Show your Smith bass!

[Steve_M]

Hey Dave, fancy seeing you here Good luck in selling the TN6 I wish it could be mine. I should get get Ari and Gwylim from BW on here too, Ari's got a lovely TN5.

Ken have you seen the collection of instruments at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London yet?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Crazykiwi

Hey Dave, fancy seeing you here Good luck in selling the TN6 I wish it could be mine. I should get get Ari and Gwylim from BW on here too, Ari's got a lovely TN5.

Ken have you seen the collection of instruments at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London yet?

No, I barely get out for lunch much less out of the country. At the rate I am going, they will be sending people to view MY collection before long..lol.. Not.. But I wish..

[Steve_M]

Well, if you ever make it over there, they've got on display the giant 3 string double bass which was owned by Dragonetti and made by Gasparo da Salo. Allegedly it was used for performances of Handel's Water Music - its a complete monster. I can't begin to imagine what a performance on one of those must have been like.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve_M

Well, if you ever make it over there, they've got on display the giant 3 string double bass which was owned by Dragonetti and made by Gasparo da Salo. Allegedly it was used for performances of Handel's Water Music - its a complete monster. I can't begin to imagine what a performance on one of those must have been like.

Yes I have heard that before since about 40 years ago when I bought the Elgar books where the museum is mentioned along with one of Dragonetti's Basses. I think I have seen some pics posted as well on line taken recently inside the display area of the Museum. Thanks for the reminder, I'll keep it in mind if they ever let me out..

[Steve_M]

Can we expect a Smith double bass any time in the future?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve_M

Can we expect a Smith double bass any time in the future?

There have been Basses made in the UK 19th century by a Smith as there are a few listed that were violin makers BUT, as far as me goes, Nope!

I like my old Basses mainly as my personal preference. If I want a newer Bass, there are some great makers out there already doing it like Arnold Schnitzer and Jeff Bollbach which did make a beautiful Lion's head Bass which by chance, I now own.