The best doublebasses available are those made by a solo luthier by himself or with the help of an assistant or two. These instruments are quite often custom made to the specific requirements of a customer or represent one of a small number of models that the luthier has chosen to represent his or her own lineup. Aside from very expensive vintage master level doublebasses from Europe, these instruments offer the highest level of craftsmanship and materials in a professional level doublebass.
|
|
||
| 1963 Pollman 7/8 5 string with exquisite woods | See the listing on the "Older European Basses" page. | |
|
|
||
| ca. 1920s 7/8 Hawkes Concert model | See the listing on the "Older European Basses" page. | |
|
|
||
| Early 20th century 3/4 Andreas Morelli "Artist DeLuxe" model | See the listing on the "Older European Basses" page. | |
|
|
||
| 1994 Mario Gallegati |
A fine 3/4 violin corner carved back instrument from this accomplished italian maker. Medium grain stiff Spruce top, Moderately flame figured Maple back and sides, Medium flame figured Maple neck, Single unit Rubner hatpeg tuners with Rosewood posts, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Goetz adjustable aluminum rod endpin, Separate tailpiece attachment endpin, Belgian style adjustable bridge by Scott Marshall, Medium orange oil varnish. DIMENSIONS are: Top length 44", Upper bout width 19 1/2", Middle bout width 14", Lower bout width 26 3/4", Depth at tail 8 7/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 3/4", Depth at neck 7 1/2", String length 40 1/2". The rich and sophisticated arco voice has a large and penetrating quality, unexpected with such an easy playing short string length. A superior choice for a soloist or a smaller player. With cover. | $12,500 |
|
|
||
| 1936 Francisco Manuel Fleta modified 7/8 | Carved back Francisco Manuel
Fleta (1890-1981) started his Barcelona violin and cello
shop with his two younger brothers in 1915. Trained by
Benito Jaume in Barcelona and in the mid-1920s by Phillipe
Le Duc in France, his instruments were successful and the
line expanded to guitars and both flatback and carved back
doublebasses. Younger brother Ignacio became a celebrated
classic guitar maker. This slightly pear shaped bass shares some dimensions associated with 3/4 instruments in the string length, top length, and widths in the upper and middle bout. The wide lower bout and deep ribs are solidly in the 7/8 range. This instrument demonstrates Fleta's signature size and shape. Mildly flame figured Maple sides and back with gentle, full arch and cross hatching decoration in the button area loop, Medium grain Spruce top with medium arch and graceful F-holes, Very mildly figured Maple neck with characteristic scroll, Replacement Rubner single unit tuners, Recent ebony fingerboard, Recent bridge with wooden adjusters, Ebony tailpiece, Goetz endpin, Dark red-brown varnish. DIMENSIONS ARE: Top length 41", Upper bout width 19 3/4", Middle bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 27 1/2", Rib depth at tail 9 1/2", Rib depth at lower bout corner 9", Rib depth at upper bout corner 8 3/8", Rib depth at neck 7 5/8", String length 41". Some profesional crack repairs on top and back. The voice has a rich and free Italianate response. An especially fine arco instrument. Currently strung with Evah Pirazzi weich strings. With Mooradian cover. |
$22,500 |
|
|
||
| 2006 Andrew Pitts Small 3/4 Gamba flatback | Another fine bass by Andrew Pitts, this instrument shares some features of the 5/8 solo model that was here three years ago (shown in the "previous Offerings" section). Medium grain Czech spruce top, Moderately flame figured Czech Maple back, sides, and neck, Single unit hatpeg style tuners with cello style knobs (see photos), Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Despiau bridge fitted with adjusters, Carbon fiber adjustable endpin, Lightly varnished with medium orange oil, French style taper from tail to neck with no upper bout bend, Plates are cut flush with the sides, Leather bumpers added to treble side. Dimensions are: Top length 41 7/8", Upper bout width 18 7/8", Middle bout width 12 3/4", Lower bout width 24", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at lower bout corner 8", Depth at upper bout corner 7 3/4", Depth at neck 6 1/2", string length 41 1/4". The voice is rich and powerful, in spite of the moderate size. A fine solo bass or chamber orchestra instrument. With cover. | $11,250 |
|
|
||
| ca. 1840 French 7/8 carved back | According to Jon Peterson, this unlableled fine orchestra bass originates from Paris, rather than Mirecourt, most probably made 1835-50. The modified cello form was used by such makers as Claudot, Maucotel, Derazay, and Jacquet and made popular by some of the basses ordered and sold by J.B. Vuillaume. Beautiful medium grain spruce top covered with hazel figure (hazelfichte or bearclaw figure), Tiger flame maple sides and carved back, Probably a replacement german 4 string neck (ca. 1900-1910?) with brass halfplate tuners from that period, New ebony nut and fingerboard, New bridge made by Gael McKeon as part of the comprehensive setup, Older boxwood tailpiece, Older aluminum adjustable endpin, Original luminous orange varnish over golden ground. Slightly darker reddish orange varnish used on the replacement neck and some older repaired or worn areas. Dimensions are: Top length 44 1/4", Upper bout width 21 1/4", Middle bout width 14 3/4", Lower bout width 26 7/8", Rib depth at tail 8 1/4", Rib depth at lower C bout corner 8", Rib depth at upper C bout corner 7 7/8", Rib depth at neck 6 3/4", String length 42 1/8". Just a few well repaired top and back cracks. More extensive crack repairs and a few small patches on upper and lower bout sides. Center bout sides are relatively undisturbed. The added fifth string gear has been removed from the bass side plate. The button area of the back has a top notch professional graft using a ship lap joint. The voice has large and penetrating presence, ranging tonally from a lush quality on the bottom to complex and singing clarity on the top end. A fine orchestral instrument. With Reunion blues cover. | $35,000 |
|
|
||
 New Roberto Giormenti Orchestra Bass Prototype #2 |
With a beautifully made C extension, this Argentine made doublebass serve the needs of an orchestral player on a budget. Moderately flame figured Maple back, sides, and neck, Hand made brass and steel single unit tuners, Beautiful handmade C extension with rosewood stops, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Cable style tailpiece, High quality Maple bridge with beautifully handmade adjusters, Amber finish varnish finish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/2", Upper bout width 20 1/2", Middle bout width 15", Lower bout width 27", Depth at tail 9 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 7 5/8", String length 42". With a colorful arco voice already, this bass will soon develope into a fine workhorse orchestral instrument. With cover. |
$9950
|
|
|
||
2003 Barrie Kolstein Lorenzo Carcassi model |
This great orchestral doublebass was
made by Barrie Kolstein for exhibition at the 2003 ISB
convention in Richmond, VA. The consigning owner recently
moved to the east cost and very reluctantly leaves this
bass behind. Willow back and sides, Slab cut Fir two piece
top, Flatback, Maple neck with large italianate scroll,
Heavy brass single unit tuners, 1 15/16" (5 cm) nut width,
Ebony nut and thick fingerboard, Generous neck profile, 41
7/8" (106.4 cm) string length, Kolstein adjustable bridge.
Kolstein Ebony adjustable tailpiece, Kolstein endpin,
Thinly applied antiqued dark reddish brown oil varnish,
Flexocore strings. Dimensions are: Top length: 45 3/4"
(116.2 cm), Upper bout width 19 3/4" (5-.2 cm), Middle
bout width 16 1/8" (41 cm), 25 1/8" (63.8 cm), Depth at
tail 9 5/8" (24.4 cm), Depth at upper bout bend 8 3/4"
(22.2 cm), Depth at neck 5 7/8" (14.9 cm). The narrow
lower bout and significant upper bout break angle make
this bass very easy to play standing or on a stool. The
Willow back and sides, slab cut Fir top, wide center bout,
substantial neck and fingerbaord dimensions, and
substantial top and back plate dimensions all contribute
to the gigantic sound of this bass under a bow. It would
be difficult to find another relatively new doublebass
with a stronger orchestral presence. This instrument
remains in pristine condition. With black Mooradian cover.
|
$22,000.00
|
|
|
||
Previous offerings
|
|
||
1926 Otto Rubner gamba shape 3/4 carved back |
An especially fine sounding example of Otto Rubner's early work. Josef Rubner (1864-1927) Started the Markneukirchen family bass making business and was best known for his large orchestral basses. Otto Rubner (1885-1963) built this modern shaped 3/4 size instrument with sloping shoulders in the family shop a year before taking over the business upon the death of his father in 1927. Mildly flame figured maple back and sides, Scroll grafted flame figured Maple neck, Individual french style tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Dyed hardwood tailpiece, New Maple bridge with adjusters, Gotz aluminum shaft endpin. Dimensions are: Top length 43", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 14 3/8", Lower bout width 25 7/8", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 3/8", Depth at neck 6 3/4", String length 42 1/8". Old repairs include crack repairs, some finish repair at the edges, and the scroll graft. Recent procedures by Matt Bohn include: Neck reset (with the new shorter mensure), new fingerboard, and the endpin and tailpiece installations. The bridge and final setup were performed by Mike Olivola. This bass responds easily to a bow with a very colorful and complete mature voice that is quite expressive all the way through the upper registers. It's also a good pizz instrument with Spirocore mittel guage strings. A very nice old handmade bass brought into modern playing specifications. With cover. | |
|
|
||
1973 Custom Aerts 5-String violin carved back |
|
|
|
|
||
1999 Dominic Zuchowicz 7/8 "Montagnana" model |
Another great doublebass from celebrated
Ottowa viol maker, Dominic Zuchowicz. I had this bass made
for me during the wild days of the "dotcom" boom and had
to sell it in 2003 during the dark aftermath of the
"dotcom" bust! The consigning owner is now concentrating
on playing chamber music on a much smaller bass. The
general dimensions were taken from an original Montagnana
bass used in the Toronto symphony. Mildly flame figured
Western Maple back, sides, and neck, Carved back with low
postion break angle in the upper bout, Beautiful even
grain medium stiffness Engelmann Spruce top, Long
italianate scroll, single plate gold finish Rubner tuners
wiwth ebony barrels, 1 3/4" (4.4 cm) nut width, Thick
ebony fingerboard, Adjustable bridge and latest setup by
World of Strings' Jon Petersen, Ebony tailpiece, String
length 41 7/8" (106.4 cm), Luminous antique dark orange
varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 46" (116.8 cm), Upper
bout width 20 1/2" (52.1 cm), Center bout width 15 1/4"
(38.7 cm), Lower bout width 27 1/4" (69.2 cm), Depth at
tail 8 7/8" (22.5 cm), Depth at center bout 8 1/2" (21.6
cm), Depth at neck 7" (17.8 cm). The generally
medium-light build and the low italian style top arching
provide a free response and a rich, mature voice for both
pizz and arco playing. This instrument has been broken in
from lots of arco play and feels like a 100 year old
doublebass. With tan Mooradian cover.
|
|
|
|
||
New Andrew Pitts large 5/8 gamba shape Solo Bass |
This great solo bass was made by American
maker Andrew Pitts, who has lived as a doublebass luthier
in Prague for the last several years. This instrument is a
modified copy of an old italian instrument owned by
Miroslav Hridlik with the label "Philip Brandiglioni". The
original old doublebass had a very short string length of
40 1/8" (101.9 cm), while this modern solo instrument has
a string length of 40 3/4" (103.5 cm). Medium flame figure
Czech Maple aged more than 12 years for the back, sides,
and neck, No upper bout bend as the back gently tapers up
to the neck, Even grain Czech Maple aged more than 12
years for the top, Gracefully cut scroll, Gold single unit
Rubner tuners, Nut width 1 5/8" (4.25 cm), Medium profile
neck and medium thickness Ebony fingerboard,
Non-adjustable Maple bridge, Ebony tailpiece, Dark
orange-yellow varnish, Graphite tube endpin. Dimensions
are: Top length 41" (104.1 cm), Upper bout width 17 7/8"
(45.4 cm), Center bout width 12 3/4" (32.4 cm), Lower bout
width 22 7/8" (58.1 cm), Depth at tail 8" (20.3 cm), Depth
at lower corner of upper bout 7 1/2" (19.1 cm), Depth at
neck 7 7/8" (17.5 cm). With the medium build, this bass
has a strong, projective voice, but is still quite
responsive through all ranges. I have played two other
basses by Andrew Pitts and he is a maker to watch for.
|
|
