Double bass
Date1928-1934 ca.
Place MadeBuffalo, New York, United States, North America
ModelJoseph Maddy All-Aluminum String Bass
Serial No.316
SignedWritten in black marker on inside of back: 316MarkingsStamped on plates of lowest tuner on each side: GERMANYDescriptionAluminum basses were made for a short period from around 1928 to 1934 by ALCOA. They were initially sold through Carl Fischer as "Collegiate" models, and later with credit to designer Joseph Maddy, as the Joseph Maddy All-Aluminum String Bass. Maddy was one of the preeminent music educators of the period and founder of the Interlochen music camp. Around 500 of the basses were made, and after the plant in which they were made closed, C. G. Conn acquired and sold the remaining stock. Examples with original woodgrain paint finish in good condition, such as this one, are rare.The NMM has one other aluminum bass, NMM 1064, a copy made by G. A. Pfretzschner, Markneukirchen. The Pfretzschner basses were made differently and also have a wood neck and head rather than being fully aluminum like the Alcoa instrument.
Top: one-piece aluminum; sides crimped under ribs and soldered together
Back: one-piece aluminum; sides crimped over ribs and soldered together; arched
Ribs: aluminum
Head and neck: aluminum; light colored hardwood stained dark inserted in neck cavity
Varnish: dark red-brown paint in imitation of woodgrain; single black-painted line in imitation of purfling on top and back
F-holes: upper and lower wings joined to rest of top, the position of the normal gaps painted in black
Fingerboard: ebony; bevel at E-string
Nut: missing
Tailpiece: painted black hardwood
Tailgut: brass; passes through holes drilled in excess material on underside of tailpiece
Tuners: four brass machine heads with steel shafts and brass rollers
Saddle: none
Endpin: dark colored tropical hardwood, steel extension pin
Linings: none
Bassbar: aluminum, soldered on
Corner blocks: none
Top block: none
Bottom block: none
Other: light colored soundpost with green felt material on either end DimensionsTotal double bass length: 1870 mm
Top length: 1110 mm
Upper bout width: 524 mm
Center bout width: 357 mm
Lower bout width: 667 mm
Upper rib height: 155-187 mm
Center rib height: 189-190 mm
Lower rib height: 190 mm
Stop length: 600 mm
Vibrating string length: 1065 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 460 mm ProvenanceProvenance before ownership of Yankton Public School District is unknown.
Credit LineGift of the Yankton Public School District, Yankton, South Dakota, 2025
Object number16007
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