Features: This Bass was written up in ISB's Bass World in 2004 by Robert McIntosh five years after completing the restoration in 1999. The Bass still has its original varnish which was cleaned and polished during its restoration. The tuners and plates are also original but with a 4th tuner for the 'D' added parallel to the 'A' tuner that shares a split shaft. The Back crossbars were replaced in the same manner as the originals.
This Bass was commissioned by the 'Congregational Church of Enfield', Connecticut and was completed in 1841, but the Church had moved to a new location by 1849. It is believed that the Bass was packed up around the time of the move but never un-packed and played again. Having the original Neck saved here, we can see that some of the Shellac finish had been worn off in one spot from playing, but the rest of the Neck looks untouched. Perhaps they lost their bass player as well at that time? In 1999, 150 years later, at a Furniture Auction in New England, this Bass showed up for sale still strung with its original 3-gut strings as if it had been in storage all that time. The Bass was well dried up from being stored without any care or concern to weather or humidity, and had several Top and Rib cracks that had never seen Glue before. There was evidence of some Rib repairs earlier but being such a long time ago, that may have been during the first years of its life. The Bass was then brought into the shop of Robert McIntosh to restore and convert into a playable modified 4-string Bass.
Note: The workmanship, condition and masterful restoration of this Bass by Robert McIntosh in 1999 has to be one of the finest specimens ever seen in the combined categories. The sound & beauty of this Bass matches its other attributes as well. |
