Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) (http://www.smithbassforums.com//index.php)
-   Modern Handmade Basses (http://www.smithbassforums.com//forumdisplay.php?f=18)
-   -   my new Pollmann (SOLD) (http://www.smithbassforums.com//showthread.php?t=2592)

Ken Smith 03-19-2015 02:57 AM

my new Pollmann (SOLD)
 
4 Attachment(s)
This is my newly acquired Pollmann Busseto (Busetto or Bussetto, pick your spelling).

The Label mentions this being a 4/4 model. In Germany and Europe maybe, but in USA, we call this a 7/8 or full 3/4. The string length is only 40 3/4" (103.5cm). Plays so easily and the sound is HUGE.

Eric Swanson 03-26-2015 02:56 PM

Lovely! Looks as if the condition is very, very good!

Ken Smith 03-26-2015 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson (Post 27463)
Lovely! Looks as if the condition is very, very good!

It has a few repaired Rib cracks and some minor repaired Top cracks as well. The bass is solid. The Back and Sides are Anegre', not Maple. It is also lighter in weight than maple and very stable as well.

Anselm Hauke 03-26-2015 04:48 PM

Anegre vs. Maple: Do you think it´s equal regarding it`s quality as a tonewood and its longtime quality?

Ken Smith 03-26-2015 09:36 PM

Equal?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke (Post 27465)
Anegre vs. Maple: Do you think it´s equal regarding it`s quality as a tonewood and its longtime quality?

I think it's just another wood to use and very pretty. I have seen many Pollmann's with Anegre' before. One I had was mixed with the ribs Maple and the back Anegre'.

Basses can be also as you know in Poplar, Willow, Walnut (all kinds) as well as other hardwoods used for the back and sides.

All of the Pollmann's that used Anegre' had Maple necks.

I think the Anegre' was used there in the 70s and 80s. I have not seen his basses from before with it or after. Anegre' is now a valuable decorative veneer with flame figure so you probably can't get it in lumber now if you wanted to.

Anselm Hauke 03-27-2015 05:20 AM

Why do you think the Krahmers stopped using anegre?
Do you know any other luthier using it?

Ken Smith 03-27-2015 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke (Post 27468)
Why do you think the Krahmers stopped using anegre?
Do you know any other luthier using it?

Maybe, maybe, Michael (Krahmer) will tell you but I doubt it because it looks as if they used it in place or mixed with maple as if it 'was' a maple, which it is not. I have not seen it used before by anyone else.

My personal best guess is that a few logs came available thru a wood supplier there that imports from Africa (possibly Nagel Woods) and they/he (Gunther Krahmer) bought it and used it until it was all gone.

Here is the Pollmann I had that has the Back in Anegre' but the Ribs in Maple, well matched in color but the pores of the grain up close are not the same. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/pollmann/

I had a Cabinet maker over one day when that bass was still in my rack and asked him and he confirmed it was Anegre' on the back. I had seen it in veneer on a piece he has in his showroom and remember seeing it in a store on the cabinets in veneer and then knew for the future how to tell the difference. It is easy enough to google anigre' and see what the flamed material looks like. A dead ringer for maple to the naked untrained eye.

It is easier to use the wood and sneak it in under the radar as maple than to introduce a new species and try to educate people.

Eric Swanson 03-29-2015 06:54 PM

Offered as a non-luthiery woodworker...

We used to use Anigre (or Anegre) pretty routinely in architectural work. It was pricey, but used to be obtainable.

Many species are simply less available, now; Anigre is one of them. A short synopses is that a combination of deforestation and lumber companies' capacity reduction (caused by the recent, global, economic changes) has made some species pretty tough to get.

So, if this bass has Anigre sides and back, it is even more precious; it is made from a dwindling, rare resource!

Felipe Nicholls 06-10-2018 06:50 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Hello to Everyone!

I'm a big fan of Pollmann basses, I recentely spoted this 5 String. I want to see it and try it. I found strange the wood of the back and ribs, it doesn't seems like maple. And that’s how i came here, reserching what other wood's pollmann may have used.

The double bass has cracks on the ribs and on top.

I was wondering if this, anegre wood, have the same sonic quilities as normal maple (?) I suppose they wouldn't have used something that is not as good as what they use work with? Looking pretty is one thing, sound is.other....

I've heard that this basses from this perÃ*od, are not as good, compared with their past work.

thank you for your attention!

Felipe

Ken Smith 06-10-2018 04:34 PM

2 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Felipe Nicholls (Post 28214)
Hello to Everyone!

I'm a big fan of Pollmann basses, I recentely spoted this 5 String. I want to see it and try it. I found strange the wood of the back and ribs, it doesn't seems like maple. And that’s how i came here, reserching what other wood's pollmann may have used.

The double bass has cracks on the ribs and on top.

I was wondering if this, anegre wood, have the same sonic quilities as normal maple (?) I suppose they wouldn't have used something that is not as good as what they use work with? Looking pretty is one thing, sound is.other....

I've heard that this basses from this perÃ*od, are not as good, compared with their past work.

thank you for your attention!

Felipe


I can't blow up the pics but looks like maple but low figured. Anigre is different. My pics here is Anigre, ribs and back. The neck is maple..

Felipe Nicholls 08-11-2018 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Smith (Post 28215)
I can't blow up the pics but looks like maple but low figured. Anigre is different. My pics here is Anigre, ribs and back. The neck is maple..

Hello !

Thank you for the answer Ken!

Indeed when you look the double bass, the back wood looks not so clear, I find difficult to see the details of the wood...

Ken, by low figured maple, you mean low quality?

Ken Smith 08-11-2018 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felipe Nicholls (Post 28267)
Hello !

Thank you for the answer Ken!

Indeed when you look the double bass, the back wood looks not so clear, I find difficult to see the details of the wood...

Ken, by low figured maple, you mean low quality?


Low figure means only less visible tiger stripes. Not quality but visual.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:03 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)