Pollmann Busseto.. (SOLD)

[Ken Smith]

I just got in a beautiful Pollmann Busseto Bass with all the ornate carvings. I have played many Pollmann Basses in the past but this one is just about the best I have seen and played. This one may be a keeper for me. It's easy to play and pleasant to listen to. It's also beautiful to look at. I will get a Page up on the web next week and post a few pics as well over here.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, as promised here are some preview pics. The rest can be found on the Bavarian Beauty page.

[Eric Swanson]

That's a beauty! Thanks very much for sharing the photos.

Nice scroll. Nice, light finish. I dig the lightweight tuning machines, too. The materials, fit, and finish look really high-quality.

Do you reckon that the carving was done by hand, all done by CNC router, or roughed with a CNC and detailed by hand?

Congratulations!

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

Do you reckon that the carving was done by hand, all done by CNC router, or roughed with a CNC and detailed by hand?

what do you think of honest bavarian craftsmen?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

what do you think of honest bavarian craftsmen?

In speaking with Arnold Schnitzer recently he told me about his trip a few years ago to visit the Pollmann shop and met with Ralph & Michael Krahmer the makers. The man that has been doing the 'Ornate Carvings' on these Basses for the last 30+ years is getting very old now and it may not be going on much longer.

I borrowed a 5-string of this same model a few years ago but made by the father Gunter Krahmer in 1977. Tonally, it was not as good as this Bass. It was carved the same way. I don't know what type of tools he/they use for this but I have been told it's done by hand.

For educational purposes, email Pollmann and ask them about this special 'Carved' model and maybe they will explain it better. Report back with your findings, please!

[Eric Swanson]

I dig the lightweight tuners, hard. The obvious benefit of steel/brass, and a fine gear ratio without the dampening mass or weight to lug around. Reminds me of drilled-out bicycle components.

My creaky hat peg tuners are light and relatively non-dampening, but what a coarse, hateful, jerky, creaky action they have - ugh.

I love seeing such clever solutions!

Regarding the carving, it may well be a hand job if they have one guy who does it all day. In my business, high-end architectural woodwork and furniture, when I apprenticed, larger shops usually had one or more carvers, who did nothing but that. These folks were fast AND good...take a talented person and have them do something endlessly and they are bound to get good (or go nuts, or both).

I'll email the firm and see what they say, sharing what I learn, if anything.

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

For educational purposes, email Pollmann and ask them about this special 'Carved' model and maybe they will explain it better. Report back with your findings, please!

ken, if you mean me to do this: sorry, no.
i did the same for david powell some time ago, and it seems to me that emailing and providing information is not the favorite activity of the kramers...

maybe you have more sucsess than me

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I borrowed a 5-string of this same model a few years ago but made by the father Ralph Krahmer in 1977.

Gunter, not Ralph