Pollmann violone

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by David Powell

My Pollmann doesn't have a visible mark inside or out as it was not made as a Pollman model Bass but rather a custom design Italian Model for Wil de Sola made by Gunther Krahmer of Pollmann. It has a hidden Label in the upper Top marking the Bass as such.

[David Powell]

Ken, it is amazing the similarity in the color of varnish and degree of flame in the maple and the orientation as well. I'm tempted to see if we can pursuade Anselm to inquire (I do not know the language well) to find out which maker at the Pollmann shop built the violone. The shop owner speaks of him as "Pollmann" which he pronounces "Pellman". He told me an interesting story that for his privacy's sake, as well as brevity, I will not repeat. But it makes me think this was an elder maker actually named Pollmann, and not Krahmer. It's a hunch, I'm not certain. I just don't know much about the specific makers. Seems I saw something in a Lemur catalog but I don't think I still have that.

What you tell explains why your Pollmann impressed me at first as being somewhat more delicate in design that most Pollmann basses I've seen. The Alexandria model is quite delicate, but most while beautiful are a bit on the bold or masculine side design wise. Yours is very light and elegant looking. I'm still amazed me at the consistency of the varnish and flaming. But these were built about the same time so I suppose the maple stock may have been the same. If we cropped the photos to just the join line and the flame, these could pass for the same back.

[Anselm Hauke]

david,
it´s no problem for me to ask the krahmers about "your" violone.
i was i contact with them regarding some others basses not long ago.
you could post or pm me your questions and i call/mail them.
but maybe it will take some days because i will be out of town for a concert this weekend (sat-tuesday).
(or you could test their english if you mail them: info@poellmann-contrabass.de )
anselm

[Ken Smith]

http://poellmann-contrabass.de/indexframe.htm

Click 'Family' on the top of the page.

I have been told that all the Engraving work is done by a separate person than the one making the Basses.

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I have been told that all the Engraving work is done by a separate person than the one making the Basses.

same story that i know. an old man from the cabinet-maker branch, sitting in a corner of the workshop and carving the flourishes

[Anselm Hauke]

when i was working as an employed orchestra-musician years ago, the solobassist of the orchestra had a pöllmann 5-stringer (ca. 1920 iirc), one of the best 5ers i´ve ever played.
i must have been made by max pöllmann. all pöllmanns i´ve seen from this time were really good instruments.

[David Powell]

Yes, Anselm, please do ask for me. There is no need to hurry. Even though it isn't my Pöllmann just yet, and might get away if I wait, I am interested in the man who made it. The carving details are consistent with the designs featured on other embellished Pöllmann instruments. I guess it would be somewhat unusual for an instrument like that to be completely made by one person. It doesn't diminish my interest in this instrument or the craftsmanship to know they have a skilled specialist doing the embellishment. Enjoy your concert tour and we will see about it when you return.