is this english?..

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

As you say Ken, machines change. Especially when basses change from three to four strings as all of these early nineteenth century English basses have done. The idea of Lott making his own machines comes, amongst others, from Tom Martin. As he's probably seen and played more top quality basses than anyone else on the planet, I tend to go with him!

Lott 'making' his own machines and 'having them made' as in subcontracting are two different things. Regardless of all he (Tom Martin) has played, I have my own beliefs and ideas. No one I know is with out fault or mistake in the old bass ID game, no one!

Study if you can the Life of the 'English Born' John Lott (b.1775-76 and christened in 1776 in London, a year after his parents were married in that same church) and see what you come up with on where and who he worked for. The ability to make Gears is not something you do in a wood-type shop. You just don't go make a set here and there!

His father was John Lott as well, NOT a violin maker and MAY have been from Germany so the whole Lott is German thing is totally false unless we are talking blood line! This was discovered on or about 1998 and printed in the book 'The British Violin' from the convention of that year.