Guitar and Pear-Shaped

[Ken McKay]

I have asked myself a lot of the above questions about the cornerless bass I am making now. Since I don't have an actual specimen that I am copying I am going by the old trusted method of seat-of-the-pants. My side cross braces are going to be minimal so as not to impede movement. I am just getting back to it now after a bunch of repairs and student set ups.

My side wood is giving me some problem with unintentional bumps, but I am ironing them out with some luck.

Arnold, did you use regular lining on the ergo or did you beef them up on the lower bout?

[Ken Smith]

I am in the process myself on closing a deal on my first Guitar shaped Bass. This will be for my personal use. Soon after my Hart/Fendt comes out of restoration, this Bass (if I get it) will go into restoration right behind it if Arnold can take the job. Then we can study it and see what made this one sound so great if possible.

This posting is a bit premature but I am confident I will have the Bass soon. I will not discuss what Bass it is until all the ink has dried and it's in my personal possession.

Hey, do we call these Bass Guitars?

[Ken McKay]

NOOO NOT BASS GUITARS Those are the silly things we first saw on MTV Unplugged, a big acoustic guitar that is supposed sound good unamplified.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

NOOO NOT BASS GUITARS Those are the silly things we first saw on MTV Unplugged, a big acoustic guitar that is supposed sound good unamplified.

Kidding... Look, in a few days or so I should have this newly acquired Italian Guitar shaped Bass. I will post some pics for all to see probably in 'This Old Bass' section. The title of the thread will be the name of the maker the Bass has been attributed to. I will post a message here as well but with a link to the new thread.

I just thought that a Bass with a Guitar shape could at least be humorously called a Bass Guitar. It needs a lot of work but the fretboard looks good from what I recall.. LOL.. Fingerboard!!!.. kidding..lol

[stan haskins]

Does it have a fancy headstock?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by stan haskins

Does it have a fancy headstock?

Yea, you can say is does. Wait till I post the pics. It's coming home tomorrow.

Edit: Tomorrow came!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Yea, you can say is does. Wait till I post the pics. It's coming home tomorrow.

I just posted this on the d'Salo Thread. I will make a page for my website in the next day or so and then post the link or pics. It needs a huge restoration but it is playable now. If I don't play it as much as I can now, it could easily be a year before the Bass is fully restored not to mention settled back into its old sound again.

I have posted a new thread for this Bass under the Italian School titled Cornerless Italian Bass as this is a perfect example of how the Italians stood alone on making some of the greatest Basses ever.