Talk of Fakes (or Antiqued newer Basses) came up......

[Ken Smith]

"Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive", Shakespeare.?

In the Morris book of British makes at the end of the chapter on BF Fendt II, he writes, and I 'quote';

"Oh what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!"

Slightly different but I never knew its origin 'till now.

The English made actual fakes over 150 years ago but we seem now to mainly point the finger at the Gypsy's. The Morris Book was written about a century ago originally. My book is an original second edition from 1920. At that point in time, the Fendt's were viewed as criminals for the most part. Today, we think of them as the most clever workman ever to work the British Isles. These are the sons of Bernhardt Fendt I. Also in that mix add the son of his pupil John Lott I which is JF Lott Jr. aka Jack Lott. Between the 2nd generation of London makers of the Fendts and Jack Lott, we have many a crooked fiddle roaming around. Some of the Basses made back then were antiqued as well but rarely. After 150-200 years, they are actually very old. My own Hart bass is from that era and looks ages older than my Violincello grade Gilkes Bass which was made with the most transperant high grade Varnish of its time. The crackled Red over the Gold makes the Hart look from a distance like a real Maggini, not just a model. I have seen a Kennedy Bass like this as well.

[Martin Sheridan]

Ken,
"Oh wad the power the Gifty gae us, to see ourselves as others see us"
Bobby Burns.

As in the other quote....don't quote me on that.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

"Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive", Shakespeare.?

In the Morris book of British makes at the end of the chapter on BF Fendt II, he writes, and I 'quote';

"Oh what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!"

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive."
Sir Walter Scott (the author), being an Englishman, spelt the verb form of 'practice' with an 's'.
Sorry, but detail is important.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive."
Sir Walter Scott (the author), being an Englishman, spelt the verb form of 'practice' with an 's'.
Sorry, but detail is important.

But to deceive, it must be spelled/spelt correctly, no?

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

But to deceive, it must be spelled/spelt correctly, no?

Ken, my dear friend, what the heck are you talking about?
Sorry, but I don't get your point.
And, I must add, how does having a winking blue guy assist my understanding? I mean, you might as well have someone performing souix war dance!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Ken, my dear friend, what the heck are you talking about?
Sorry, but I don't get your point.
And, I must add, how does having a winking blue guy assist my understanding? I mean, you might as well have someone performing souix war dance!

The quote in question was from an old book I have and made in reference to the Fendts that made many copies and forgeries of Strad and Guarnieri. To forge, you must make it correctly hence, spelling in your case..

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

The quote in question was from an old book I have and made in reference to the Fendts that made many copies and forgeries of Strad and Guarnieri. To forge, you must make it correctly hence, spelling in your case..

Sorry Ken, my dear friend.
"To forge, you must make it correctly hence, spelling in your case.."
Should I read this sentence more in context? I understand that the quote is from an old book. Where was the book written?
Did the author of this old book explain things with little faces? (I'm teasing with this one!)
So, to forge, you must get things right - is that what you're saying?
What is the spelling that you are referring to?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Sorry Ken, my dear friend.
"To forge, you must make it correctly hence, spelling in your case.."
Should I read this sentence more in context? I understand that the quote is from an old book. Where was the book written?
Did the author of this old book explain things with little faces? (I'm teasing with this one!)
So, to forge, you must get things right - is that what you're saying?
What is the spelling that you are referring to?

The Book is from England, the same place where the makers are he referred to. The word was practise (from 'practise to deceive'), spelled (spelt?) practice.

ok?

[Richard Prowse]

Harry Botham, ex LSO and principal of the NZSO in the very early 1960s, owned a Fendt. I hope my memory is correct here. I took a few lessons off him in the 1970s. He charged NZ$20, which included at least two glasses of Port Wine.