Russian Basses?

NWBass · #1 10-14-2006, 01:54 PM

This may be silly question, but I have shopped for basses more than once in the past 10 years or so and have yet to knowingly come across a Russian instrument. I've seen Czech basses and some called Eastern European, but nothing really from the Russian area. There certainly were composers out there writing great music, but where are the basses from 100 years ago or more? Are there known great makers? Please fill my ignorance with information!

Thanks for any info.

Possu jam · #2 10-17-2006, 02:17 PM

There's a Russian bass in the music academy I'm in. It's an ok bass, dont know anything else about it than that it's made in Russia...

NWBass · #3 10-17-2006, 03:48 PM

Thank you Possu jam! I was pretty sure my lonely post was going to end up in the dustbin of Talkbass. I guess there's not much to say about Russian basses after all. After over 100 views I thought someone would know something, but alas, 'twas not to be. Thanks again!

**Matthew Tucker** · #4 10-17-2006, 04:20 PM

They make domras and balalaikas in Russia.

Martin Sheridan · #5 10-23-2006, 09:10 PM

Call Misha Krutz at KC Strings. He should have some information. He is from St. Petersburg and played with the Opera there. I remember seeing one at the his shop.
His son Anton and he designed a bass that was inspired by the onion domes of the churches. Put KC Strings in your search engine and you will see what I mean.

Bruce Lindfield · #6 10-24-2006, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWBass

This may be silly question, but I have shopped for basses more than once in the past 10 years or so and have yet to knowingly come across a Russian instrument. I've seen Czech basses and some called Eastern European, but nothing really from the Russian area. There certainly were composers out there writing great music, but where are the basses from 100 years ago or more? Are there known great makers? Please fill my ignorance with information!

Thanks for any info.

I don't really know - but having visited Russia and also having seen Russian Orchestras playing in London I can have a good guess at the answer !!

So I would imagine they are all being played and cared for by Russian professional musicians!! Who wouldn't let them out of their sight!!

I visited Russia many years ago when it was still the USSR (CCCP) and I got to talk to some musicians. So they said the only people who were "allowed" to play live music by the state, had to go through a very long compulsory musical education programme - even if you only wanted to play Neil Sedaka covers!!

So there was no "Market" for musical instruments, as you couldn't just pick one up from a shop and play professionally - you had to have permission from the state.

Of course It's different now - but I think if we're talking about DBs - then they were all "allocated" to professionals in communist times and there has been relatively little time since then, to build up any kind of industry - so there will be no surplus to export and I would imagine they are very rare and that Russian bass players hang on to what they've got, like grim death!!

GriffithLea · #7 10-24-2006, 09:37 AM

In Soviet Russia, bass plays you!

NWBass · #8 10-24-2006, 11:21 AM

Many thanks to Bruce and Martin for the input. . .oh, and Matthew too. I hadn't thought about all of the ramifications brought on by the Iron Curtain. Interesting stuff. Hopefully I'll get out there one of these days and see some of it for myself.

kontrabass · #9 10-24-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GriffithLea

In Soviet Russia, bass plays you!

Quote of the year?

billyfalconer · #10 10-26-2006, 11:00 AM

I think another reason there hasn't been a strong Russian school of viol & violin building is that the Orthodox church didn't allow instruments in church services. They did allow choral music, and there is a strong tradition there.

Bruce Lindfield · #11 10-27-2006, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyfalconer

I think another reason there hasn't been a strong Russian school of viol & violin building is that the Orthodox church didn't allow instruments in church services. They did allow choral music, and there is a strong tradition there.

But there has always been a tradition of great Russian Orchestras - even in the darkest times under Stalin they survived and Shostakovich got music played!

I've seen some great Russian Orchestras more recently in the London Concert Halls and they have some great looking and sounding basses - in fact they have a very distinctive sound - maybe less refined, than Berlin or Vienna, say - but very powerful and emotional!

I remember a particularly powerful ending to a Shostakovich Symphony I saw, where the basses were playing an ostinato on the C below normal bottom E and the sound was indescribable!!

But the point I was making is that given exchange rates and scarcity - I reckon those guys would never let go of the instruments they have - as they wouldn't be able to replace them with anything remotely similar !!

Silversorcerer · #12 10-31-2006, 09:02 PM

There may not have been many Russian makers or not so many Russian string instrument factories because some of the other Soviet states were supplying those. With Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia under the Soviet control, it was probably just easier for the the "State" to consolidate the existing factories in those countries. For instance in 1950, the Romanian luthiers were consolidated into the still existing factory in Reghin. That factory made instruments for export also, but was capable of supplying a large number of instruments from student to master level. It is also likely that there were many fine instruments of various origin already in Russia when the Soviets came to power. Those would have become the guarded property of the "State" and allocated to orchestra players as needed.

The Soviets typically nationalized whatever the existing industries were and while there certainly are a few Russian made instruments, the large majority of instruments available to the USSR would have come from satellite nations where the industry was already well established. Prior to the Soviet era, the elite orchestras would have gotten instruments from anywhere else that made them. There was no real reason to build them in Russia since they could be easily imported in sufficient numbers to satisfy the demands of the Russian orchestras.

SteveA · #13 11-02-2006, 05:23 PM

Back in the 80's I heard the USSR state symphony on 2 consecutive nights, the bass section was mind blowing (the whole band was for that matter) the bass section had 12 members from memory all the instruments they had looked very old they were probably all playing gut strings as well.

it was just befor the wall fell. It was an old fashioned sound but big strong and something you physicaly feel as well as hear.

Sort of concert you come out of and it's hard to speak because the music was so good.

Bruce Lindfield · #14 11-03-2006, 01:15 AM

Well I think they hung on to those instruments - that's what I was saying - so more recent performances I have attended, by Russian Orchestras, have the same unique sound and intensity!

bassist14 · #15 12-31-2006, 07:48 AM

someone is selling a russian bass in the classifieds
Full size Russian Flatback Hybrid Bass

bassist14 · #16 06-10-2007, 07:53 AM

i just stumbled over this pic while i was surfing, and it remembered me of this old thread.
another pic is here:
http://www.onf-contrebasse.com/forum/topic384-30.html

basstef · #17 06-10-2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

i just stumbled over this pic while i was surfing, and it remembered me of this old thread.
another pic is here:
http://www.onf-contrebasse.com/forum/topic384-30.html

I've seen and played many Russian factory basses like this when I was in L'Havana - Cuba, almost 2 years ago.

anonymous12251111 · #18 06-10-2007, 09:48 AM

There's a Russian Bassetto in Toronto, a nice little thing with a very warm old gut sound. Selling for 4k, has ridiculously sloped shoulders and a string length of around 36"

**Matthew Tucker** · #19 06-10-2007, 11:15 PM

which are the good bass shops in toronto??

anonymous12251111 · #20 06-11-2007, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

which are the good bass shops in toronto??

George Heinl's is by far the best shop....The Sound Post and Remenyi also claim to sell and restore basses but their work in my opinion is quite shocking. I would consider Heinl's to be the only bass shop in Toronto.