Most Expensive Double Bass

400$Bass · #1 02-15-2009, 11:23 PM

Without giving the specifics of anyone's personal business: What is the most money a Double Bass has sold for that you know of?

Again I am researching for a program I am doing on the Double Bass. Hence I want to make the program interesting and educational.

I ask the above question at a music store that sells lower end strings instruments and the salesman's answer was, "half a million," for a Double Bass. (Don't know any details)

ZENBASSGUY · #2 02-15-2009, 11:55 PM

i had a teacher tell me once that a friend of his remorgaged his house and paid something liek 750 thousand for a bass from the 1700's amd didn't tell the wife. needless to say she left him. don't know if this is true but he had no reason to make up a story to tell me.

dchan · #3 02-16-2009, 01:05 AM

I'd say the most expensive bass would be a cheapo bass that is being used to transport several kilos of coke inside of it.

Tejano Bass · #4 02-16-2009, 05:12 AM

http://www.smithbassforums.com/

MDEbass · #5 02-16-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchan

I'd say the most expensive bass would be a cheapo bass that is being used to transport several kilos of coke inside of it.

HAHA!

Bruce Lindfield · #6 02-16-2009, 08:05 AM

Ken Smith would be the one to know !!

Greg Clinkingbeard · #7 02-16-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Ken Smith would be the one to know !!

Bummer that we must go elsewhere to ask him.

Buogon · #8 02-16-2009, 05:12 PM

Also ask Bob Gollihur , he has alot of links to people who know.
Then check with The International Society of Bassist (ISBworldoffice.com)

jsbarber · #9 02-16-2009, 07:59 PM

Master 18th century Venetian luthier Domenico Montagnana, who's 'cellos are considered to be among the best ever:

http://www.greatbandslive.com/uprightbass.cfm

It sold 5-10 years ago at Sotheby's for about a quarter million US$. There may have been higher priced transactions since then, but at the time this was the record.

Jim

LowEndJazz4Life · #10 02-16-2009, 08:09 PM

Edgar Meyer's bass is from multiple centuries ago and is said to be worth well over one million

fdeck · #11 02-16-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndJazz4Life

Edgar Meyer's bass is from multiple centuries ago and is said to be worth well over one million

Dang. Add a pickup and preamp, and we're talking... well over one million.

Heifetzbass · #12 02-17-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndJazz4Life

Edgar Meyer's bass is from multiple centuries ago and is said to be worth well over one million

Edgar's bass is a nice Gabrielli, but not worth over a million. Unless someone just wants to own "Edgar's Bass" as a collector. No bass has topped the million dollar mark yet. His bass was purchased for much less than 50K.

txstatebass · #13 02-17-2009, 07:42 AM

Played a Busan from Guarneri house last weelend. They were asking 150K for it. Nice bass.

Jeremy Darrow · #14 02-17-2009, 07:59 AM

I would imagine that many of the highest prices have come at auction. Might Christie's or Sotheby's be willing to help you out?

Bruce Lindfield · #15 02-17-2009, 08:02 AM

Isn't it the case that the most expensive instruments never really come up for sale and are just loaned out to internationally-recognised virtuoso players, to make great music...?

anonymous12251111 · #16 02-17-2009, 08:05 AM

Ask any of the bassists in the Toronto Symphony, their instruments include:

1 Rogeri
1 Tarr
1 Montagnana
1 Panormo (owned by Dragonetti)
1 Busan
1 Gilkes

the other two basses are an old Lupo bass and a modern instrument by Peter Elias.

Oh and of course Joel Quarrington when he played with them used his small little Maggini.

Jeremy Darrow · #17 02-17-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Isn't it the case that the most expensive instruments never really come up for sale and are just loaned out to internationally-recognised virtuoso players, to make great music...?

I don't know, but the instrument doesn't really become expensive until it is sold, right? Until it sells, it's just valuable.

PocketGroove82 · #18 02-17-2009, 08:22 AM

I know this doesn't really fall into the category but there are old italian museum pieces in europe that are priceless. I'd be scared to see the price tag on this bass:

Bass · #19 02-17-2009, 08:39 AM

This bass seems pretty expensive.

Jake deVilliers · #20 02-17-2009, 09:25 AM

IIRC the last 'name' bass to go through Skinner's brought ~$165,000. You could always ask them if you're really interested.

Also try The Contrabass Shoppe, Kolstein and Gage. We're just working class folks here.

Nice avatar BASE