Italian Bass

[Peter Koyander]

I have recently acquired an Italian Chamber bass. Its had a new neck at some stage but the body looks pretty old . Comments and observations welcome!

Dimensions are:
Top bout width 18 1/2 ins (470)
Mid bout width 14 ins (360)
Lower bout width 23 ins (580)
Vert dim of C bout 9 1/2 ins (240)

Rib depth generally 8 1/2 ins (210)
Rib at neck 6 1/4 ins (170)

Body length to base of button 39 1/2 ins (1000)
String length 40 1/2 ins (1020)

Photos to follow

[Ken Smith]

Please show the actual bass, Clear straight ID shots.

[Peter Koyander]

Click below for more photos

http://s1292.beta.photobucket.com/us...letts/library/






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[Peter Koyander]

I have used a mirror to look inside and it has a carved bass bar integral with the top which at 7mm is what you might call 'robust'. The sound is pretty choked and there are a number of things that I would welcome opinions on.

1/. The neck stand is 21mm from the top to the underside of the fingerboard, and from the Top to the bridge between A and D, is 5 3/4 inches ( 142 mm ). So question is would a new raised fingerboard work wonders for the tone by introducing more tension to the top.

[Peter Koyander]

The bridge looks like it has been recycled from a 4/4 . The carved bass bar is lined up with the f hole on the very edge and looks to diverge from the centre line of the bass. There is no evidence of any deflection on the top either laterally or longitudinally . I have marked up the position of the bass bar with a china graph pencil and indeed the sound post. The centre / centre of the bridge feet is 4 1/2 inches ( 115mm) whereas the centre of the bass bar - centre of sound post is 5 3/4 inches (145 mm) - a difference of over an inch ( 30mm).

[Ken Smith]

Strange looking bass. The corners, c-bouts FFs, back style, etc., all looks like different ideas thrown into one bass.