William Tarr (b.2/21/1808 ~ d.7/10/1891)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Nathan Parker

I like it. What it lacks in symmetry, it makes up for in character. Visually speaking, that is. I have no idea what it sounds like.

It would be hard to describe unless we have both together heard the same basses that we can compare it to.

The sound is thick and organ like but sweet on top, not dry at all. It also sounds old and relaxed. My Panormo is similar but not as 'wet' in the sound. Both are silky though but describing sound is like describing taste. Not so easy as we all perceive things individually. The Tarr to my ears has more of a melodic Italian tone across the full range of the bass. The Panormo is maybe more floor shaking and sweeter on top but dryer in the middle.

The flat back of the Tarr along with its slightly reduced size feels to me easier to play and get around than the Panormo mainly because I am more of a 3/4-7/8ths player than a 4/4 huger. The slightly wider bouts don't seem to be a problem either considering its size as compared to the 4/4 Panormo which was also slightly reduced at the Block and in its length.

Still, if left with only one bass to play, I would welcome either the Panormo or Tarr with open arms. Opened a bit wider than usual..lol

[Ken Smith]

I just received the Tailpiece that was taken off the Tarr when converted back to 4-string from the previous 5-string modification. There is an extra smaller hold drilled for the A string that is just under the Brass inlay.

There is a lower brass circle with mother of pearl inlay at the bottom still intact plus an empty cutout from a missing crest at the top plus a center inlay partially filled in. I would love to know what was in there. Always a mystery..

[Matthew Tucker]

Interesting about the lack of internal back braces. In a Lott bass I have been studying here, the cross braces (apart from the centre brace) are only about 1cm tall and wide. The back's in reasonable condition. Perhaps cross bracing isn't as necessary as we think? Certainly won't keep a centre seam together if it wants to open up. When i think about it, the main reason i'm putting braces in my current build is to give the flat back a bit of convex "shape".

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Interesting about the lack of internal back braces. In a Lott bass I have been studying here, the cross braces (apart from the centre brace) are only about 1cm tall and wide. The back's in reasonable condition. Perhaps cross bracing isn't as necessary as we think? Certainly won't keep a centre seam together if it wants to open up. When i think about it, the main reason i'm putting braces in my current build is to give the flat back a bit of convex "shape".

Let the Back open if it needs. If over braced and the center can't open, something else will open or split.

Can we see that Lott? Are those the original braces in there?

[Matthew Tucker]

Not great photos I'm afraid:

Lott:



bracing at the break:



And in the lower bout. Looks original to me, but I didn't open up the bass to look closely.



Perhaps the bracing is a little bigger than 1cm but I was surprised when I looked inside how insubstantial it all looked.



Whitehead extension:

[Ken Smith]

Back on the Tarr subject, I just brought it home last night from Arnold's with its new chromatic C-Extension, beautifully made and mounted if I may add. With the Season just about over, I might try it on one of the summer concerts and see how I get around it. I just have to do a few personal tweaks with the set-up, as usual.

As soon as I can get my son Mike to take some pics and get the page up, I will fill in its data and have it posted on line. This particular Tarr is a piece of British history.

[Ken Smith]

In doing the C-Extension the Plates and Gears were removed from the Bass. The Plates have fused housings for the Gear shafts to slide in to. One Gear might be an old replacement but the one with the milled shaft was done to put a fifth gear around the shaft inside the pegbox as the bass was used as a 5-sting for quite some time and then recently converted back to 4-string.

My Panormo School was also a 5er at one point modified with a 5th gear at the TP and the ball end of the string anchored in the pegbox. I have also seen two old 3-string basses modified to 4-strings that way as well. One was a Prescott and one a beautiful Goffriller that I tried to buy when I was younger. Both those bass had their original 3-gears in the pegbox. The Panormo still retains its original plates and the 3 original Baker gears, with a 4th one added later, not quite matching 100% but close enough. The original center hole in the plates from its 3-string days is still visible under the gears.

I just thought it would be interesting for historical purposes to show that while Baker gears (and a few others in his time) flourished in London, the Manchester school up north headed by Tarr had their own metal works of art. Side by side, the Tarr gears win as the most beautiful I have seen combined with their plates.

Note: Pictures courtesy of Arnold Schnitzer.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I just received the Tailpiece that was taken off the Tarr when converted back to 4-string from the previous 5-string modification. There is an extra smaller hold drilled for the A string that is just under the Brass inlay.

There is a lower brass circle with mother of pearl inlay at the bottom still intact plus an empty cutout from a missing crest at the top plus a center inlay partially filled in. I would love to know what was in there. Always a mystery..

I have decided to repair and re-inlay the original Tailpiece and put it back on the Tarr where it belongs. We will use regular Mother of Pearl to fill the 2 emblem cut outs that are now empty. We have no idea what was in there originally because I have never seen another original Tarr tailpiece but if so, not from that early period.

[Eric Swanson]

Nice idea. Thanks for sharing your process...it is quite interesting to watch it all unfold.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, we just published the Page and lightened up the pics a bit. Enjoy..

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/high.html

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/tarr/

[Brian Gencarelli]

This bass sounds like a whole section by itself. I still can't get over how deep it sounds!

Nice pics!
Brian

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Brian Gencarelli

This bass sounds like a whole section by itself. I still can't get over how deep it sounds!

Nice pics!
Brian

Yup, it's a floor shaker. Also, easier to get around than a few other basses I have that are actually smaller in size and with a 41 1/2" string length, it's easy on the left hand as well.