ISB Rochester, June 2013

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Robert J Spear

Greetings, Ken, All-- Stop down and see me at my humble booth in room 120. Look for Singing Woods Violin Shop. You'll be amazed! You'll be terrified! But you won't be bored!

Terrified? Probably not unless you walk in my room with Tools..!!!!

I will be bringing (as of this date);

The Panormo school bass
The JB Allen bass
The J.T. Hart bass
The Mougenot bass
The Marconcini school bass
The Bollbach Lion bass

Robert, my booth will be a partial lesson in Bass history as well as a class in Restoration study. Two basses here were restored by Arnold Schnitzer, two restored by Robbie McIntosh, one restored by and one made by Jeff Bollbach. These are 3 of the top Luthiers around today doing 'violin grade' level restoration work. Re-restoring basses that were previously done to a lesser degree is a huge challenge when trying to correct and erase some of yesteryear's work and bring the instruments back into its original state but modified to today's standards as 4-string basses as well. Three of the basses listed above were born/made as 3-string basses. Two them still retain their original 3 gears and plates with thoughtful modifications to add the 4th string.

So Robert, you will not be bored in room 404. I can promise you that!