Thread: Re-born..
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Old 05-08-2012, 08:56 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Join Date: 01-18-2007
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Thumbs up Re-born..

Here is a Bass attributed to the Italian School c.1890 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.
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Last edited by Ken Smith; 05-10-2012 at 08:43 PM. Reason: Link added and text modified as the Ribs were made from old wood.
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