History of the American Bass

[Ken Smith]

Here are the measurements of the J.B. Allen, 1841 as pictured in the 2004 ISB magazine.

Top length,........ 45 3/4"
Back to button,.. 47 1/2"

Upper Bout,....... 21 1/8"
Middle Bout,....... 16"
Lower Bout,....... 28 1/2"

Rib Depth inside the Purfling that hides the Top/Rib joint (floating Rib width):
8 1/4" at the bottom Block gently tapering to 8" at the angle break. Then tapering from 8" at the break to 7 1/8" at the Neck.

String Length, 42"

In reading the Article written about 5 years after the restoration, Robbie talks about the sound and how it has matured but states it's not loud bass! Currently, this bass is so loud than when I play it in my office with the other basses in the racks around it, it vibrates all of them more than almost any other bass I have with exception to the 4/4 Tarr and Panormo School basses. The bass is LOUD now, but in a sweet way as far as tone goes. The strings on the bass are Flexocor 92, put on in 1999. I am sure the bass can get even louder with different types of strings.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, I am putting on the finishing touches of the JB Allen 'page. Here's the Link if any one's interested. Enjoy..

[Tim Bishop]

Wow! That is just beautiful.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Very nicely done, Ken, with one exception: There is nothing Prescott-like in that scroll. It is totally unique.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Very nicely done, Ken, with one exception: There is nothing Prescott-like in that scroll. It is totally unique.

I see some similarities but the Allen is on another level.

The small step at the bottom of the Peg Box reminds me of Prescott.


Sorry for the size differences.

[Ken Smith]

As the story goes, the Prescott's with the lower rounded corners (or all of them) were copied from an old Mittenwald Klotz-scholl bass, so were the gear plates of the Allen bass as far as that loop at the top. To compare, look at the Allen beside 3 other old Mittenwalders posted here on the Forum;



Although not two plates on these basses are identical, they all have the rounded loop at the top.

So, mix a Prescott with a Klotz-school bass, refine it x10 () and there you have it, 'Americana' by JB Allen..

[Ken Smith]

I just spotted a 4th JB Allen bass on FB. (2nd from left with an extension)



I don't know who it is or what bass section but they are all nice looking basses.