I started this thread to bring to light the Great English Basses Known and Unknown. I would like to keep the content to Basses before 1900 but if something interesting pops up throw it in and see what shakes.
I have owned 4 English Basses thus far with 3 of them still in my possession. I have also owned 4 Italian Basses in the past (two now) and I must say that my 4 English Basses match or surpass my 4 Italians.
I have a Bass that I acquired in 2005 and sold in 2006 that I wanted to ID. How many people here have seen English Basses Circa 1800 with 3-piece tops. The center piece is about 10" wide. The lower bout is 27.25" across. This is the first old English Bass I have seen with a 3-piece top. The ff holes are not centered evenly at all from the neck. One is 3/6" lower than the other. The nicks are sharp 'Diamond' like cuts that are NOT off-set but rather even across facing each other. The Scroll is another Great work of art like the Gilkes but completely different. Oh, and the Varnish is a beautiful Golden Brown Oil typical of Dodd and other English makers of that period. This is the Bass here;
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...d/DoddBass.htm
On a British Appraisal of the Dodd, it is mentions that it was used in the London Symphony (LSO), Royal Philarmonic (RPO) and the BBC Orchestra. The London Orchestras are known for their formidable sounding Bass section. My Dodd it the deepest most powerful Bass I have ever heard or played. Can you imagine a complete section of basses like this? That could be scary!
These are the other English Basses I have currently;
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...GilkesBass.htm
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double.../Hart/Hart.htm
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/MysteryBass/name_that_bass2.htm