Price Reductions for Guitars and Doublebases
Several guitars and doublebasses now show new reduced prices in their listing. In the last month some consigning owners have been persuaded to use a more realistic pricing figure with productive results. Call (650) 515-1014 or email steve_swan@earthlink.net for more details about these more affordable instruments.

DOUBLEBASS NEWS

Koenig & Meyer doublebass stands
I now have a good supply of Koenig & Meyer doublebass stands. These stands are strong, stable, and fold up into a small package. I take one to every performance, jam session, or festival. For me, not having one when playing bass outside my home is like getting in a car without fastening the seat belt. These stands keep the edges of your bass nice and clean and safe from having the neck or scroll stepped on in tight quarters at a music job.

Michael Olivola's Next Repair and Setup Residency
Michael Olivola is making appointments to schedule his next repair and setup residency here in the shop. The last four residencies of 7-10 days were unqualified successes. We are stocking up on strings, bridges, endpins, soundposts, replacement tuners, etc. to keep the turnaround time quick and effective. We are also adding more tools to dedicated processes, such as installing bridge adjusters, to increase efficiency. To consult with Michael about his setup or repair services, please call (505) 227-3513 or emailmolivola@mindspring.com.

Kolstein
Just in is a gorgeous 2004 Gaurneri model carved back 3/4 that I originally sold brand new. This bass has been used in a community orchestra for the last five years and the voice has developed beautifully. For a complete description and a full set of photos, please see the Kolstein Doublebass page.

Basses by Other Builders
Just in is the oldest bass in the inventory, a 19th century German or Bohemian 5/8 flatback. This lively bass features deeply flame figured Maple back and sides and a huge voice for it's size. For a complete description and a full set of photos, please see the Basses by Other Builders page.

Xuechang Sun
A new 5 string gamba shaped doublebass has arrived for the orchestra season. Additionally, clean used examples of the popular 420 and 920 models have come back in as trade-ins. For full sets of photos and complete descriptions, please see the "Xuechang Sun" page.

In The Repair Shop
1930s German or Czech 3/4 Flatback

Handmade Doublebasses
I have a few nice professional grade handmade doublebasses in stock. The Kolstein Lorenzo Carcassi model was exhibited at the 2003 ISB Convention and has been played enough to develope as a very strong orchestral instrument. It is currently the strongest arco bass in the shop. The 1999 Dominic Zuchowicz Montagnana copy was my own bass for a few years before I sold it during the dotcom bust of 2002. It has developed a very free, rich voice and functions beautifully as either an orchestral or jazz instrument. Freshly repaired and setup by Jeff Sahs, the 1978 Aerts (Belgium) 5 string large 3/4 carved back violin corner instrument is available for audition in the shop. This bass has an easy feel and a rich, full bottom end

Vintage American Plywood Basses
Just out of Matt Bohn's repair shop is another great sounding prewar example of my favorite model of vintage plywood doublebass, the American Standard. Matt installed a new ebony fingerboard and changed the neck angle for top notch performance. It sounded great with Kolstein jazz heritage strings and I have just intalled a set of Spirocore weich strings for a little more forward point to the note. I'm thrilled to have this bass in the shop! For a full set of photos and a complete description, please see the "Vintage American Plywood Bass" page.

Samuel Shen
A beautiful blonde finish used SB 300 is now in stock, as are a used SB 180 hybrid and a used SB 200 3/4 willow flatback. For full sets of photos and complete descriptions, please see the "Samuel Shen" page.

GUITAR NEWS

Smeck Fever
 My all-time favorite vintage Gibson flat top guitar model is the Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe. I go out of my way to get nice examples into the shop wherever I can find them. I also like to feature Smeck models made by contemporary builders who understand the correct balance of strength and responsiveness characterize the classic Smeck sound and feel. I currently have three Mahogany and Adirondack Spruce examples made by the great two-man building team at Rockbridge Guitars, One Brazilian Rosewood example made by the great Roy McAlister, and a near mint unconverted early 1934 Gibson Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe . If you live close enough to get to the shop for an audition, prepare to be utterly amazed. If not, I can discuss these guitars with you by phone or email.

Preston Thompson Guitars
Having recently retired from a two decades long marketing position for an upscale resort, legendary guitar builder Preston Thompson has returned to guitar making full time. Specializing in classic era Martin style dreadnoughts and OOOs, serious players may know the 12 Fret OOO built for Peter Rowan and two 14 fret dreadnoughts made for flatpicking legend Charles Sawtelle. I will be concentrating on having Preston build a 1930 style OOO-28 model, two 1937 style D-28 models (with standard 1 3/4" neck or Sawtelle-inspired 1 13/16" neck), and 12 fret D-28 models. I am supplying only my very best Adirondack Spruce tops and Brazilian Rosewood sets for these guitars. The first guitar to arrive will be a standard 1937 style D-28 due for April completion.

Rockbridge Guitars
Rockbridge guitars are becoming much more widely known now that partner Brian Calhoun and his wife have moved to southern California. I have been thrilled with the guitars that Rockbridge has built for me in the last year. We have developed Rockbridge versions of two of my favorite vintage models, the Gibson Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe and the Martin 12 fret OOO. I currently have three mahogany and adirondack spruce Smecks and two adirondack Spruce topped 12 Fret OOOs, one with koa back and sides and the other with the dense "tiger claw" figured mahogany that I have saved for 10 years. I have supplied all of the stiff artist grade adirondack spruce tops used on these guitars. For more details, please see the "Rockbridge" page.

In the Repair Shop
No guitars for now