My Tucker ;-)

[Matthew Tucker]

Hi team

Proud to show off my new 2007 "Tucker" here, for those that don't visit the other place any more.




Here's what it sounds like, "in the brown". This is a rough recording, without setup, only a temp bridge, a quick soundpost set and no fingerboard work at all.

http://home.exetel.com.au/studio205/e107_f...s/sirente1a.mp3

http://home.exetel.com.au/studio205/e107_f...s/sirente2a.mp3

[Ken McKay]

Matthew,

That is great

I really like the looks of that bass.

[Mike Pecanic]

She's a beauty!

[Matthew Tucker]

Well, my Tucker is now finished:







More pics here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...09#post4298609

[JoeyNaeger]

Congratulations! It really looks beautiful. I've been following your progress since you first started so it's great to finally see it finished.

[Brian Gencarelli]

Matthew,

Congrats! You must be proud of yo tucker, cause it's one bad motherf.....!

INSPIRING!
Brian

[David Powell]

Gorgeous! And I am so glad you posted some sound files. Even if we are not all pro recording engineers with todays computer programs and generally good quality microphones it is possible to get representative recordings and sound after all is what it is all about.

[stan haskins]

Matt, good work. That thing looks great.

When are you going to start your next one?

[Matthew Tucker]

I'll start the next one soon as I have cleared a czech ply bass I have the top off for repairs. It''l be a cornerless model.

The sound files are crap, actually. I'll get some good recordings done - and arco - when i get the bass back from the woodworking show and have played it in a bit!!

[Michael Case]

Very nice bass, looks great and sounds great too.

[Matthew Tucker]

Well, at the risk of accusations of egocentric self-indulgence - and of boring you to death with yet MORE pictures of this bass - I'm posting these studio shots, as they are a bit better than the ones I took in a hurry when the bass was first finished.

Your bass looks wonderful. Congrats!

I'm curious about the f-holes (hopefully you haven't already explained this somewhere else). They seem long, wide, and quite close to the sides of the bass. What's the background for this design and your decision to use it?

[Matthew Tucker]

Well the simple answer is that was the shape and position of the FFs on this model.

But, I love 'em, I find the shape tres elegante and kind of why I chose this pattern to build. Now, I look at other basses and think gee, those are tiny FFs!!!!

There seems to be no reason why they cannot be so; a broad centre table maximises the connection to the upper and lower bouts, and the long ffs give lateral flexibility where it counts. The wood on the outside of the FFs does not seem to serve any acoustical - or even structural - purpose anyway, so a bit less won't hurt.

And ... big holes let big notes out

[Ron Lacey]

Matthew,

I've been following the building here and on the "other site" and all I can say is WOW. That is a stunning bass and seeing it come to life was a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing!

Ron

[Anselm Hauke]

hi matthew
the chinese copied your bass!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

hi matthew
the chinese copied your bass!

I thought it was made from Chandler Plans? Chandler had the attributed D.Parker Bass from the Elgar book re-attributed as an Amati and then sold these as Amati plans. This model is most likely a cut-down British Bass from the late 18th to early 19th century more so than anything Italian much less the slight possibility of it being the first 'confirmed' Amati ever found.

It may very well be Matthew's beautiful work that put the Chinese on to it but if they also think it's an Amati, the are climbing up the wrong tree.

I think it's flattery all around. It would be easy enough to contact them and ask what Bass they copied for this new model they are showing.

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I thought it was made from Chandler Plans? Chandler had the attributed D.Parker Bass from the Elgar book re-attributed as an Amati and then sold these as Amati plans. This model is most likely a cut-down British Bass from the late 18th to early 19th century more so than anything Italian much less the slight possibility of it being the first 'confirmed' Amati ever found.

i know, i was just joking

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I think it's flattery all around. It would be easy enough to contact them and ask what Bass they copied for this new model they are showing.

i did that already:http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=532991 , see post#11+12

[Arnold Schnitzer]

I have the original bass of this model on my workbench. I don't see anything about this bass that leads me to think it is English. I think it is Italian, old, with a replaced scroll and the body received a massive cut-down a long time ago. Even cut-down this is a meaty 7/8 size.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

I have the original bass of this model on my workbench. I don't see anything about this bass that leads me to think it is English. I think it is Italian, old, with a replaced scroll and the body received a massive cut-down a long time ago. Even cut-down this is a meaty 7/8 size.

I believe your opinion.. I have never seen the Bass in person myself. Only in a few pictures. Another dealer who has seen it recently thought it to be English as Elgar did or published it as. I have heard that it sounds fantastic. About how old would you estimate it to be?

[Arnold Schnitzer]

My guess would be that the bass is about 200 years old. The reasons I think it is Italian, as opposed to English: workmanship, wood, linings, etc. Especially the top wood: it goes from quartered to slab in the outer flanks, is pretty mediocre, and it has knots. I have not seen wood like this on an English bass. The scroll is magnificently carved in the Italian-style; the workmanship is so good I think it might have been done in England, which is where the plates and machines were likely installed. Also, the scroll volute has twisted out of plane. English makers did not dry their wood adequately (England is too damp), and this may have happened after the bass was subjected to central heating in Canada or the USA.