| I think that wood is just totally gorgeous for a DB. Of course photos with cardboard boxes in the background and using direct flash don't do favors for the look of anything. But make the table top and humidor out of something less memorable. I know Arnold S. made a bass with a gorgeous quilted back recently (and had much better photos of his) and one of and My Jens Ritter 5 string EBGs is similarly quilted on the top. I guess it is a matter of taste, but I actually prefer the quilted grain over the flamed grain. It looks like ripples in water to me.
As far as spending more on a bass than you would on a car, that's not a bad idea considering perfectly drivable automobiles lose value rather quickly whereas a finely made musical instrument gains value over time. Call me rare, but I paid more for each of my new Ritter EBGs than I did for my used Volvo. I'm guessing the Ritters are already worth more than I paid for them and the Volvo, while it is well beyond losing it's "showroom" value continues to depreciate but serves as a sturdy road case for the basses. I'd much rather have expensive high quality basses and a serviceable car than the other way around, but then again I'm not "most people".
The "funky" violin and the interesting cello are variants on the festoon shapes of Baroque era viola da gambas.
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Silversorcerer
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