#1
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Italian Bass
I have recently acquired an Italian Chamber bass. Its had a new neck at some stage but the body looks pretty old . Comments and observations welcome!
Dimensions are: Top bout width 18 1/2 ins (470) Mid bout width 14 ins (360) Lower bout width 23 ins (580) Vert dim of C bout 9 1/2 ins (240) Rib depth generally 8 1/2 ins (210) Rib at neck 6 1/4 ins (170) Body length to base of button 39 1/2 ins (1000) String length 40 1/2 ins (1020) Photos to follow
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' Last edited by Peter Koyander; 02-14-2013 at 06:31 AM. |
#2
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Italian?
Please show the actual bass, Clear straight ID shots.
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#3
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' Last edited by Peter Koyander; 02-14-2013 at 08:04 AM. |
#4
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I have used a mirror to look inside and it has a carved bass bar integral with the top which at 7mm is what you might call 'robust'. The sound is pretty choked and there are a number of things that I would welcome opinions on.
1/. The neck stand is 21mm from the top to the underside of the fingerboard, and from the Top to the bridge between A and D, is 5 3/4 inches ( 142 mm ). So question is would a new raised fingerboard work wonders for the tone by introducing more tension to the top.
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' Last edited by Peter Koyander; 02-14-2013 at 07:19 AM. |
#5
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The bridge looks like it has been recycled from a 4/4 . The carved bass bar is lined up with the f hole on the very edge and looks to diverge from the centre line of the bass. There is no evidence of any deflection on the top either laterally or longitudinally . I have marked up the position of the bass bar with a china graph pencil and indeed the sound post. The centre / centre of the bridge feet is 4 1/2 inches ( 115mm) whereas the centre of the bass bar - centre of sound post is 5 3/4 inches (145 mm) - a difference of over an inch ( 30mm).
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' |
#6
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Strange looking bass. The corners, c-bouts FFs, back style, etc., all looks like different ideas thrown into one bass.
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#7
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reminds me of this: http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=1943
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#8
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yes..
Quote:
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#9
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Yes, it's unusual looking isn't it - a curiosity as to its background. ...any thoughts as to where to go next with this?
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' |
#10
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??
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Also, ask the shops over there like Tom Martin, Contrabass Shop and Thwaites. See what they think seeing the bass in person. The deep carved edges look modern Italian to me but the lower bout ratio makes me think this was not an experienced professional bass maker. Some of the work looks nice but if the makers idea was to make a 1/2 and 1/2 bass with a normal upper and squatted lower, this is what you have. Maybe it's even English! |
#11
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Hi Ken ,
Been a long while since I last posted. Here are some photos http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/pe...ml?sort=3&o=29 Dont know if any of this helps. Peter
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'To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.' |
#12
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??
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