Kind of bass Paul Chambers, et al played

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jay Kilbride

Do you know the background of these three basses appearing from Scotland, Ken? Be interested to know if I am familiar with any of the folks involved. Ray Brown's "book" bass (according to local musicians who were around at the time) was bought from a local jazzer named Ian Brown (Brownie) when Ray was playing the Apollo theatre in Glasgow.

I was told that it was purchased from Hill in London as an Amati and bought for him by his wife then who was Ella Fitzgerald. Maybe he bought it in Scotland and Hill appraised it? I don't know as I wasn't there. Only, I can tell the stories that I have heard. On the 3 basses, not Ray's (that's the 4th), all of them had fake Italian labels in them. One was Testore that we know of and 2 were made up names that never existed. I have seen and played the one with the Testore label. Great bass but British to my eyes.