Re-born..

[Ken Smith]

Here is a Bass attributed to the Italian School c.1890 (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/northern-italian/) that was found in pieces with the finish of the back stripped and in process of some kind of staining. There were no Ribs found with these parts, just the Top, Back and Scroll. It was brought to a fine European Luthier to be re-built. The Ribs were taken from an old German bass about 100 years old that was in restoration and re-bent from Gamba to Violin shape to match the Top and Back. A full set of new Blocks, inside Linings were made and then some antiqued varnish to match the Top which was the only part still mainly intact. Only one original corner tips remained on the Top, but the Back corners were intact. The Top and Back plates were un-purfled. The Luthier Purfled them with double 'Viola' Purfling (5-layer with the center black doubled) and added a cute design to the Button copied from a members Albani Bass here on the Forum. Cute! ;)

The Bass is currently in set-up getting all the things done that meet my personal requirements. I don't know who the actual maker was, but the model is very comfortable to hold and play. Here are the body pics during re-construction. See the Link above for the full layout of the completed re-construction.

[Sam Sherry]

Man! That is a massive neck-block. That neck is going nowhere except on purpose!

It appeared that some restoration work had been started a long time ago as the Back had been stripped and partially stained. It was as if the Luthier just stopped work on it at some point and was abandoned.
On some level it is reassuring to see that some things never change . . . whether it is the customer shockingly penniless in mid-job or the Endless Luthier Coffee-Break we will never know.

Nor need to, now that you've finished it up. Nice going, Ken!

[Ken Smith]

Man! That is a massive neck-block. That neck is going nowhere except on purpose!


On some level it is reassuring to see that some things never change . . . whether it is the customer shockingly penniless in mid-job or the Endless Luthier Coffee-Break we will never know.

Nor need to, now that you've finished it up. Nice going, Ken!

The un-restored Top, Back and Scroll were found in some shop in Europe, not assembled and without Ribs. They were lying around for a long long time and no one knew where these parts came from or who had owned them before.

Now, it is all together as a Bass and will live longer in its re-build than it had in the past as a bass. The form is simple and beautiful. The Scroll is modest but mature looking. I would love to know who the original maker was.

[Anselm Hauke]

Nice looking bass.
i wish you had soundclips/videos on your website.

can you tell where exactly it was found and who restored it?

[Ken Smith]

Nice looking bass.
i wish you had soundclips/videos on your website.

can you tell where exactly it was found and who restored it?

It was found in one part of Europe and fixed in another part of Europe but being tweaked and set-up in USA. That's all I can say but regardless, the most important is the quality of the work which looks pretty good. The semi-repair pics in progress only show part of the work. Inside, the bass looks much more complete in the end.

Sound clips mighty happen one of these days. The biggest problem will be who plays. Might have to be me! :eek:

[Anselm Hauke]

It was found in one part of Europe and fixed in another part of Europe but being tweaked and set-up in USA. That's all I can say but regardless, the most important is the quality of the work which looks pretty good. The semi-repair pics in progress only show part of the work. Inside, the bass looks much more complete in the end.

Sound clips mighty happen one of these days. The biggest problem will be who plays. Might have to be me! :eek:

ken, thanks for the quick reply.

please don´t let us wait too long for the soundclips!

[Ken Smith]

ken, thanks for the quick reply.

please don´t let us wait too long for the soundclips!

Ok, I'll start practicing more.. ;)

[Matthew Tucker]

Is the restoration Stefan Krattenmacher's work?

[Ken Smith]

Is the restoration Stefan Krattenmacher's work?

No. Why, does it look like his work?

It was done by one of the top Luthiers in Hungary in or around Budapest.

Arnold has it at the moment for some set-up work and adjustments.

[Matthew Tucker]

Stefan uses similar horizontal cleating and i've seen a similar button decoration on his website I think.

Actually, looking at the cleats, I think I'd be a bit wary of the really long horizontal spruce cleats working loose. The linen work looks good.

[Ken Smith]

Stefan uses similar horizontal cleating and i've seen a similar button decoration on his website I think.

Actually, looking at the cleats, I think I'd be a bit wary of the really long horizontal spruce cleats working loose. The linen work looks good.

To me, this is typical Hungarian work. I have seen this in several basses and not by the same Luthier. Barnabas Racz is one of the best there (now with a shop in Berlin as well) and I think my bass above was done by one of his former apprentices. I have had basses come in that he had restored as well.

Have a look at his work; http://www.barnabass.hu/references_eng.html