The Great English Double Basses

[Ken McKay]

Absolutely fantastic!!!!!

Nice restoration and congratulations on your new/old bass.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

Absolutely fantastic!!!!!

Nice restoration and congratulations on your new/old bass.

I used it for the Concert and I tell you, I could feel the Bass spreading wider by the second half of the Concert. We had 4 Basses in the section and when I dug in, I felt like I had left them at the starting gate. This Bass is truly in the upper class of high end Orchestra Basses as far as I'm concerned. It even has a nice funky sound playing Jazz Pizz and that's with regular Flexocors on it and used ones not doubt that I took off my Gilkes two months earlier!

[Ken Smith]

We are discussing Kurt's new Bass over on TB which was pictured in the Elgar book as an Attributed Daniel Parker Bass. While discussing it, two links about Devereux popped up. Here they are; One, and two. Also, here is the TB thread mentioned. I think all of this is important English bass history so I am including it here. It can also be duped here as well.

[carlopetro]

From this thread and the one you started on TB Ken I am noticing that English basses seem to have stamp on the back button. Is this a common trait for English basses? (City Year)

I also see you mention 'Linings', what exactly is a 'Lining'?

thx

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by carlopetro

From this thread and the one you started on TB Ken I am noticing that English basses seem to have stamp on the back button. Is this a common trait for English basses? (City Year)

I also see you mention 'Linings', what exactly is a 'Lining'?

thx

Well, this is quite common on English Basses and Violins as well made by them but not all makers used a stamp. I have also seen this on some Italian Basses but is quite rare in comparison. You also find quite a bit of Pencil writing inside the Basses from both Repairmen and Makers as well. I even see hand engraving/scoring both on the inside of the Basses and the outside as well if they fell like it.

Here's a few examples of markings on some English Basses. Please feel free to ask questions about any of the Basses shown here;

[carlopetro]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Here's a few examples of markings on some English Basses. Please feel free to ask questions about any of the Basses shown here;

Is that a Crown? (English -> Monarchy -> Crown) Having a stamp sure makes it easier to ID those basses eh?

The insert in the back button of the Hart is sure a classy touch!

I noticed a stamp of 'Birmingham' on one of the posts on TB. None of your bass's stamps bear the location but rather the maker. - Intertesting - I wonder why some would rather mark the location rather than the maker???? Did England have certain areas that where known for instrument making simalir to say Mirecourt in France.

I also wonder if English makers where concerned with a better way of identifying their instruments than paper labels that could be removed? I have seen books with collections of photos of Violin labels, I wonder if anyone has ever catalogued English stamp?

Mystery????

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by carlopetro

Is that a Crown? (English -> Monarchy -> Crown) Having a stamp sure makes it easier to ID those basses eh?

The insert in the back button of the Hart is sure a classy touch!

I noticed a stamp of 'Birmingham' on one of the posts on TB. None of your bass's stamps bear the location but rather the maker. - Intertesting - I wonder why some would rather mark the location rather than the maker???? Did England have certain areas that where known for instrument making simalir to say Mirecourt in France.

I also wonder if English makers where concerned with a better way of identifying their instruments than paper labels that could be removed? I have seen books with collections of photos of Violin labels, I wonder if anyone has ever catalogued English stamp?

Mystery????

On the Birmingham it is actually 2 lines that says (top) T.DAVIES - (bottom) Birmingham and stamped on either side, 18----98;

On the Hart, what ever was there originally was lost years ago so we made the new 'Coin' to mark the Bass and fill the empty hole.

On the Dodd (Crown?), the first Bass shown, I have no idea what that says in the upper Back. The two diamond shaped patches in the neck button were a from repair done ages ago.

Also, on my Gilkes is has the location as well as the name stamped by the bottom Block on the Ribs;

When stamped, the names are usually shown but on occasion the place might be under it but never without the name unless it's worn away or missing from a repair.