My Tucker ;-)

[Arnold Schnitzer]

I have the original bass of this model on my workbench. I don't see anything about this bass that leads me to think it is English. I think it is Italian, old, with a replaced scroll and the body received a massive cut-down a long time ago. Even cut-down this is a meaty 7/8 size.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

I have the original bass of this model on my workbench. I don't see anything about this bass that leads me to think it is English. I think it is Italian, old, with a replaced scroll and the body received a massive cut-down a long time ago. Even cut-down this is a meaty 7/8 size.

I believe your opinion.. I have never seen the Bass in person myself. Only in a few pictures. Another dealer who has seen it recently thought it to be English as Elgar did or published it as. I have heard that it sounds fantastic. About how old would you estimate it to be?

[Arnold Schnitzer]

My guess would be that the bass is about 200 years old. The reasons I think it is Italian, as opposed to English: workmanship, wood, linings, etc. Especially the top wood: it goes from quartered to slab in the outer flanks, is pretty mediocre, and it has knots. I have not seen wood like this on an English bass. The scroll is magnificently carved in the Italian-style; the workmanship is so good I think it might have been done in England, which is where the plates and machines were likely installed. Also, the scroll volute has twisted out of plane. English makers did not dry their wood adequately (England is too damp), and this may have happened after the bass was subjected to central heating in Canada or the USA.

[Calvin Marks]

The very tall, long body and f-holes reminds me of Chris Threkeld-Wiegend's (sp!?) basses.

Very nice. What kind of tailpiece is that?

[Matthew Tucker]

If you're referring to my version of the Chandler/Parker/Amati/Corky/Muroki bass, then the tailpiece is a plain maple tailpiece I made myself. I am now a little tired of the blond tailpiece look, and will soon replace it with a heavier blackwood model.

I have no idea what tailpiece is used on the chinese version.

I lookes up Chris Threkeld-Wiegend's website

http://heartlandsbs.com/gallery2/main.php

I'm not sure his MOP inlays are to my taste, but there you go. And he uses some very odd arching styles. I wonder how they sound?