GA Pfrezschner -- want advice on value/restoration

[David McKinney]

I'm giving serious thought to going through with restoration...


Ken, I was wondering if you could give some detail on the tonal improvement you experienced with your similar bass.


I'd like to hear any changes you noticed, but in particular I'm curious if the bass developed more power and spread in the bottom...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by David McKinney

I'm giving serious thought to going through with restoration...


Ken, I was wondering if you could give some detail on the tonal improvement you experienced with your similar bass.


I'd like to hear any changes you noticed, but in particular I'm curious if the bass developed more power and spread in the bottom...

Well, on the Morelli Bass I really have no idea. When I bought the Bass, it was falling apart, the sound posy lying loose on the bottom and not strung up. The first time I heard the bass was after the work was completed. The tone was beyond any German Shop bass I had ever heard. Arnold;s comment to me was "you can play this bass in the New York Philharmonic"!

I played one big concert with it doing Beeth 5th. The low C ext. notes were clearly heard on stage. At one other dress rehearsal one of the other players in the section commented "that low C is the resonant frequency of the Stage' as it shook the floor.

If the bass is of good dimensions, good quality wood and then modified and restored skillfully then you will have a better sounding bass in the end from what you started with.

One of the Basses I own that I DID know its sound before the restoration was improved remarkably. It was a good sounding bass before it went under the knife. It came out a great sounding bass when the job was done. The spread and bottom was improved to a large degree on this bass. In the two years since the job was done I have notice even more improvement in the sound each year as well.

I do not know your bass personally so it's hard to tell from here what you might expect. What I can say is that a bass in its best possible condition including graduations is better than if left alone in disrepair or as-is from the factory. At this point, the fate of your bass is at the hands of the Luthier doing the work!

[David McKinney]

Thanks for the reply Ken...much appreciated.


Now I need to find a great luthier on the west coast, ideally the pacific NW coast, or nearby canada.


Suggestions much appreciated...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by David McKinney

Thanks for the reply Ken...much appreciated.


Now I need to find a great luthier on the west coast, ideally the pacific NW coast, or nearby canada.


Suggestions much appreciated...

This is like surgery. Pick only the Doctor you can talk with and trust 100%. Once they put you to sleep, they have total control.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

This is like surgery. Pick only the Doctor you can talk with and trust 100%. Once they put you to sleep, they have total control.

Ken, when I snap my fingers you will awaken...then you will find a pen and paper. Now write out a bill of sale for your J. Hart bass, transferring ownership to me for $25. Now sign it. I'll be down in the afternoon to pick up the bass. One...two...three...SNAP!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Ken, when I snap my fingers you will awaken...then you will find a pen and paper. Now write out a bill of sale for your J. Hart bass, transferring ownership to me for $25. Now sign it. I'll be down in the afternoon to pick up the bass. One...two...three...SNAP!

I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..
I'm sleeping and I can't get up..

But, when I do wake up, I will let you adjust the soundpost for the Hart.

I bet in 1830, you might have been close on the offer but today.. naaah.. Keep dreaming..

Hey, for $25, I'll give you the original Corner Block that came out of it and for $50, the old Tailblock..

I save these things..

[David McKinney]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

This is like surgery. Pick only the Doctor you can talk with and trust 100%. Once they put you to sleep, they have total control.

Yep, this is why I'm hoping you or Arnold or someone else on the board might have a rec for someone one the west coast who can be entrusted with such a job...