A new La Scala needs a name!

E.P. Miller · #1 03-15-2009, 06:41 PM

For out-of-town engagements, I prefer laminate basses for the most obvious reason: resilient construction. However I have never been enamored with either the playability or tone of any laminate bass I have owned. And I've owned quite a few. To be fair, I'm difficult to please. To be exact, I've thrown thousands of dollars at basses to make them play and sound their best. In many cases, it helped. But, as the saying goes, you can put lipstick on a pig...

By chance, I was able to play a laminate New Standard La Scala last year. I was immediately struck by the playability and sound of the instrument. It sounded nearly as good as my old carved instrument. This ate at me for some time.

In truth, I was ready to buy a La Scala five minutes after I played one last year. But hey, $4500 is a lot of scratch regardless of what it's for these days. And, I reasoned that just because the one-night stand with someone else's La Scala left me satisfied didn't mean that the gal I'd end up with would do the same.

Alas, I'm a gambling man. Couple that with the fact that my carved instrument is being restored, and my other laminate needed to go under the knife for a new fingerboard, I took the plunge.

A big thanks to larry, salcott, marvin spangles, mburd, T-Bal and Marcus Johnson for their La Scala insights.

I could go into great detail about the overall attention to detail, the beautiful varnish work Wil did, Arnold's fantastic set up (probably the best I've had), and the unbelievably good tone of this instrument so early in its life. Why bother? You've already heard it a million times from other players here on TB. Let's look at porn instead! What shall I name this little broad?

E.P. Miller · #2 03-15-2009, 06:45 PM

hdiddy · #3 03-15-2009, 06:56 PM

"Your new bass"?

marvin spangles · #4 03-15-2009, 06:58 PM

She looks beautiful. Congratulations. Did you say something to offend her I am a little worried that she is sulking in the corner. Enjoy and let us know how she shapes up.

MollyKay · #5 03-15-2009, 07:03 PM

Well since it is a female bass (it has tips) how about…

Dream-a
Darling Cory
Anna Bell
Bertha
Ophelia
Rosa lee
Hazel
Mona
Beulah
Bessie

…I can keep going on.

We name all out basses. Maestro shapes are girls, Gamba shapes are boys

Beautiful bass BTW

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #6 03-15-2009, 07:15 PM

That's a pretty lady.

TroyK · #7 03-15-2009, 07:34 PM

Lydia.

She is a beauty.

Ghost_Note · #8 03-15-2009, 07:35 PM

What a beautiful instrument! See you went with the Evah's

The finish is stunning! Enjoy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

(SNIP)
We name all out basses. Maestro shapes are girls, Gamba shapes are boys

I'm in trouble then...my Upton Gamba will be in my hands Monday and she's certainly a girl.

**Joshua** · #9 03-15-2009, 07:50 PM

Hawtness!

E.P. Miller · #10 03-15-2009, 08:59 PM

Come on now, MollyKay. There's no way I'm naming her Bertha.

Let's see. She's has Italian lineage, was born in Germany, and now she's here in the states...

Marlene (Dietrich)
Sofia (Loren)
Lauren (Bacall)

Don't ask me why they are all actresses from another time. Maybe it's because the majority of the things I play are older than me!

Yes, after years of Spirocore love, I thought I'd court the Pirazzi strings for a while. Very nice acoustic tone. We'll see how amplification goes...

drurb · #11 03-15-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Note

I'm in trouble then...my Upton Gamba will be in my hands Monday and she's certainly a girl.

Uh-oh, mine has tips and it's a guy. Seems our basses might grow up with gender issues. Maybe they'll end up in therapy together!

Marcus Johnson · #12 03-15-2009, 09:54 PM

"The Trixinator".

E.P. Miller · #13 03-15-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Uh-oh, mine has tips and it's a guy...

Quick, get that bass to a luthier for a sex change.

salcott · #14 03-15-2009, 11:14 PM

Glad I could be of assistance. Congratulations on a fine instrument.

CamMcIntyre · #15 03-16-2009, 12:56 AM

Congrats on the La Scala! If I had the money and space, I'd get one to have as a companion to my Cleveland.

all the best.

abaguer · #16 03-16-2009, 01:19 AM

Katarina
Sofia
Maria Theresa

JDubbleyoo · #17 03-16-2009, 02:14 AM

"Boom-Hilda"

bassist14 · #18 03-16-2009, 03:06 AM

donna lee ?

abaguer · #19 03-16-2009, 04:51 AM

Bouillabass

mchildree · #20 03-16-2009, 06:18 AM

You guys would not believe the bizarre set of circumstances that led me to encounter Trix and this beautimus instrument last Friday night. Had nuthin' to do with music at all....

Anyway, after having it in my hands for a bit, I can say it's definitely female. A classic, shapely lady but with a wild side...kinda like...Dita Von Teese.

Me Likee!