a New Breed...

[Sam Sherry]

What traits do you think characterizes the work of the "new breed"?

How is their work different from that of their predecessors?

Or is it just a great thing that there are great luthiers working today -- and that's no small potatoes either!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

What traits do you think characterizes the work of the "new breed"?

How is their work different from that of their predecessors?

Or is it just a great thing that there are great luthiers working today -- and that's no small potatoes either!

By new Breed, I am referring to todays makers known and un-known that are hand-making Basses non-commercially and turning out some great sounding and great looking Basses not to mention extremely well made.

I have played new Basses by Jeff Bollbach (the "Lion" which is mine now, Arnold Schnitzer (5 or more of them), Nick Lloyd, Robbie McIntosh and several others that are just amazing Basses. I have also seen a few from Europe besides Pollmann that are no-named Italian Copies/Fakes that also sound fantastic but sometimes need some internal work. I will show one of each I now own. One is the "Lion" by Jeff and the other is labeled Bisiach which Jeff worked on and I hope he chimes in with his opinion about these European makers hiding in some closet over there.

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...h/Bollbach.htm
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...ch/Bisiach.htm

[Jake Newcomb]

Hi Ken,
The new forum is really nice. Thanks for the valuable online resource!
I just thought I'd ask, is your Bollbach bass for sale? If so, what are you asking?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jake Newcomb

Hi Ken,
The new forum is really nice. Thanks for the valuable online resource!
I just thought I'd ask, is your Bollbach bass for sale? If so, what are you asking?

You have a PM.

[Ken Smith]

Today I had the pleasure of playing several new and modern Basses over at Arnold Schnitzer's shop in NY. These include a 1978 Pollmann, 2002 Thomas Martin, 2003 Nick Lloyd, one of Arnold's earliest Basses (breaking in nicely), and a 20th century Bass by Oreste Candi. All of these Basses sounded great but the older 'Candi (the only Bass he ever made) was the 'pick' but at least 2x the price of the other Basses mentioned.

Of the New American Basses both Nick and Arnold's Basses sounded great.

Afterwards, Arnold, a bassist friend from Philly and myself went into NYC to hear Bill Blossom play Jeff Bollbach's #2 in an 'invitation only' recital.

Jeff, Arnold and Nick being friends also seem to make great Basses individually.