Anglo-Hungarian Double Bass by Ronald Prentice and Akos Balazs anno 2008 - #2773 |
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How come this instrument is a collaboration between a retired English maker and a young Hungarian maker? Yes - good question. In November 2004 The Contrabass Shoppe purchased a large quantity of English sycamore for the construction of double basses and cellos from Ronald Prentice - a retired English bass maker. Along with the wood and other various items purchased were two partially completed double basses. In 2008 - Tony Houska - the Director of The Contrabass Shoppe commissioned the young Hungarian maker Akos Balazs to finish the two instruments off. Hmm interesting. Exactly how partially complete was this instrument? This particular instrument consisted of an entire rib assembly complete with corner blocks, a two piece back and a pre-routed neck assembly. So still an awful lot of work to finish the instrument then? Yes indeed. Did Ron sell you any wood to make the table? No. Unfortunately he had already sold off his remaining stock of spruce sometime earlier. So where did you get the wood from to make the table? In the same month that the sycamore was purchased from Ron we were able to purchase several superb matching pairs of even-grained spruce from some Hungarian wood traders. We were informed by the merchants that the wood emanated from Bosnian and Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia) and that it had already been naturally seasoned for five years. So why did you give the work to Akos Balazs? Well simply because we think that he is a good maker and that his work represents excellent value for money. If you take a look through our web site - you will see several of his instruments that are either for sale or which have already been sold. Do you have any direct links to these instruments? Yes - try these:
Do you have any info on Ronald Prentice? Yes, Ron Prentice was born in 1932 in Bishop's Lydeard, Near Taunton, Somerset. He retired from making in 1998 and lives (Feb 2011) in Taunton. Where did Ron study making? Ron studied making with Karl Roy at the Mittenwald School of Violin making. He first started making viols - but then began to make more modern instruments when his work found favour with players in the London orchestras. After having a shop in London for a few years where he made and restored instruments he moved back down to the Taunton area so as to concentrate on his making without too much disturbance. How many basses did Ron make? During the 1970s-80s Ron became recognised as a specialist bass maker and regularly had a two-year waiting list for his orders. Ron is credited with a total output of 50 double basses. Most were produced using the inside mould and using excellent Sitka Spruce from Germany and English Sycamore. Did you ask Ron where he got his stock of Sycamore from? Yes - if you are buying wood to make instruments it is one of those questions that you do tend to ask. OK - so what did he say? "With regard the wood I bought a very large log from John Boddy in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire around 1975. When felled and trimmed the log measured 5.5m long and 1.22m in diameter. This was cut up for me at their saw mill and delivered to me in Somerset by their transport". A diameter of 1.22 meters is a really massive log. Did Ron need to acquire any more wood after that? Ron continued; "Yes - the following year somebody told me of a dealer who had some good logs in Scotland so I drove all the way up to somewhere near Inverness to see them. They were all felled and lying in a field. I checked them all by taking off bark samples, selected the best five and bought them. If I remember the logs were around 80cm in diameter. They were then sent to a sawmill in Norwich by train where they were cut up to my specifications. I then hired a lorry in Taunton and drove up to collect all the various blocks". How did Ron use the wood? "I kept all the finest wood for basses and cellos. The smaller pieces I used to make gambas, violins and violas. I sold off what I didn't want and burnt all the offcuts in the wood burning stove in the house. I made 50 double basses. Not all were swell back - because there were pieces for flat backs as well". So Ron was a fairly prolific maker? Yes - in the annals of more recent English bass making history Ron is a well recognised and respected maker. I'd be interested to learn some more about Ron. Is there anything in print available? Yes - Ron was featured in a well produced and highly informative book about professional violin makers in Britain. It was entitled "The Violin Makers - Portrait of a Living Craft" and was written by Mary Anne Alburger and first published in 1978 by Victor Gollancz Ltd, London (ISBN 0 575 02442 9). The book is particularly engrossing to read because the writing takes the form of actual interviews with the various makers, restorers and dealers. In Alburger's chapter about Ron - is there anything that you find particularly interesting? Yes - the paragraphs on Ron's bass playing days, his association with Karl Roy and his methods of varnishing are all really absorbing. However - if I had to pick out one thing - it would have to be his sentence regarding the pricing of his own instruments. This pricing would have been valid for the year 1977 or 78 when compilation of the book would have taken place prior to publishing in 1978. On page 111 Ron comments; "I charge about £920 plus VAT for a violin, £1000 for a viola, £1600 for a cello, and £2500 for an Italian-style double bass". Wow - with the then rate of 8% VAT added to the price - Ron's instruments really were a lot of money at the time. Can you put the cost of one of his double basses into some sort of context for me? Yes - Contrabass Director Tony Houska has the catalogue of a Phillips (now Bonhams) Musical Instrument sale that he attended on the 21st April 1977. There were four double basses in the auction. Buyers premium was not applicable at this sale so the prices shown are the hammer price.
Do you have any more price references? Yes - on the classified page at the back of the January 1976 "The Strad" magazine there are four double basses listed for sale as follows;
How would you say this double bass has turned out? The instrument has turned out very, very well indeed. What are the best aspects of the instrument? There are many aspects that you will like and appreciate as follows:
What about the sound? Full and rounded with a delightful amount of projection. Will the instrument suit me? If you are currently in the process of trying to get one of those coveted positions in an opera, symphony or chamber orchestra then the good looks and sound of this instrument will certainly benefit your cause. Can you provide a summary? To come across an instrument that has been started by one person and then finished by someone else who lives in a totally different country and who is of a totally different generation and background is definitely unusual. In this instrument we are pleased to say that the Anglo-Hungarian collaboration has worked out well above expectations. How about a final summary? This is an instrument that looks good, feels good and plays good. As such - this is an instrument that will appeal to a great many players. How about a final, final summary? This is an instrument that is destined to endure the test of time and ultimately become an antique of the future. Stats:
Price: £14 000-00 - Convert price with XE.com Personal Currency Assistant 
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