Info on Calvin Baker/Asa White

[Michael Cahill]

I stilll have mine and I think the third is still in Chicago. As far as I know, there's no label in mine. Carl's bass does not have outer linings but they look like cousins if not sisters, to me.

[Carl Egbert]

It's entirely possible that my bass used to have linings that were removed at one point. Not all of its ribs are original.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Carl Egbert

It's entirely possible that my bass used to have linings that were removed at one point. Not all of its ribs are original.

If the linings were removed then there would be a clear shadow all around the ribs. Also, the plates would be sticking over the ribs about twice as much unless it was made flush with no overhang. I do not see that in the pictures.

Michael, the bass from Chicago is no longer listed. I thought your bass was that same bass.

[Michael Cahill]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

If the linings were removed then there would be a clear shadow all around the ribs. Also, the plates would be sticking over the ribs about twice as much unless it was made flush with no overhang. I do not see that in the pictures.

Perhaps the builder decided to do without the linings on Carl's and not mine or the other.

Michael, the bass from Chicago is no longer listed. I thought your bass was that same bass.

Michael Hartery sent the link to the Chicago bass after seeing mine in person. So, that one is sold or off the market but there are three or maybe even more. Maybe we can meet sometime for a group photo.

[Mark Leue]

Hi, Sorry I haven't had a chance to generally introduce myself, but I am a luthier ( one of the Brotherhood of loosely associated bass luthiers of America)
who recently acquired an interesting American bass, which is missing its original top. There is an inscription on the back "Calvin Baker 1885"
The outline of the bass is similar to a Baker, but it lacks the distinctive work at the button, and the machine heads are obviously German commercial of the period, and the pegbox was built to follow the plates of those machines.
Baker's shop looks to have been a busy place in this time period judging by the large # of violins that have auction results, so I assume they may have employed a number of craftsman.
Anyway, I am seeking more info on, and photos of known Baker basses.
I acquired this bass in part because I am "warming up" for my first bass build after years of restoration work on basses and having made a number of violins under Karl Roy, etc. and was looking to make a top as a way of gearing up.
I am particularly hoping someone can get me photos of, or a tracing of Baker's F hole pattern if this turns out to be a Baker.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mark Leue

Hi, Sorry I haven't had a chance to generally introduce myself, but I am a luthier ( one of the Brotherhood of loosely associated bass luthiers of America)
who recently acquired an interesting American bass, which is missing its original top. There is an inscription on the back "Calvin Baker 1885"
The outline of the bass is similar to a Baker, but it lacks the distinctive work at the button, and the machine heads are obviously German commercial of the period, and the pegbox was built to follow the plates of those machines.
Baker's shop looks to have been a busy place in this time period judging by the large # of violins that have auction results, so I assume they may have employed a number of craftsman.
Anyway, I am seeking more info on, and photos of known Baker basses.
I acquired this bass in part because I am "warming up" for my first bass build after years of restoration work on basses and having made a number of violins under Karl Roy, etc. and was looking to make a top as a way of gearing up.
I am particularly hoping someone can get me photos of, or a tracing of Baker's F hole pattern if this turns out to be a Baker.

Mark, although it doesn't look exactly like the other C.Bakers I have seen (2-3 pictured and one of those in person and didn't know then it was Baker), it only looks slightly Germanic. The Arching of the back looks like his other basses and the upper back design is not typical German. The Asa White bass I played was similar as well to this but was a small bass, 1/2 sized I think but today called 5/8 for marketing. The handwritten name is a puzzle as I thought he branded and or labeled his work. So, I don't know if this is his bass but could be possible. Also, if the label was destroyed in a repair someone could have also written it to mark what the bass was.

It is also possible that the Scroll/Neck is German and used by him to save time or has been replaced since it was made. In that case, you have just the Back and Ribs that he may have made if the Top as you say is replaced as well.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

To me the C-bouts look kind of Yankee, not German. The head however is not by the maker of the corpus, in my opinion. It looks factory German.

[Michael Cahill]

Originally Posted by Michael Cahill

I stilll have mine and I think the third is still in Chicago. As far as I know, there's no label in mine. Carl's bass does not have outer linings but they look like cousins if not sisters, to me.

Here's another without the outer linings but with the button.

http://www.befr.ebay.be/itm/1870s-Ca...wAAOSwAYtWJZzP

[Carl Egbert]

That one is pretty much identical to mine, down to the label, although that one is in better shape and appears to be 100% original. Assuming it sounds as good as mine, whoever paid 5k for that got one hell of a deal.

[Shawn Charniga]

I have much, much better pictures of that bass pre-"restoration." The photos in the eBay ad are deceiving. The seller is not a musician; his late mother bought the bass from her teacher 50+ years ago.

Serious belly sinkage, paper-thin edges on the top plate, ribs spiderwebbed with old cracks, 1/8" back seam separation from drying out in a closet for decades (gotta love air conditioning) and a partridge in a pear tree. Oh, and one of the four machines is not original if you look closely. The best thing I can say about it was that the neck was straight, and the maple was beautiful. If you look closely at the label photo, whoever worked on it didn't bother to replace the center seam cleats when they jammed the back plates together and slapped them onto the ribs. It's barbaric.

I was in the bank lobby ready to do the wire transfer to the owner's account while I was texting with my buddy in Florida, who was going to pick the bass up and hold it for me. I knew it was rough, but when the photos started coming in showing the extent of its' problems, I called the seller to bawl him out.

The seller cracked and admitted that he got a $5k repair estimate several years prior, but kindasorta forgot to mention that to me. He was desperate for cash, because he needed to pay a fine to settle a legal beef and leave the state. I told him to screw, kept my money and ended up with a beautiful Solano. There's more shadiness to the story, but that's the meat of it.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Shawn Charniga

I have much, much better pictures of that bass pre-"restoration." The photos in the eBay ad are deceiving. The seller is not a musician; his late mother bought the bass from her teacher 50+ years ago.

Serious belly sinkage, paper-thin edges on the top plate, ribs spiderwebbed with old cracks, 1/8" back seam separation from drying out in a closet for decades (gotta love air conditioning) and a partridge in a pear tree. Oh, and one of the four machines is not original if you look closely. The best thing I can say about it was that the neck was straight, and the maple was beautiful. If you look closely at the label photo, whoever worked on it didn't bother to replace the center seam cleats when they jammed the back plates together and slapped them onto the ribs. It's barbaric.

I was in the bank lobby ready to do the wire transfer to the owner's account while I was texting with my buddy in Florida, who was going to pick the bass up and hold it for me. I knew it was rough, but when the photos started coming in showing the extent of its' problems, I called the seller to bawl him out.

The seller cracked and admitted that he got a $5k repair estimate several years prior, but kindasorta forgot to mention that to me. He was desperate for cash, because he needed to pay a fine to settle a legal beef and leave the state. I told him to screw, kept my money and ended up with a beautiful Solano. There's more shadiness to the story, but that's the meat of it.

If that bass walked in my shop, I might make an offer. Or, maybe not!

[Shawn Charniga]

If he would have been upfront with me about the estimate, I would have paid his $3k asking price and rolled the dice. Rewarding dishonest behavior with piles of cash seemed like a bad idea.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Shawn Charniga

If he would have been upfront with me about the estimate, I would have paid his $3k asking price and rolled the dice. Rewarding dishonest behavior with piles of cash seemed like a bad idea.

It's all about the bass, not so much pride or honor. If you like the bass for a price, get it and have it restored. Afterwards, it's all old news and no one will care!