Bass viola da gamba, Antonio Stradivari Workshop, Cremona, ca. 1730

Eric Rene Roy · #1 10-03-2006, 06:56 AM

http://www.usd.edu/smm/Cellos/Stradi...CelloViol.html

Anyone see this in the October issue of Strad magazine? Blew me away when I saw it. In violinmaking school we are taught to worship at the alter of Stradivari...so with that in mind I am just dying to convert it to a double bass and make it! Now if I can just sell gary on the idea...hmmmmm

**Matthew Tucker** · #2 10-03-2006, 08:24 AM

Lovely, but I can't help wonder .... why convert a viola da gamba into a cello? That must be one fantastic hunk of spruce to warrant replacing neck and ribs and building up the shoulders ...

Does the article give any measurements?

Bob Branstetter · #3 10-03-2006, 11:01 AM

I guess I need to make another trip up to the National Music Museum (Shrine to Music Museum). They didn't have that instrument when I was there a few years ago. The museum is located on the campus to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD and is a must see for anyone interested in classic musical instruments of all types. I've always thought it would be great if a group of makers and other interested people could get a tour of the parts of the museum that are not normally open to the public. I understand that only about 20% of the instruments owned by the museum are on display. I know that several Italian basses I that I wanted to examine were not on display when I've been there.

Eric Rene Roy · #4 10-03-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Convert it to a double bass? It's a few FEET too short. I thought of all people, you at least would know the difference between a cello and a bass.

I can only assume your joking...or you did not look at the pictures where in you can see the outline of the original body. Regardless of the existence of the original outline...didn't YOU post a picture of a bass a few weeks back where a Strad cello body outline was converted to a double bass. I think that back even had the old cello button left in tact as if to show off that it was an cello.

Eric Rene Roy · #5 10-03-2006, 07:30 PM

I'm not talking about adding wood to the actual gamba/cello...are you? I am talking about transfering the outline and blowing it up to double bass proportions!

I did it with the Primrose Guarneri, as I have made a viola off of that pattern. I added my .02 in regards to slopped shoulders...and the outline was very Carcassi.

I only bring the viola up as an example of taking a smaller instrument and turning it into a double bass.

And no...the photo's you just posted were not the ones I was thinking of. Perhaps it was not from you then...but I clearly remember seeing a picture recently of a double bass that had the cello outline and button carved into the back...

hhhmmmmm....where was that picture?

oh, and who said anything about expecting Strad sound quality??? where did you get that leap?

Eric Rene Roy · #6 10-03-2006, 07:43 PM

Does this help?

Eric Rene Roy · #7 10-03-2006, 07:49 PM

That is a picture of the Strad Gamba that I PS'ed out the cello modification someone did. The back is not as easy to see what was original...so more interpretation would be needed in designing it.

I just thought it was interesting that if Strad had made a double bass...this is possible what it might have looked like.

bribass · #8 10-04-2006, 01:35 AM

Wow, Eroy

That really DOES look like a great double bass outline.

BG

kontrabass · #9 10-04-2006, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bribass

Wow, Eroy

That really DOES look like a great double bass outline.

BG

A very sexy one, at that.

Martin Sheridan · #10 10-08-2006, 04:03 PM

I've been to that museum at least a half dozen times and never saw that instrument. It looks like it was donated just last year.