Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Double Basses > Double Bass Talk in General

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-23-2009, 06:56 PM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default Vitruvian Man Photos!

Lamario's newest creation!

http://lamario.ca/lamario2009-vitruve.php?lang=english
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-24-2009, 04:27 AM
Joel Larsson Joel Larsson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-10-2009
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 67
Joel Larsson is on a distinguished road
Default

Wow, that's some fancy details there... I probably wouldn't have paid the extra cost for that - I mean, imagine constantly having a 3D copy of a genitalia (albeit of da Vinci design) resting towards your belly while playing? Maybe the extra masculinity is good for the sound, though...

Looks like a nice model, though. High upper corners are probably a treat for German players having trouble reaching the E, such as myself. Beautiful wood and workmanship throughout.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-24-2009, 01:36 PM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Larsson View Post
Wow, that's some fancy details there... I probably wouldn't have paid the extra cost for that - I mean, imagine constantly having a 3D copy of a genitalia (albeit of da Vinci design) resting towards your belly while playing? Maybe the extra masculinity is good for the sound, though...

Looks like a nice model, though. High upper corners are probably a treat for German players having trouble reaching the E, such as myself. Beautiful wood and workmanship throughout.
I think Mr. Quarrington mentioned owning this bass on his profile? I would like to know roughly how it is tuned. Is it perhaps tuned CGDAE? (High E)?

Please excuse my ignorance!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-24-2009, 06:51 PM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Putnam County, NY
Posts: 453
Arnold Schnitzer is on a distinguished road
Default

Amazing detail work as usual!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-25-2009, 02:24 AM
Jason Mendelson's Avatar
Jason Mendelson Jason Mendelson is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-27-2007
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 118
Jason Mendelson is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to Jason Mendelson Send a message via MSN to Jason Mendelson
Default

wow thats some amazing looking stuff...

great work...
__________________
Thump_
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-25-2009, 06:36 PM
Matthew Tucker's Avatar
Matthew Tucker Matthew Tucker is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-19-2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 427
Matthew Tucker is on a distinguished road
Send a message via Skype™ to Matthew Tucker
Default

Lamarre's sculpting work is as usual quite stunning. For me, the decoration under the button is most impressive and I really like his violin corners. I've never been keen on his choice of tuners though. For a bass of that class and expense, even though he decorates the peg ends, for me they don't seem to match the work.

I'd like to see more detail on how his adjustable tailpiece works!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-25-2009, 07:28 PM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Cool Tuners..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker View Post
Lamarre's sculpting work is as usual quite stunning. For me, the decoration under the button is most impressive and I really like his violin corners. I've never been keen on his choice of tuners though. For a bass of that class and expense, even though he decorates the peg ends, for me they don't seem to match the work.

I'd like to see more detail on how his adjustable tailpiece works!
Those are the new Rubners. I put a set with Ebony on my Batchelder about 6 years ago and they worked quite well. Not as finely tunable as Sloans or Krutz gears but nearly the best hatpegs I had seen. Great for changing strings as well.

You would be surprised at how many Italian makers put Hatpegs on the bases they made over the last 200 years as opposed to the better looking French or Baker style English gears that were available for the most part.

Maybe it's the wood thing they had in mind thinking mainly of the tone. The less metal, the better theory. You think? Even Sergio Scaramelli uses them today on his Basses. I have seen them up close and personal. They work just fine. Scaramelli also put rosewood Rubners on my martini back in 1999 when he restored it. Back then, I didn't like them so I changed them out for the Krutz. Looking back now, I would have left them on if I had it to do over again.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-25-2009, 09:13 PM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Putnam County, NY
Posts: 453
Arnold Schnitzer is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker View Post
I'd like to see more detail on how his adjustable tailpiece works!
The tailpiece rides up and down on a dowel inserted into a hole in the endpin block. A set screw between the endpin and where the saddle would normally be locks the height.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-26-2009, 12:46 AM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker View Post
Lamarre's sculpting work is as usual quite stunning. For me, the decoration under the button is most impressive and I really like his violin corners. I've never been keen on his choice of tuners though. For a bass of that class and expense, even though he decorates the peg ends, for me they don't seem to match the work.

I'd like to see more detail on how his adjustable tailpiece works!
I like the actual detail on the hat pegs but I hate the way the plate looks on the sides of the scroll...Seems like the "square" plates belong on a $2,000.00 entry level Asian instrument.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-26-2009, 01:03 AM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Lightbulb entry level Asian instrument?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks View Post
I like the actual detail on the hat pegs but I hate the way the plate looks on the sides of the scroll...Seems like the "square" plates belong on a $2,000.00 entry level Asian instrument.
Entry level? Have you ever priced those Rubner Hatpeg Gears?




Maybe some entry level basses are using some better gears then!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-26-2009, 05:18 AM
Matthew Tucker's Avatar
Matthew Tucker Matthew Tucker is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-19-2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 427
Matthew Tucker is on a distinguished road
Send a message via Skype™ to Matthew Tucker
Default

Well, i agree with you Calvin. Like wearing sneakers with a dinner suit.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-26-2009, 06:53 AM
Craig Regan Craig Regan is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-29-2008
Location: Pompey NY
Posts: 110
Craig Regan is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
The tailpiece rides up and down on a dowel inserted into a hole in the endpin block. A set screw between the endpin and where the saddle would normally be locks the height.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-26-2009, 10:15 AM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
Entry level? Have you ever priced those Rubner Hatpeg Gears?




Maybe some entry level basses are using some better gears then!
I wasn't referring to the hat pegs themsevles, just those square little plates that they rest on.

Take a look at the scroll on this bass...same style of those little square plates.

http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...n-Double-Bass/
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-26-2009, 11:59 AM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Cool Half Plates..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks View Post
I wasn't referring to the hat pegs themsevles, just those square little plates that they rest on.

Take a look at the scroll on this bass...same style of those little square plates.

http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...n-Double-Bass/
I agree with you on the plain ones on that Upton but the scroll and the bass itself is plain all over. They fit. Have a look at these and tell me how they meet your eye..ok?




Gears can be of the highest quality sometimes but the mounting design I think doesn't always match the quality of the Gear. I think the Sloans are one where the mounting looks way below their performance.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-26-2009, 12:04 PM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Question oh.. and..

How about these gears, should they stay or go? These same plates with Hatpegs are found on many old Italian basses. None of them were ever 'entry level' basses when the gears were installed or when the basses.

Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-26-2009, 08:11 PM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default

Ken, in regards to your basses, I do not like the look of the half-plates, but that's just me. I'm sure you could find 50 people that like one thing and 50 that like another. Regardless of the price of the instrument, half-plates (to my eye) are fairly ugly.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 07-26-2009, 08:43 PM
Tim Bishop's Avatar
Tim Bishop Tim Bishop is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-25-2007
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,274
Tim Bishop is on a distinguished road
Question Stay or go?

If they are fully functional, why consider changing them out?
__________________
Tim Bishop

Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-26-2009, 08:54 PM
Matthew Tucker's Avatar
Matthew Tucker Matthew Tucker is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-19-2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 427
Matthew Tucker is on a distinguished road
Send a message via Skype™ to Matthew Tucker
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
None of them were ever 'entry level' basses when the gears were installed or when the basses [were made].
Was there ever such a thing an an "entry level" bass 200 years ago? If so, what would they have used for tuners?
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 07-27-2009, 12:07 AM
Calvin Marks Calvin Marks is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-12-2008
Location: .
Posts: 268
Calvin Marks is on a distinguished road
Default

Can we get back to salivating over Mario's fine craftsmanship?
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 07-27-2009, 09:06 AM
Eric Hochberg Eric Hochberg is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-02-2007
Location: Winnetka, IL
Posts: 189
Eric Hochberg is on a distinguished road
Default

I don't love the look of the half plates, but don't mind them as much when they are tarnished or burnished as on the old Martini photo. When bright and shiny they seem kind of cheesy to me. I would prefer "cleaner" looking tuners with Lamarie's very intense and complex scroll carvings.
__________________
Eric Hochberg
erichochberg.com
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)