History of the American Bass

[Ken Smith]

Here are the measurements of the J.B. Allen, 1841 as pictured in the 2004 ISB magazine.

Top length,........ 45 3/4"
Back to button,.. 47 1/2"

Upper Bout,....... 21 1/8"
Middle Bout,....... 16"
Lower Bout,....... 28 1/2"

Rib Depth inside the Purfling that hides the Top/Rib joint (floating Rib width):
8 1/4" at the bottom Block gently tapering to 8" at the angle break. Then tapering from 8" at the break to 7 1/8" at the Neck.

String Length, 42"

In reading the Article written about 5 years after the restoration, Robbie talks about the sound and how it has matured but states it's not loud bass! Currently, this bass is so loud than when I play it in my office with the other basses in the racks around it, it vibrates all of them more than almost any other bass I have with exception to the 4/4 Tarr and Panormo School basses. The bass is LOUD now, but in a sweet way as far as tone goes. The strings on the bass are Flexocor 92, put on in 1999. I am sure the bass can get even louder with different types of strings.