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  #1  
Old 01-19-2007, 11:13 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Lightbulb a New Breed...

There is a new breed of Bass makers out there today. Although I have only played Basses by a few of the new Makers in USA, I have heard great things from many others even from competitor builders that happen to respect their colleagues.

The two Bass makers I am familiar with most is Arnold Schnitzer and Jeff Bollbach. Arnold and Jeff will chime in I'm sure and mention the other makers of note. In making handmade Double Basses, there are only so many one man can build.

Check out their websites and see what beautiful Basses they have made. Also, check out #4 from Jeff Bollbach with a handcarved Lions Head which is now in my possession. I call him 'Simba'.

http://www.aesbass.com/handmadebasses.htm
http://www.jeffbollbach.com/JB%20II/...llery/new1.htm
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...h/Bollbach.htm
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  #2  
Old 01-23-2007, 08:47 AM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
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Thanks for the mention, Ken. I'd like to nominate Daniel Hachez (#1 in the world now, IMHO), Nick Lloyd, and Robert McIntosh to be part of the "club".
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Old 01-23-2007, 09:00 AM
Sam Sherry Sam Sherry is offline
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What traits do you think characterizes the work of the "new breed"?

How is their work different from that of their predecessors?

Or is it just a great thing that there are great luthiers working today -- and that's no small potatoes either!
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  #4  
Old 01-23-2007, 11:59 AM
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Cool 'New' Breed..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Sherry View Post
What traits do you think characterizes the work of the "new breed"?

How is their work different from that of their predecessors?

Or is it just a great thing that there are great luthiers working today -- and that's no small potatoes either!
By new Breed, I am referring to todays makers known and un-known that are hand-making Basses non-commercially and turning out some great sounding and great looking Basses not to mention extremely well made.

I have played new Basses by Jeff Bollbach (the "Lion" which is mine now, Arnold Schnitzer (5 or more of them), Nick Lloyd, Robbie McIntosh and several others that are just amazing Basses. I have also seen a few from Europe besides Pollmann that are no-named Italian Copies/Fakes that also sound fantastic but sometimes need some internal work. I will show one of each I now own. One is the "Lion" by Jeff and the other is labeled Bisiach which Jeff worked on and I hope he chimes in with his opinion about these European makers hiding in some closet over there.

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...h/Bollbach.htm
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...ch/Bisiach.htm
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Old 01-23-2007, 03:10 PM
Jake Newcomb Jake Newcomb is offline
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Hi Ken,
The new forum is really nice. Thanks for the valuable online resource!
I just thought I'd ask, is your Bollbach bass for sale? If so, what are you asking?
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  #6  
Old 01-23-2007, 04:45 PM
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Cool Lion..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake Newcomb View Post
Hi Ken,
The new forum is really nice. Thanks for the valuable online resource!
I just thought I'd ask, is your Bollbach bass for sale? If so, what are you asking?
You have a PM.
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  #7  
Old 01-23-2007, 11:22 AM
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Thumbs up The "Club"!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
Thanks for the mention, Ken. I'd like to nominate Daniel Hachez (#1 in the world now, IMHO), Nick Lloyd, and Robert McIntosh to be part of the "club".
Well, Nick already signed up. I would love to see Robbie and Hachez here as well. Robbie I met last year at the VSA with you but Dan Hachez I only heard about and have been told he is top notch..

Please send them my way and I might just build a special room for your group!

Last edited by Ken Smith; 01-23-2007 at 02:31 PM. Reason: typo
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  #8  
Old 01-28-2007, 02:14 PM
Bob Branstetter Bob Branstetter is offline
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Default A Second for Daniel Hachez

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
Thanks for the mention, Ken. I'd like to nominate Daniel Hachez (#1 in the world now, IMHO
I couldn't agree more about Dan Hachez. I have not had the opportunity to play basses by Arnold Schnitzer or Jeff Bollbach, but of the ones I have seen and played, Dan's basses impressed me more than any other. His basses did not sound or play like a new bass. Wonderful workmanship. He sets the standard for everyone else.
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  #9  
Old 02-04-2007, 11:07 PM
Ken McKay Ken McKay is offline
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I got to spend a an hour or so in the makers competition room at ISB in Kalamazoo 2005. There were noteworthy basses there. My favorite for workmanship was either the Hatchez or Kramer. Soundwise I am not a good judge but Arnolds and Nick's won a certificate for tone, as did Kramer and one or two others.

Nick won a certificate for tone at this years VSA in Baltimore, so congratulations to him. And that should up his price

I believe David Wiebe should be added to the list of great makers.

Of those already mentioned, Jeff Bollbach's workmanship is scary good! Edgework, corners etc.. all of the best quality.

Anybody see a bass by Mike Magee? He used to live around here but moved to Pittsburg.
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  #10  
Old 02-05-2007, 05:17 AM
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Cool Speaking of Nick..

Speaking of Nick, I don't see his website listed in his profile so for those of you that have not seen his Basses, have a look; http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/
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  #11  
Old 02-05-2007, 05:18 AM
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davidseidel davidseidel is offline
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Default benedict puglisi

Well just for interest here is a 2002 bass hand made by Melbourne (Australia) luthier Ben Puglisi. It plays easy and sounds very good - full, even and and mellow.
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  #12  
Old 03-03-2007, 01:45 PM
Greg Vartian-Foss Greg Vartian-Foss is offline
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that's a nice looking bass. It would be great if people have pictures of these great new basses and pictures of their makers as well!
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  #13  
Old 01-13-2011, 05:08 PM
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Thumbs up better late than never..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken McKay View Post
Anybody see a bass by Mike Magee? He used to live around here but moved to Pittsburg.
Yes, I have and had it here for a short while to play and check out. It was a sweet sounding bass copied from an Old German bass that he now owns and that I have played beside in the studio as well as sub for the former owner. Catching my breath.. The bass was made in 2009 and shown at the ISB at Penn State so when you asked in 2007, the answer would have been, well.. No or not answered as it was..

He used American Sycamore (Lacewood) for the Back, Ribs and Neck/Scroll. It's a gamba shaped round back with modestly sloped shoulders, fairly deep ribs and a nice bold scroll. The bass played very easily, sounded great and had a very comfortable set-up. It was deep and dark sounding with Pirastro Permanents on it. I almost bought the bass but I had one on commission from Arnold already so I just showed it a few times before it went back. He made it as his personal bass and it's the first one he's made. I look forward to seeing that bass again as well as any others he makes going forward. Mike does good work!
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  #14  
Old 01-14-2011, 10:26 AM
Ken McKay Ken McKay is offline
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White Pine Log being cut in half to fit into the bandsaw.


The log just barely fit, in fact we had to trim some off.



Stickered to air dry




I check in here every now and then to make sure I haven't missed anything important and saw Ken Smith's post on Mike Magee.

I have been making guitars lately but am collecting wood and devising plans for my next couple double basses. I have some pine seasoning that I milled and a some photos that show the top wood being milled by my sawyer. White pine was good enough for some yankee makers and might be good enough for me. It is about ready to run some tests on weight, density, speed of sound, radiation ratio and a few other tests that might prevent me from making a BSO from it if it doesn't compare well to Bosnian or the other available spruce wood.

I am copying a William Tarr that is in possession at the Guarneri House in Grand Rapids MI. It is a very pedestrian bass, designed by Tarr who was a player and prolific maker. I have always leaned "Italian" but this is a work-horse and that is what I am after.
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