unusual DB decoration

[Matthew Tucker]

These detail pictures are from a book I was looking at today.

They are both described as double basses, the first is a very early one 1662 by Gottfried Thieckle and you can see by the FB that it's not far from a viola da gamba. But what a finish! The names are musicians and owners throughout its life. I love it.

The second is a very early DB scroll described as being from from Lucignano dated 1770. Again, its probably a variety of viola da gamba but it's quite unique.

I thought both were worth sharing.

[velvetkevorkian]

the guy who plays principal for the orchestra of scottish opera has a gorgeous bass with mother of pearl inlays at the top of the flat back. not quite as mad as those ones, though....

it looks like my desk in skool... or any lecture theatre desk in uni

[Silversorcerer]

I think someone's mother needs to take the crayons away! Just look at that gorgeous inlaid detail. Even with all of the offenses it is still some gorgeous wood. Just so that doesn't happen to my bass I'm getting an autograph book for it. I'll hang it next to the quiver.

And that bird head thing. Something's a little off key looking there. That's too freaky.

Definitely worth posting. I'm adding the "school desk" limited edition reissue to my screen saver. I don't know about the bird....

[Silversorcerer]

Here's a reproduction of perhaps a related maker's (Joachim Tielke (1641-1719)) instument. See:http://www.liuteria-antica.com/

[gomez hacienda]

Judging from that last gamba, I'd say somethings are meant to hang on the wall and some are meant to be played.

gh

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by gomez hacienda

Judging from that last gamba, I'd say somethings are meant to hang on the wall and some are meant to be played.

gh

My bass hangs on the wall while not being plaid.

[TeHarr]

I heard a while ago from my Romanian school teacher that some orchestras in Europe own the basses in the section, and the members that go through inscribe their names on them...

Urban legend or truth? You decide

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by TeHarr

Urban legend or truth? You decide

for me, the picture speaks for itself!

[DMcNutt]

Hi, Matthew

I came across your 2005 post to the TalkBass Forum in which you posted pictures of an usual bird head decoration on a double bass instead of the usual scroll.

You mentioned that you found it in a book, which indicated the bass was made in Lucignano, Italy in 1770.

I may have additional information you might enjoy.

I have an old Italian bass that I have been trying to identify. The label indicates that it was made by "Johannes Baptista Dini" in Lucignano in 1756. (The label uses latinized form of his more common name, Giovanni Battista Dini."

After many hours of searching the Internet I finally located a bass made by Giovanni Battista Dini in Lucignano. It is held in a museum in Leipzig, Germany.

I made contact with a curator there who sent me photos of the bass, made in Lucignano in 1707. The head appears to be exactly like the one you included in your post. He also sent me the museum notes on the identity of the bass.

I have attached the photo here.

I would be happy to send the other photos and museum notes to you if interested.

Dennis McNutt

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Dennis, I'd love to see those pix too!

If you're game, please send to jake@thebassspa.com Thanks!

[DMcNutt]

Here are the two other photos of the Dini bass in a Leipzig museum. Unfortunately the front was damaged in WWII, but the curator sent me a photo of the front from an earlier catalog. Which I could post in another message if anyone is interested.

Or could send in a private email.

Dennis

[Eric Rene Roy]

Wow...back from the dead.

Matthew, that looks like a Hardanger.

[Herbie 80's]

Wow. I love this old stuff. I also REALLY love carved heads, but that bird is a little bit freaky..