Russellville, Arkansas
James Titsworth

Wood, metal strings
1984
Height: 78 inches
Strings – Lutes – Violin Family

Label on inside of body reads “James Titsworth, March 5, 1984 / Russellville, Arkansas.”

This unique matchstick bass was made by James ‘Jim’ Titsworth (1941-2014) of Russellville, Arkansas.  The materials used as you may guess is not what people would necessarily think of to transform into a musical instrument.  Matchsticks were invented by John Walker, a chemist in Stockton on Tees, UK  in 1826.

The bass comes from the collection of Morgan Rank of East Hampton, NY, where he ran an eponymous gallery until 2001.  There he displayed many of the folk instruments he collected throughout his travels in the United States.  This bass is well constructed and very playable.