old Viennese school bass

[Ken Smith]

After quite a bit of research I think this is really a Prague-made Viennese 'style' bass and not a Viennese made instrument. There was one Bohemian maker that worked for a short time in Vienna as well as other border places who finally settled in Prague. I found another bass from this maker that in detail, style and measurements, could easily be its twin. That maker is Joseph Anton Laske. I would usually go with school of origin or maker but in this case finding another bass that is its twin and labelled as well, I have to say 'attributed to' for lack of having an original label inside the instrument. In an auction house with a twin to compare it to, would more likely list it as "probably or possibly by" or, "IS BY" the named maker.

The details that match are the near exact shape, F-holes, measurements, scroll, pegbox fluting from the top and then flat all down the back, the top purfled and the back not and the back angle break position to name the main features. Of the 4 other Laske basses I have seen (pictured only), 3 of them, have the exact same scroll/pegbox as this bass. Only one is of this exact size and model within a few millimeters. Being over 200 years old, time, repairs and usage has added to its slight distortion of exact measurements. From condition alone, I would say this is the oldest of the 5 basses but in style, I think it's in the middle. The near twin to this bass is dated 1788 on the label. If I had to make a wild guess, I would date this to the same or a year before, about 1787.

I have sent some emails out to people in Europe that knows these types of basses well. When I first sent that pic of me playing it, they thought it was probably not Vienna but more likely from Prague. I should get some confirmation on this soon.

[Paul Warburton]

Whatever the hell it is, it's a beauty, Kenny.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Whatever the hell it is, it's a beauty, Kenny.

Thanks Paul. It was love at first sight. I just had to have it.

[Steve Alcott]

How's it taking to the steel strings? I ask out of curiosity because I know this bass well as a gut strung early music instrument.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve Alcott

How's it taking to the steel strings? I ask out of curiosity because I know this bass well as a gut strung early music instrument.

It is taking them like a champ. Although it was used previously with guts as you say, it was not that way when it was last acquired. Basses from this period regardless of origin ALL had gut strings originally and they are all over the worlds orchestras and stages now. I played on gut in high school because all of the basses there had gut. They were mostly old Juzek gambas (Langs?) then, probably pre-war because the basses were old in 1966 when I got there.

I have it strung currently with Passione regular gauge. Perhaps you could tell me how it sounded for normal playing when you knew the bass with guts on it?

It sounds pretty good now but until I take it on a gig, I wont know how it works in a section.

[Steve Alcott]

My impression of it was that it had a nice but not huge sound, good for early and chamber music.

I do know, BTW, that all basses had gut strings before the advent of steel and other non-organic materials.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve Alcott

My impression of it was that it had a nice but not huge sound, good for early and chamber music.

I do know, BTW, that all basses had gut strings before the advent of steel and other non-organic materials.

The sound now is pretty big but for a bass its size. Larger basses can have that thicker organ-like bottom. This bass I think still has more to give and is not small sounding in any way.

[Gregory Dale Beasley]

I know nothing of basses this old so pardon my ignorance. Do I see repairs to the top and back at some point? Or is that just age?