Features: Although all of the components of the Bass seem to be original, the mix of woods used are almost as unusual as the instrument itself. The Top as mentioned above is one/1 piece in the center with very fine grain in places but cut across the 'pith' of the tree as well. Extensive repairs were performed to support the pith areas as well as a thru-patch at the bottom under the tailpiece as there were several voids in the wood as well. With a complete Top pressing to return the shape to its original form along with a beautiful internal breast patch for more of the lower half of the Top, this Bass is probably in the best shape ever in its life. From a soft deadish tone pre-restoration to a full punchy deep and clear sounding Bass post-restoration, all of the extensive work performed was a success.
The back of the bass is a flamed Walnut. The original Neck which was grafted into the Neck was matching walnut to the Back. The Scroll and Ribs are matching maple as well. So, the Neck and Back were matched Walnut and the Scroll and Ribs were matched Maple. A first for me. Looking over the unusual way in which this Bass was made it seems to have been made by someone that was of mixed training in both Guitar and Violin making but in his early training. Some of the work is beautifully done and some it looks like it was done on a learning curve. The shape of the Corners and Pegbox look elementary and the Top and Back plates are un-purfled. The F-holes, Scalloped blocks, Scroll and the Arching of both the Top and Back are beautiful.
When this Bass was first shown to a well experienced dealer in Basses he mention that the Scroll looked similar to two others he had seen that were stamped or branded 'Lod Parisini'. Last year while this bass was still in restoration I had the chance to examine one of those basses and the Gears plates were engraved 'Lod Parisini , Bologna 1813'. The style of the Bass was very similar with a roundback and angle break. The FFs were different and the Scroll was only similar at best. So, was Lod Parisini the maker of that Bass, maker of the Gears or, just a Player that had his name on the Gear Plates as there is no listing anywhere of that makers name I could find. Then, I showed pictures of the Bass to an Italian Bass dealer and he said it looks like from Bologna, the same city as the Lod Parisini. Coincidence maybe? So, I started looking at all of the makers from the estimated period around the year 1800 +/- that made both Violins and Guitars. The only name I could find to match was Luigi Marconcini who made Violins, Lutes and Double Basses, some of which are labeled Luigi Marconi, a name found only in Double Basses and believed to by Marconcini. Luigi started out in Bologna and later moved to Ferrara where his son Giuseppe also made Basses and is reported to be a pupil of Storioni. After looking at a few Basses by either his son Giuseppe Marconcini including one Guitar model Bass or attributed to the Marconcini family or School, I have to attribute this Bass in that direction. The name "Marconcini' used here is only to put a basic origin to the Bass and not an attribution of pedigree. More than anyone, I would like to know who made this very unusual, handsome and fine sounding Double Bass. I welcome any comments the readers here may have, Ken Smith.
Note: Fully restored by Robert McIntosh NY, 2009/2011. |
