new Octobasse

[Kev2007]

Now this is a big build!

http://www.antoniodattis.it/galleria/liuteria/index.htm

[Joe Gress]

I've always wondered what one of those would sound like up close and personal.

[BlackLake]

Wow, that is awesome.

"that's not a doghouse, that's a flippin' guesthouse.

[Jake deVilliers]

That's a heck of a bass! But I think the most impressive thing in his gallery is the three dimensional carved Ivory soundhole decoration in the lute.........absolutely stunning.

[Kev2007]

Originally Posted by BlackLake

Wow, that is awesome.

"that's not a doghouse, that's a flippin' guesthouse.

LOL - it's beautiful, but I can't look at those tuning pegs without laughing.

I wish there were some sound clips (maybe there are but I'll be dam*ed if I can translate enough to decipher the site.)

[mattfong]

How useful could those possibly be? Haha. Yeah those tuning pegs are a laugh!

Unbelievable.

[1st Bass]

The historical basses that this is modelled after were built a couple hundred years ago, were they not? Or a little less?

Did the original ones have those levers on the side? I seem to recall they took two guys to play one instrument-- one to finger, and one to bow....

I'll bet those pegs are a bear to turn. I notice there is some sort of fine tuner at the bottom, as well. What a monster...but it looks intriguing, too. With no market for them, I doubt there will be a rush to produce them. Is there even still music written to include them?

[Kev2007]

Originally Posted by 1st Bass

The historical basses that this is modelled after were built a couple hundred years ago, were they not? Or a little less?

Did the original ones have those levers on the side? I seem to recall they took two guys to play one instrument-- one to finger, and one to bow....

I'll bet those pegs are a bear to turn. I notice there is some sort of fine tuner at the bottom, as well. What a monster...but it looks intriguing, too. With no market for them, I doubt there will be a rush to produce them. Is there even still music written to include them?

Here's part of a post from the Italian chap who I got the link from originally:

"It's an exact copy of Vuilamme's Octobasse used in Berlioz.

There's a system of mechanics really incredible. The sound is so low, that sometimes it's difficult to listen the bass C or B or A. But the effect is "Big". We are at the limits of human perception of a sound, a bass sound. But, togheter with normal doublebasses the effect is wonderful.

The only way to carry it is to divide it in two parts and then rebuilds it. Naturally people laughes when they see this immense instrument, but listening Berlioz with it is an incredible thing and marvellous experience, expecially in an ancient church with the natural reverber."

Sounds cool! I'd like to know where they get the strings.

[forester]

got to give a shoutout for the Harley T..
one man guild!

[Monkey]

But I think the most impressive thing in his gallery is the three dimensional carved Ivory soundhole decoration in the lute.........absolutely stunning.

Wow! Image 21 is amazing! How does he do that?!

I love Arabic music, and own an oud from Egypt. They often have beautiful carved rosettes, but that is the most elaborate that I've ever seen.

[Matthew Tucker]

holy mackerel ... imagine taking one of these on stage with you



There's some lovely work on that site.

[Jake deVilliers]

The guy is obviously an amazingly talented genius.

I say we should have a TalkBass Field Trip to go and visit him in the Puglia Region of Italy! Any chance of government sponsorship, do you think?

[Slax]

Amazing looking work. A bass I've only read about in size. I'd love it if he offered sound samples of it so we can really get an idea of how it sounds.