Wil de Sola

[Stev187]

The jazz studies prof (also a bassist and a great guy) at my college retired recently, and his empty studio has the college's bass in it. I am starting lessons again after many years away, so you know where I am headed on my lunch hour, right? It's a very solid Wil de Sola bass, made in 2003. I've seen posts about the New Standard basses, but I have not seen anything about basses made only by him. It's a very nice instrument--I'm a lucky duck to have such a nice one to practice on during lunch (until we hire another bass prof!). Anybody know anything about de Sola's basses?

Oh, and while I am new here, I know enough to post a photo.

--Steve

[Jsn]

No one responded to this, I see. All I can say is: lucky you. That's an excellent bass to have at your disposal.

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by Jsn

No one responded to this, I see. All I can say is: lucky you. That's an excellent bass to have at your disposal.

Thanks, Jsn. Yeah, I am lucky to have access to the instrument. I actually sent the maker an e-mail off-list and he responded right away. It's a very nice instrument, and I officially have no excuses for not practicing!

--Steve

[tomshepp]

So, what can you tell us about the instrument? Hand carved by Wil? I've been watching this thread. Was Arnold involved with this? Tell us more.

[Eric Rene Roy]

I'm sure Arnold or Will can say for sure...but I know Will has a lot of dealings with Pollmann...maybe it was made by them?

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by tomshepp

So, what can you tell us about the instrument? Hand carved by Wil? I've been watching this thread. Was Arnold involved with this? Tell us more.

Wil was very kind in his reply and said he didn't mind me sharing; since you asked, here's what he said:

Along with my involvement with New Standard with Arnold, from time to time I turn out a few basses under my own label, mostly the model you have, both in fully carved and hybrid in round and flatback. The process is much the same as NS, inasmuch as the body is made for me in Germany by the same shop that does the NS work for us under our control. I do the varnish and completion.

I'm glad to hear that you like the bass. It's been a popular model with both students and professionals. As I have time, I'll probably do some more of them.

Feel free to contact me at any time. You may pass along the information as you wish.

[Jsn]

Well, this has turned into an interesting thread. I always knew that the body of NS basses were built in Germany, but I didn't know they were coming from such a prestigious builder. Boy, those La Scalas and Clevelands really are great values, aren't they?

[Stev187]

Since I have them, here are 3 of the pics I sent to Wil. Yes, Jsn, those Cleveland and LaScala basses look fantastic. I used to play an American Standard, so I am especially intrigued by the Cleveland. More photos of the 2003 de Sola:





I was so busy today that I worked through lunch and didn't get to walk across campus to practice.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Jsn

Well, this has turned into an interesting thread. I always knew that the body of NS basses were built in Germany, but I didn't know they were coming from such a prestigious builder. Boy, those La Scalas and Clevelands really are great values, aren't they?

I don't think you can assume that NS basses are coming from Pollmann from the info given.

[arnoldschnitzer]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I don't think you can assume that NS basses are coming from Pollmann from the info given.

Eric is correct. New Standard basses do not originate from the Pollman shops. Neither do the W. deSola models.

[Stev187]

I've never seen one of the NS basses, but they look wonderful. I can attest to the quality of the instrument I posted about. I got a chance to tell Wil this, but now that Arnold is on the thread, let me say that I really hope the New Standard venture continues to go well. I loved my American Standard and would have kept it if the playability/quality issues had been addressed. Looks like your basses capture the best of what the old basses had to offer with some wonderful improvements.

--Steve

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I don't think you can assume that NS basses are coming from Pollmann from the info given.

You're right. I had misinterpreted the label Eric (Roy) posted as being from a "de Sola" bass, as that's the context of this discussion. When Wil himself said "the body is made for me by the same shop that does the NS work," I connected the dots. Of course, as soon as I did so the OP posted his own pictures of the label in this specific instrument, which bears no resemblance to the previous one posted.

If Arnold says Di Sola (and NS) bass bodies aren't made by Pollman, that settles that. The lingering question is, what was the story with the Pollman-labelled bass? if that isn't a "de Sola", what is it?

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Jsn

The lingering question is, what was the story with the Pollman-labelled bass? if that isn't a "de Sola", what is it?

Seems pretty obvious, it is a bass made for de Sola by Pollmann. It's a Pollmann. I'm sure Pollmann will add the "made for Jsn" if you order a bass from them.

[Eric Swanson]

I have been lucky enough to play a Wil de Sola gamba as well as a couple of the Schnitzer/De Sola gambas.

Great basses, frankly. Michael Hartery had one that was pretty phenomenal, a few months ago...

Big sound, easy to play...

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Seems pretty obvious, it is a bass made for de Sola by Pollmann. It's a Pollmann. I'm sure Pollmann will add the "made for Jsn" if you order a bass from them.

If I could afford a Pollman, I could probably buy a few vowels for my name, too!

[Eric Swanson]

Here is the De Sola gamba I tried. Somebody bought it, already...

http://www.bostonbassworks.com/MY%20...a_Germany.html

[Aleph5]

You'd think they could have spelled his name correctly.

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

Here is the De Sola gamba I tried. Somebody bought it, already...

http://www.bostonbassworks.com/MY%20...a_Germany.html

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by Aleph5

You'd think they could have spelled his name correctly.

Oh, gosh, I don't know about all that. "They" is Michael Hartery, who spent some time working in the Schnitzer/De Sola shop, and knows both men, personally.

In addition to Michael's luthiery skills and experience (he serviced all the DB's at the North Texas campus, before he went out on his own, in Boston), he holds a BM from North Texas State, where he studied with Jeff Bradetich, as well as a MM from Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Orin O'Brien.

He plays with equally professional dexterity on French and German bows, and is in considerable demand, here as a working, professional bassist.

So, if someone of his extremely high caliber wants to transpose an "a" for an "e" once in awhile, I certainly won't quibble...

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

So, if someone of his extremely high caliber wants to transpose an "a" for an "e" once in awhile, I certainly won't quibble...

Looks like a garden variety typo to me. That's a gorgeous web interface for the basses; perhaps the misspelling was done by a web designer. In any event, it certainly doesn't interfere with the gorgeous design and photos. Mr. Hartery appears to be a gifted luthier--you Boston-area bassists sure have a wealth of talented places to shop for instruments and have them repaired!

The bass I posted about is out for some minor cosmetic repairs, and therefore unavailable for my lunch-hour practice sessions for the next little while. I had gotten used to using it, so I really miss having my noon-time "break" from work.

--Steve

P.S. The photos on Mr. Hartery's site really jump out. Any tips on taking such clean photographs?

[Matt Ides]

When it gets back what a great way to spend the lunch hour.