seeking info on books about antique double bass

[popginn]

I stumbled on this site via Google search.
First, I am not a Bass player

A friend at work asked me to investigate books about antique double bass

I will be directing him to this site tomorrow

but any recomendations would be appreciated, title, author, just anything to start

to popginn at bellsouth dot net

and thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to help

Pop

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by popginn

I stumbled on this site via Google search.
First, I am not a Bass player

A friend at work asked me to investigate books about antique double bass

I will be directing him to this site tomorrow

but any recomendations would be appreciated, title, author, just anything to start

to popginn at bellsouth dot net

and thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to help

Pop

The only two Books I know of about Basses only are the Elgar books and the Cremoan Basses by Rosengard. the Cremona is out of print and if you find one used it will be about $300-$600. It only has a few Basses in it and mainly those few Cremona makers. The Elgar books, 3 of them are not all available. the one with all the pictures is but the first two I am not sure about.

Most books are about Violins. I have a good list here on my forum in this Thread.

[salcott]

I got the Elgar books from Kolstein's.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by salcott

I got the Elgar books from Kolstein's.

Did you get all 3 of them?
Also, be aware that many of the Basses in Elgar are wrongly attributed. Most of the information listed in the text is correct or close to being correct but the pictures are loosely attributed.

This is due to the method in which the book was compiled. People sent Elgar pictures telling him what kind of Bass they had and that was it. No verification, no certification just a claim and a picture.

Elgar though is what got me started 'inside' the Bass as well as out. The first two books had some great reading. The 3rd had all the pictures but it was the first two that opened up my eyes.

The best way to learn about old basses is to see them. Books do not show you what a Bass in person does. For me, books mainly teach me the history of the makers providing the information printed is correct. The Books however do not help match up maker to story as much as you would like. Seeing many examples of various Basses over time does.

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by salcott

I got the Elgar books from Kolstein's.

i too, "looking at the double bass"
where can i get "introduction to the double bass" and "more about the double bass"?

[wineaux]

Amazon sometimes has used copies of the Elgar books, but usually not all three at the same time. I was fortunate enough to find first editions of all three on Amazon one day last summer (two sellers). They are a terrific education (with the caveat that Ken noted) and I go back to them often.

[salcott]

I got all three; this is a few years ago, however, and they may no longer be available. I'm well aware of the issues concerning attribution. They're still nice to have.

[Martin Sheridan]

There is a great need for an authoritative book or books on old double basses. Duane Rosengard has done a lot of research and he would be a good candidate for such a book. I'd love to see him or someone do one on Italian double bass makers.

Ken Smith, you might be the guy.

The biggest problem I see is that I'm not sure that there is a single person living who really has the knowledge to pull it together. Most of the good old Italian basses are of dubious authorship. It would take a heck of a lot of research and a review perhaps of those who've seen a lot of basses to put something together that you could take to the bank. It may, in fact, be an impossible task.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Martin Sheridan

There is a great need for an authoritative book or books on old double basses. Duane Rosengard has done a lot of research and he would be a good candidate for such a book. I'd love to see him or someone do one on Italian double bass makers.

Ken Smith, you might be the guy.

The biggest problem I see is that I'm not sure that there is a single person living who really has the knowledge to pull it together. Most of the good old Italian basses are of dubious authorship. It would take a heck of a lot of research and a review perhaps of those who've seen a lot of basses to put something together that you could take to the bank. It may, in fact, be an impossible task.

I speak with Duane quite often. He has been all over the world looking at Basses and Violins as well. Although he is not a Luthier that opens them up to restore, he does look them over inside and out. Duane has inspected and photographed just about every quality Bass I own so I speak from a person to person relationship about him. He in my opinion would be the best guy for this job but, he plays full time in the Philly Orchestra as well as other jobs and may not have the time to do such a thing. Maybe if someone partnered up with him and moved in next door, he could arrange his 1,000s or photographed instruments and make a few books.

It's nice when I bring him a Martini or Loveri to look at and he tells me how it compares to all of the others that he has seen, played and photographed made by the exact same Maker. Many people from around the world including some of the finest shops (and some not so fine..lol) have consulted with him on origins, purchases and appraisals. Not everybody agrees with everybody in this business but Duane is one to hold a high regard for as well as respect for his dedicated work which he gets very little monetary reward from comparatively speaking.

For many people in the Bass world, Duane is THE 'Go To' guy!

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by bassist14

i too, "looking at the double bass"
where can i get "introduction to the double bass" and "more about the double bass"?

Try one of the rare violin book sellers such as:

Mahoney's books
or
Montagnana books

Their stock changes constantly, so you have to check back frequently or ask them to contact you when they have the book(s) you are looking to buy. The Elgar books have been reprinted at least once and should be available at a reasonable price. The Rosengard book is harder to find and is very pricey when a copy is available.

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

Try one of the rare violin book sellers such as:

Mahoney's books
or
Montagnana books

Their stock changes constantly, so you have to check back frequently or ask them to contact you when they have the book(s) you are looking to buy. The Elgar books have been reprinted at least once and should be available at a reasonable price. The Rosengard book is harder to find and is very pricey when a copy is available.

thank you bob

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

I speak with Duane quite often. He has been all over the world looking at Basses and Violins as well. Although he is not a Luthier that opens them up to restore, he does look them over inside and out. Duane has inspected and photographed just about every quality Bass I own so I speak from a person to person relationship about him. He in my opinion would be the best guy for this job but, he plays full time in the Philly Orchestra as well as other jobs and may not have the time to do such a thing. Maybe if someone partnered up with him and moved in next door, he could arrange his 1,000s or photographed instruments and make a few books.

It's nice when I bring him a Martini or Loveri to look at and he tells me how it compares to all of the others that he has seen, played and photographed made by the exact same Maker. Many people from around the world including some of the finest shops (and some not so fine..lol) have consulted with him on origins, purchases and appraisals. Not everybody agrees with everybody in this business but Duane is one to hold a high regard for as well as respect for his dedicated work which he gets very little monetary reward from comparatively speaking.

For many people in the Bass world, Duane is THE 'Go To' guy!

Duane authored at least one book about Italian basses called Cremonese Double Basses or something like that. I have a copy at home so I'll dispense accurate information after work.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Duane authored at least one book about Italian basses called Cremonese Double Basses or something like that. I have a copy at home so I'll dispense accurate information after work.

That Book is not only out of print, Duane himself does not have a printed copy!

Do you want to sell yours to me? I don't have one!

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Do you want to sell yours to me? I don't have one!

+1

[carlopetro]

Originally Posted by Martin Sheridan

There is a great need for an authoritative book or books on old double basses. Duane Rosengard has done a lot of research and he would be a good candidate for such a book. I'd love to see him or someone do one on Italian double bass makers.

Ken Smith, you might be the guy.

The biggest problem I see is that I'm not sure that there is a single person living who really has the knowledge to pull it together. Most of the good old Italian basses are of dubious authorship. It would take a heck of a lot of research and a review perhaps of those who've seen a lot of basses to put something together that you could take to the bank. It may, in fact, be an impossible task.

Perhaps a Wiki is a possible solution (Wikipedia)? I have noticed a Wiki here on talkbass with relatively low content, however.