[Sam Finlay]

Hey Ken and Johannes,

First to Johannes:

It is a great bass for its size. But it is a smaller bass, so I'll understand if you look for a larger bass that "moves more earth."

I understand your feelings about bang for the buck, too. $10,000.00 is a lot of money, no matter who you are. We never allow consignees to inflate their asking prices and we always forward reasonable offers (no less than 20% off) from serious buyers. I think that, based on my "formula" for valuation the bass is prices reasonably, but I would be happy to pass on an offer for you, if you think that the price is too high. We do it all of the time.

And for Ken, we've bounced the Neuner name around and have not discounted. Because that shop employed so many craftsman and involved so many out-sourced parts, I doubt that we could honestly attribute it as such, but it certainly looks the part. It is even farther along now in its restoration and I am even more excited about its sound.

I've never seen a Tarr with linings exactly like yours. In fact, all of the Tarrs that I still have photos of have no linings at all.

I think that Arnold's work is carefully completed by one guy who also does a lot of restoration and set-up. He couldn't possibly make as many basses as Tarr or Prescott, thank God. We're lucky to have Arnold making high-quality, individual basses. And, in fact, if you ask me, we're living in the "golden age" of bass-making now. With makers like (I'm sure I'll forget one) Kai Arvi, Ed Maday, David Weibe, Stefan Krattenmacher, Seth Kimmel, The boys in Ohio (too many to remember the names of in one sitting), Roberto Salvianti, Martin Penning, Hannah Mayne, Hachez, Rumono Solano, The Krahmers (Poellman), The Gruenerts, Jean Auray, Patrick Charton, Christian Laborie, Sergio Scaramelli, and with what is going on still, today, in Cremona, the world's collection of basses is vastly improved. In a couple of hundred years when these basses are antiques, it is my opinion that their average will be far better than what we have access to today. You'll see.

Keep looking until you're happy Johannes. I look forward to seeing what you get.

Thanks for the forum, Mr. Smith. Hope to see you at our Open House on September 25.

Sam.