Very old guitar shaped bass in 1957 Fellini film

[Steve Swan]

Channel flipping on cable TV tonight, I found the 1957 Fellini film, "Nights of Cabiria". In the club mambo scene, the bass player in the band is using a very small and ancient looking cornerless, or "guitar shaped" bass. Can anyone identify an era or possible maker for this cool little bass?

[chuck3]

EKO?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v02HttEzH7s

[longfinger]

If anyone wants to see this clip, click the below link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csihqBcB0qw

[chuck3]

Meazzi Meteor?

[chuck3]

oh, more like an upright. A Wandre Ovalbasso?

[chuck3]

another look ...

[iiipopes]

It looks like a Spanish cornerless bass. Ken Smith on his website/forum has several threads that talk about these basses.

[Steve Swan]

It's looking like an ancient 3 string bass. Thanks for the youtube clip links!

[Steve Boisen]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

It looks like a Spanish cornerless bass. Ken Smith on his website/forum has several threads that talk about these basses.

That's what it is. I also have a few back issues of Double Bassist magazine that picture these types of basses.

- Steve

[iJazz]

Originally Posted by longfinger

If anyone wants to see this clip, click the below link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csihqBcB0qw

Uppity little bieyotch, but "Boy. What a mambo!"

When I saw the bass it reminded me of countless artistic impressions of a bass I've seen on things ranging from fabric prints to cocktail napkins. It's as though every designer looking for a stylized bass design to draw as a part of an illustration watched this very scene.

iJazz - Then again, it is Fellini. Of course those drug-taking artists of the early 60's saw this film.

[Violen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMsGN11xL0I&feature=plcp

Bass like that?

enjoy the music.

[Feral Feline]

Grazie for the Fellini and Bocini!

Lurvs me sum cornerless basses, and I'm a Wandre fan too!

[Steve Swan]

One of the most mind-blowing bass experiences that I've had was briefly playing an old 5/8 cornerless bass at World of Strings in Long Beach several years ago. It was sent over by a touring european player who used the shop as a storage home base for a series of U.S. engagements. Jon was kind enough to let me check it out for a few minutes. He has had a great many top notch instruments in for repair over the years.

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

There's an ad on the ISB classified page for an Italian cornerless. $120K.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by Violen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMsGN11xL0I&feature=plcp

Bass like that?

enjoy the music.

nice playing and great sound. cool basses too

[gerry grable]

Originally Posted by Feral Feline

Grazie for the Fellini and Bocini!

Lurvs me sum cornerless basses, and I'm a Wandre fan too!

Thanks for the link. I'd never heard of the Inokuchi brand and was surprised to learn that there are so many cornerless violin-family instruments available.
It really makes sense when you think about it. Who needs corners? So... they may be a little hard to pick up after you've laid them down. But that's a small price to pay for a rounder tone

[bassmnky13]

http://www.upnorthstrings.com/cornerlessbass.html

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/storioni/

Here are 2 different links about them (sort of) and below is a link of bassist Edicson Ruiz playing a *cornerless bass* that is still a three string. Gorgeous instruments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ovVf...eature=related

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Violen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMsGN11xL0I&feature=plcp

Bass like that?

enjoy the music.

Der ist no bier in heaven
In heaven der ist no bier