Broad Shouldered Italian Basses

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Nice bass. I like the FFs very much.

I don't get how the top could be made from a harpsichord top - if you mean harpsichord soundboard, then wouldn't it be way too thin to carve a bass top arching from?

I'm glad you're replacing the neck. I never did like that knurled knob :-)

Who's doing the restore work?

Yes Matt, I meant soundboard. The top inside a keyboard. I don't know what the thickness of the planks were for a Harpsichord 300 years ago but it was a piano restorer that made that comment. He is an friend of the restorer, Mike MaGee in Pittsburgh.

The pic from above is some of his work, the half-edging and the bass bar. Some fitting and trimming is yet to be done when the Top gets fitted to the Ribs.

[Matthew Tucker]

From here, that top looks a bit like a viol top, sometimes made from bent planks fitted together. So I guess it could be made from a harpsichord soundboard.

Incidentally my godfather is Andrea Goble of Robert Goble and Sons in England

http://www.gobleharpsichords.co.uk/index.html

When I was there a few years ago I was shown some very nice instruments ... and some LOGS of ebony!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

From here, that top looks a bit like a viol top, sometimes made from bent planks fitted together. So I guess it could be made from a harpsichord soundboard.

Incidentally my godfather is Andrea Goble of Robert Goble and Sons in England

http://www.gobleharpsichords.co.uk/index.html

When I was there a few years ago I was shown some very nice instruments ... and some LOGS of ebony!

If possible, have them research Cristofori who invented the Piano from the Harpsichord. I think it was just 5 octaves. Malvolti was his apprentice in violins and he had another for the keys.

Here is the article that connects it all.
http://arteliutaria.com/article_cristofori_scuola.shtml

Unfortunately, all of the violin books were written before this research was done. Prior to this article, the history on Malvolti was limited. Now we know that for most of his working life, he was employed between Cristofori and the Medici family. This helps to explain why so little of his work is known. Maybe 4 Violins I have heard of listed and this one Bass that appears to be made as much for show as to be played.