WM and Sons: Bottesini Model?

mcintyre · #1 02-21-2009, 06:49 PM

Hey, in a week and a half i'm meeting a man about the WM and Sons Bottesini model made in 1960. Anyone have experience with this bass and could tell me anything i should know before making my decision?

bassist1962 · #2 02-22-2009, 03:06 PM

I learned to play on one, and have since inherited it. It was my brother in law's who played jazz in the fifties and sixties.

Mine has nice low action, and really sings (which is suprising as it hasn't been properly maintained in over forty years).
Fully carved spruce and maple.
It is (was?) made in Germany (maybe 1950ish?), and is more a shop instrument than a solo luthiers work.

I really like mine, but then again, other than the POS ply I played in high school, it is the only double bass I have ever had any real time on.

I don't know if I answered any of your questions, but this is my experience with the WLB236.

ctxbass · #3 02-23-2009, 10:48 PM

I had one for five or six years. A very well made (top of the Lewis & Son line) carved shop bass. Mine had very sweet, even, sustaining tone throughout all registers. It was not dark a sounding instrument and I thought it sounded best with Regular Flexocor strings. I ultimately sold it when I decided to get a larger bass for a bigger pizz sound, but the arco tone was beautiful.

The original endpin, if it still has it, is not very good quality and prone to rattling, so that is a good thing to check if you hear something. I had it replaced.

Mike Goodbar · #4 02-24-2009, 07:49 AM

+1 on the endpin comment. The university I teach at has several of these models, and the endpins are flimsy and short if you're 6' or more. My first move would be to replace it.

I'm slowly getting them set up properly (after several decades of poor setup). The ones that are somewhat playable have a nice sound that leans toward the punchy side.

bassist1962 · #5 02-25-2009, 04:37 AM

I have to agree with the endpin issue. My bro in law always griped about it. I thought the rattle was just a maintainance problem.

Beautiful sounding instrument.

Bachfanatic · #6 03-05-2009, 08:49 PM

I grew up with (and still have) a 1/2 size William Lewis & Son plywood bass. I play on a 3/4 fully carved bass now, but I still marvel at how wonderful the little half size sounds, despite it's smaller size. It's really held up well structurally and aesthetically over the years. To me, it certainly seem like they made good basses across the board. Sorry I can't offer more info than merely an endorsement.

manjonning · #7 07-21-2011, 12:28 PM

I have a 1967 Bottisini Model ...anyone know what these are worth? I traded an amp to a high school orchestra teacher for it ..

bassist1962 · #8 07-21-2011, 03:11 PM

I recently had mine appraised. $4000 to $8000.

dennimonroe · #9 07-23-2011, 02:07 PM

I just bought a carved William Lewis & Son carved German Bass and had some refurbishing done to it. It is very similar to a Juzek and was made in one of the Markneukirchen shops that the American importers purchased from. I had a new end pin, adjusters, new fingerboard and nut, bridge reshaped and some bout cracks fixed and seams glued. It sounds nice, not real dark but very punchy and good for jazz. The measure is 41 3/4 inches. I have it strung with E- Spirocore, A&D - Obligatos, and G - plain gut. Estimated value $7,000. Total invested $3,100.

manjonning · #10 09-28-2011, 02:25 PM

Wow not a bad trade for about $750 worth of electric rig in trade.. PS I love mine ..

Bass Barrister · #11 10-01-2011, 12:01 PM

I played this Bottesini a couple of years ago at the shop where it it is still for sale. My recollection is that it was a somewhat smaller 3/4, sounded very well, but was a bit rough looking (although that may be more a matter of taste). Actually, it was pretty close to what I was looking for at the time, but not quite there. . . a nice bass though and worth a look to someone.

Double Basses > $4,001 - 7,500 > Wm Lewis Bottesini Model #236 : Chicago Stringed Insturments

Disclaimer: I have no connection with that bass although I do have another DB on consignment at that shop at this time.

Having just passed the age of 60 last week, and being prone to some periods of rumination, I've been thinking back to those days in the 50s and 60s when having a violin, cello, or bass from Wm. Lewis (Chicago based back then), Scherl & Roth (Cleveland), or Juzek (NYC) usually meant that you had a good student or intermediate level instrument. Though these names still exist and are found on various stringed instruments, the current offerings often don't come close to their precursors.