll's bass.
But where is this particular instrument?
And one answer: Mr. Levinson was not a member of Soviet Union since he left. It is called "exodus".
Or is it depo?

[Ken Smith]

I would like to point out that these Grancino basses are rather on the small side. These probably range from about 99-102cm (39-40") string lengths on average. For this reason they are probably more suitable for Solo or Chamber playing than for a modern Orchestra.

Many old Italian makers made basses in this size as well for the same intended use as Chamber and small Theater or Opera orchestras were more common going back 200-300 years ago in Italy rather than a big Symphony Orchestra size like today.

I have seen basses from Grancino, Pallotta, Carcassi, Testore, Maggini and even my one and only early 20th century Candi made in this small 3/4 size model.

[Rob Thompson]

Look at the FFs! These are two different basses. Both look like Grancino's so maybe one was his and one was the State's.

Are you referring to the one on the left in the picture on the right? That looks like a violone. Only one Grancino bass in those pics.

There's also the Grancino for sale (http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KMI&Product_Code=5b2447&Category_Code=bass) at Kolstein's, though I admit it looks so much different it's hard to believe Kolstein's is really a Grancino.

[Ken Smith]

Are you referring to the one on the left in the picture on the right? That looks like a violone. Only one Grancino bass in those pics.

There's also the Grancino for sale (http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KMI&Product_Code=5b2447&Category_Code=bass) at Kolstein's, though I admit it looks so much different it's hard to believe Kolstein's is really a Grancino.

Just the Grancino there is hard to believe?.. lol

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

[Rob Thompson]

A few other basses there of questionable origin? You are perhaps referring to this (http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KMI&Product_Code=6b1287&Category_Code=bass)?

[Ken Smith]

A few other basses there of questionable origin? You are perhaps referring to this (http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KMI&Product_Code=6b1287&Category_Code=bass)?

"made in 1825 in Concord, New Hampshire by Abraham Prescott."

Oh? Prescott moved to Concord in 1831. So if it was made in Concord, who made it?.. lol

This looks like no other Prescott I know, real Prescott's. Look at that Scroll in the Video which was lost in the car accident. Not a Prescott Scroll either. A new one, a Prescott-like copy Scroll was made when it was restored. I was told by Jeff Bollbach who worked on the restoration that the Scroll was made by Mike Shank who was working at Kolstein's with Jeff at that time.

I am not trying to point fingers here but knowing who made every bass where and when is just a bit hard to swallow. I have seen the supposed Grancino which is attributed I believe. The LaFaro bass I assume is attributed as well. There are many Yankee basses attributed to Prescott that look nothing like his other basses. I have seen the earliest ones made as 4/4 Cellos, a blow up of his Church Basses and several in-between up until the last ones made in Concord I believe. There were several other Yankee makers from which all the basses have vanished into thin air. Oh, they are NOW Prescott's.. lol

Recently, I inquired about an English maker who worked for and assisted Vincenzo Panormo named William Taylor who was famed for his basses, made in the style of Panormo. Most of the books written in the late 19th and early 20th century mention him. When calling around recently, NO ONE has EVER seen a William Taylor Double bass. Probably once they hit a shop for sale, they become a Panormo. Just a guess.. ;)

The Bass ID business is a funny one. Some dealers keep things to themselves until THEY have it in their hands and ownership to sell. Then the real name or whatever name they can attach is announced. When you own it beforehand, you may not know what it's future name will be. I am talking from experience.

I have a bass in restoration now that I will just about bet my house is German. Sloped shoulders, Purfling running around the top and back LIKE a French bass, roundback, Gamba shaped, long string length, 100+ years old or a little more and has outer Rib linings. The Ribs are flatsawn, not quartered. I also have 2 appraisals that were written for the bass from a very famous shop, possibly where it was bought about 10 years ago that says it's a French Bass from Mirecourt c.1860 and describes the outer rib linings. NO French Bass to my knowledge was EVER made with outer Linings. If not for the outer linings I think the appraisal has some merit of speculation. With them, it doesn't hold a candle to the truth. Just my opinion.

Boy, have we gone off topic or what? Who's in charge here?:eek: ..

Oh, me..;)

sorry..:(

[Jeff Campbell]

Here's a link that recently appeared on my facebook page of Posta and his bass just prior to his death.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=329868&fbid=149389418416769&id=100000371344835#!/photo.php?pid=329861&fbid=149389341750110&id=100000371344835

[Thomas Erickson]

Oh? Prescott moved to Concord in 1831. So if it was made in Concord, who made it?.. lol

This looks like no other Prescott I know, real Prescott's. Look at that Scroll in the Video which was lost in the car accident. Not a Prescott Scroll either. A new one, a Prescott-like copy Scroll was made when it was restored. I was told by Jeff Bollbach who worked on the restoration that the Scroll was made by Mike Shank who was working at Kolstein's with Jeff at that time.


There sure are a lot of basses that people attribute to Prescott, and even that school. Oh well. :confused: