In 1934 The H. N. White Company started making string instruments with the same attention to quality that was used to make brass instruments. The H. N. White Basses quickly gained a reputation for their superior tone but also for their unbelievable quality. The First string instruments appear in White Way News Number 7 (1934) and were of the King brand only. In 1936 (White Way News Number 9) The American Standard string bass appears. The string basses fronts were made from the finest straight grain spruce with very close grain quality, while the rest of the instrument was made of curly maple. Each bass was equipped with an improved geared key mechanism, insuring rigidity and sensitive tuning. The H. N. White Company claimed that each "King string bass has a greater volume of tone, and carries the vibrations over a longer period of time, than any other string bass..." Production of both the King and American Standard versions were halted during the Second World War. Production resumed for the King string bass in 1946, and the American Standard Bass in 1949. Both brands continued in production until 1965. At this point it is my understanding that Mr. Ernie Long (who was also the head of the Case Department) was also in charge of the String Department.
After 1965 the string division of the company was sold off to the Kay Bass Company.
