a New Breed...

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Thanks for the mention, Ken. I'd like to nominate Daniel Hachez (#1 in the world now, IMHO

I couldn't agree more about Dan Hachez. I have not had the opportunity to play basses by Arnold Schnitzer or Jeff Bollbach, but of the ones I have seen and played, Dan's basses impressed me more than any other. His basses did not sound or play like a new bass. Wonderful workmanship. He sets the standard for everyone else.

[Ken McKay]

I got to spend a an hour or so in the makers competition room at ISB in Kalamazoo 2005. There were noteworthy basses there. My favorite for workmanship was either the Hatchez or Kramer. Soundwise I am not a good judge but Arnolds and Nick's won a certificate for tone, as did Kramer and one or two others.

Nick won a certificate for tone at this years VSA in Baltimore, so congratulations to him. And that should up his price

I believe David Wiebe should be added to the list of great makers.

Of those already mentioned, Jeff Bollbach's workmanship is scary good! Edgework, corners etc.. all of the best quality.

Anybody see a bass by Mike Magee? He used to live around here but moved to Pittsburg.

[Ken Smith]

Speaking of Nick, I don't see his website listed in his profile so for those of you that have not seen his Basses, have a look; http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

[davidseidel]

Well just for interest here is a 2002 bass hand made by Melbourne (Australia) luthier Ben Puglisi. It plays easy and sounds very good - full, even and and mellow.

[Greg Vartian-Foss]

that's a nice looking bass. It would be great if people have pictures of these great new basses and pictures of their makers as well!

[davidseidel]

Guess what? I don't have his photo .... but you can look at some of his basses:
http://www.benedictgpuglisi.com/gallery/horizons.html

[carlopetro]

Any thoughts on current European or Canadian bass makers?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by carlopetro

Any thoughts on current European or Canadian bass makers?

Which ones? Assuming we are talking about individual makers and not brands or shops.

Pick a Bass or two or three by a maker, post it here and discuss it rather than taking blind shots at random Basses.

Kai Arvi is a nice maker in Canada as well as Jim Hamm and Lamario. For Europe, pick a country!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

Anybody see a bass by Mike Magee? He used to live around here but moved to Pittsburg.

Yes, I have and had it here for a short while to play and check out. It was a sweet sounding bass copied from an Old German bass that he now owns and that I have played beside in the studio as well as sub for the former owner. Catching my breath.. The bass was made in 2009 and shown at the ISB at Penn State so when you asked in 2007, the answer would have been, well.. No or not answered as it was..

He used American Sycamore (Lacewood) for the Back, Ribs and Neck/Scroll. It's a gamba shaped round back with modestly sloped shoulders, fairly deep ribs and a nice bold scroll. The bass played very easily, sounded great and had a very comfortable set-up. It was deep and dark sounding with Pirastro Permanents on it. I almost bought the bass but I had one on commission from Arnold already so I just showed it a few times before it went back. He made it as his personal bass and it's the first one he's made. I look forward to seeing that bass again as well as any others he makes going forward. Mike does good work!

[Ken McKay]

White Pine Log being cut in half to fit into the bandsaw.


The log just barely fit, in fact we had to trim some off.



Stickered to air dry




I check in here every now and then to make sure I haven't missed anything important and saw Ken Smith's post on Mike Magee.

I have been making guitars lately but am collecting wood and devising plans for my next couple double basses. I have some pine seasoning that I milled and a some photos that show the top wood being milled by my sawyer. White pine was good enough for some yankee makers and might be good enough for me. It is about ready to run some tests on weight, density, speed of sound, radiation ratio and a few other tests that might prevent me from making a BSO from it if it doesn't compare well to Bosnian or the other available spruce wood.

I am copying a William Tarr that is in possession at the Guarneri House in Grand Rapids MI. It is a very pedestrian bass, designed by Tarr who was a player and prolific maker. I have always leaned "Italian" but this is a work-horse and that is what I am after.

[Ken McKay]

Speaking of The Guarneri house:
Aaron Reiley is a second generation Double Bass maker who is fluent in double bass design. He makes basses that are very playable and well made.

[Ken Smith]

I have seen 3 models from Tarr. One was a flat back Gamba northern English style. One was similar but looked German to me, not English but possibly made on contract and finished by Tarr and two Basses with Violin Corners and flatback, 100% Tarr's work and one of them from the Halle Orchestra where he played if not both of them. He made 9 basses for that Orchestra of record.

Can we see this proposed Tarr bass? I almost bought one last year but an old Italian came available and put the money in that one instead. In time and if available, I might still get that Tarr is it's available when I have the funds to do so.

[Ken McKay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akQUx8HMPI

My plan is to copy the flat back like Christine Hoock plays. It has a large lower bout, gamba corners wide-ish ribs.

I am not sure if Aaron still has the Tarr at Guarneri but I will check. I have the outline and some measurements. I doubt I will copy the scroll, cause I got my own style.