I am selling a 3/4 size double bass made by Emanuel Wilfer in Möhrendorf, Germany in 2003 with bussetto corners. I bought the double bass in 2003 from David Gage in New York City and am the original owner. In 2006, I had a C-extension put on by Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand of the Heartland String Bass Shop and formerly of Robertson's Violins, which is fully chromatic.
The top is made of two pieces of even grained spruce and is cut with gamba corners at the upper corner o the c-bout and bussetto corners at the lower corners of the c-bout. The bussetto corners are concentric, semi-circular shapes. The ribs are made of very well flamed maple. All interior blocks and linings are made of spruce.
The maple back has five original maple cleats along the center seam of the back. A horizontal kerf has been cut at the upper bout bend in the round back. The neck is made of slightly flamed maple. The name Emanuel Wilfer is elegantly carved into the upper back.
The sound of the double bass is even in all registers and has a strong, projecting sound in the upper register and a warm, fat sound in the lower registers. It is very easy to play because of its sloping shoulders. This bass got me into many top conservatories including the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Mannes College, and Eastman School of Music and has been used in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings.
David Gage appraised the double bass in 2003 for $14,500 before I put a C-extension on the bass in 2006 which cost $2000, putting the value of the double bass at 16k. I am selling the bass for $14,000, which is negotiable. The bass will also come with an official certificate from Emanuel Wilfer and a Mooradian soft case. I am located in both New York City and Princeton, New Jersey. Please email me at
pgn@juilliard.edu with any questions.
