"Cornerless Italian & Spanish Basses"

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

I really identify with this! You lay a bass down and everybody seems to head towards it like a magnet! Some idiot violinist knocked my bass over at a gig recently. Funnily enough I'd gone to the bar to get her a drink - I was reluctant to leave my bass, but she was a guest at my 91 year old Aunty's birthday.

Richard, at the rehearsals I've done for my last 3 gigs I left the price tag hanging on the D tuner when I pulled the bass from the rack. One person looked and asked why it still has the tag on it. I said, so you know how much you owe when you knock it over!

On a more friendly note, the new pics are up now and we left the old page stand as well so people can look at both and compare if they wish; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/storioni/

[Richard Prowse]

Lovely looking bass!
Why did you put the little 'wolf tone' thing on the A string?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Lovely looking bass!
Why did you put the little 'woof tone' thing on the A string?

Well, the bass is so lively that the a string being the highest off the Top is the most powerful note and over-vibrates the bass somewhat. Depending on the string, the wolf is more or less. It is mainly noticeable with the Bow and open A or A harmonic. With lighter strings, it's barely noticeable.

I did an Orchestra concert and Chamber Gig without the eliminator and had no problem at all. Playing alone in the room though I can hear everything. When I stop playing, all of the other basses in the rack are making noise. This monster vibrates everything from the floor to the ceiling and the walls as well as everything in-between.

I had Original Flat Chromes on it first and didn't like them on this bass. Then I put some played-in Belcantos on and the bass improved 100%. Then I tried the Passione's and wow, the bass loves them. I used to use Flex 92s with a Stark 92E. The Bass loved those as well. I have yet to try 92s on the Bass post restoration but the Passione's are doing just fine. I also have a set of Jargar medium's coming in but until the Passione's wear out or wear out their welcome, the Jargar's will sit in wait. I find that this bass prefers lighter than heavier strings. I have to listed to what she tells me!

[Richard Prowse]

Well Ken, my Ab notes on E & A are a problem. Should I put my little screw on device back on? Say, on the A string?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Well Ken, my Ab notes on E & A are a problem. Should I put my little screw on device back on? Say, on the A string?

Try it and also try on the D. The Ab wolf is what I have now slightly. Much less in the way than the A natural.

[Brian Gencarelli]

Ken,

You must hold on to that bass at least until August! I am going to be in the North East early to mid July and need to play that one.

We are starting to plan the itinerary now, so I will be in touch to see when we could drop by the shop and take a test drive.

Best,
Brian

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Brian Gencarelli

Ken,

You must hold on to that bass at least until August! I am going to be in the North East early to mid July and need to play that one.

We are starting to plan the itinerary now, so I will be in touch to see when we could drop by the shop and take a test drive.

Best,
Brian

I must? Well, I guess that's an offer I can't refuse.

[Eric Hochberg]

Have you seen these interesting basses on the ISB site?

http://www.isbworldoffice.com/bass-sell.asp

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Have you seen these interesting basses on the ISB site?

http://www.isbworldoffice.com/bass-sell.asp

That bass is a short string langth (40.35", 102.5cm), where as my Scallopini is now 41 1/4" but was closer to 43" with the previous neck. The body length is also close to 44" on mine so despit the smaller look, its a regular 3/4 bass. Many of these Guitar basses are small in design but some of them are bigger full Orchestra sized basses.

I've seen the pictures but never had the bass in my hands. It's in Spain I think. I have seen pics of many Italian basses with outside corner blocks. These corners look rounded over and the outer corners probably glued on the one piece ribs. My Scallopini bass has tiny blocks outside and cornerless inside as well. I once had an old Italian bass in the shop to examine internally with outer glued on cornerblocks and it was all cornerless inside as well.

Nice idea but with the long single floating ribs on each side, besides the slight sound difference, I think it can pull more on the top and crack itself more easily than cornered basses. When the bass moves, something has to give. The ribs on my Scallopini bass (Marconcini school) hardly look their age. The top shows its age easily but the back is fairly healthy with mainly only a center seam repair within the last century.

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

with the long single floating ribs on each side, besides the slight sound difference, I think it can pull more on the top and crack itself more easily than cornered basses. When the bass moves, something has to give.

Another way of thinking about it, is that without the stiffening corner blocks, the whole assembly is more flexible, so when the top or back moves with humidity, so does everything else, meaning the top and back is less likely to crack.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Another way of thinking about it, is that without the stiffening corner blocks, the whole assembly is more flexible, so when the top or back moves with humidity, so does everything else, meaning the top and back is less likely to crack.

In a way Matt but the back woods if maple are more flexible than spruce or pine. Also, the pressure of the strings is directly on the top with some on the stronger back wood via the soundpost if a roundback without a center brace.

We don't know how the woods were aged in these old basses and with various thicknesses and designs, science is hard to apply here. I think 'in theory' is about as good as we can do. Then, hope for the best!

[Matthew Tucker]

my point, exactly! :-)

[Eric Hochberg]

Any comments on these also for sale on the ISB site? I'm not sure if you saw them.