Double Bass A Precious Gift

[Rama Temmink]

Victor Pawlowsky Contrabass:

It is a gift.

The original owner bought the bow for ten dutch guilders (tien gulden florijn), which roughly calculates to... €5,-.... it is featherlight and I use a german grip/underhand bowhold with it.

シ

 

[GretschWretch]

A lovely instrument. Far better than anything I own. You may want to look closely at that bridge placement; it's cheated a bit toward the tailpiece.

 

[Rama Temmink]

A lovely instrument. Far better than anything I own. You may want to look closely at that bridge placement; it's cheated a bit toward the tailpiece.

Hi GretchWretch,

Thank You, it truly is a genuine pleasure to marvel at this instrument, feel wise it resonates wonderfully and it is a cannon, for both pizzicato and arco.

With sixteen plus years of playing, practising, studying and owning a wide variaty of double basses ranging from what is commonly described as "bass shaped objects" to this 4/4-sized wonder I cannot help but realise it is the human being driving the bass violin which matters more than any instrument. EVER!

Though with that said, I am stunned, humbled and speechless... simultaneously.

Thank You GretchWretch, soon she shall have a checkup with the luthier, but until then: patience please.

Thank You all.

Greetings,

Rama

P.S. *edit* This instruments ticks off all of my personal, although be it mental, checklist for a dream bass!

 

[GretschWretch]

Oh, I can be very patient, to the point of being lazy. But I mis-spoke in my previous post: the bridge is cheated toward the fingerboard, not the tailpiece. Your bass being a 4/4 may have something to do with that, to shorten the mensure.

 

[ole Jason]

Beautiful bass. How does moving the bridge like that affect the tone?

 

[Ethix4]

Whats the story behind the gift!

 

[Rama Temmink]

A generous family has entrusted me with their instrument.

The family and I have good relations with each other, considering the original owner IS a bassist and boy what kind of stories does he and his bass has to tell!

Unfortunately the original bassist cannot play his treasure anymore due to age and health reasons, only time I have seen, and heard Mr. Amman "rock" a bass was on my bass out on the street sidewalk.

Mr. Amman is Joop Amman, who is not to be confused with his father, who was living from being a musician, whom is also called Joop Amman and his msuic is out there on vinyl and the YouTube:

The bass was bought by Joop, as I call him how informal it may be, we really have a bond about anything bass and jazz related and Joop purchased his "baby" from a bass dealer who sold instruments to orchestras, at the time there were ten basses to choose from and the original post depicted bass is the one which eventually got chosen and back then it cost quite a few "guldens!".

More will follow, for Joop has a wife: Els, she does too has stories to tell and together are Els & Joop a lovely couple who has been through a lot and seen a lot.

Thank You all for Your interest.

Rama

P.S.

 

[Rama Temmink]

Jannuary she will be having a visit to luthier Lucas Suringar, stoked!

 

[AGCurry]

Beautiful instrument! Some of your photos show it in a corner in front of what looks like a radiator. Not a good location if your heat is on.

 

[Rama Temmink]

Hi Mr. AGCurry!

I do apologise profusely!

The instrument was posing for less than a minute next to radiator, recently I took an old leather belt and diy'ed four side-bumpers to place the instrument on its side to the floor and now both the instrument and I are pleased!

Thank You all for all Your reactions in every way possible!

Groetjes,

Rama

P.S. The trip to the luthier Lucas Suringar this January shall be my fifteenth-year anniversary stepping into his workshop!

P.P.S. After many years owning, playing and renting all sorts of double basses my conclusion would be... be content with your instrument, be respectful towards your instrument and be joyous to be able to enjoy music making as a whole and not only double bass, but the horn too and the percussion and et cetera!... For eventually us bassists, us instrumentalists, and of course us entertainers are simultaneously a major and a minor facet of the bigger musical-picture!

P.P.P.S. Wishing, and preferring, for Mr. Amman to touch, play and enjoy his sole, main instrument, but he just cannot anymore and I feel bummed about this reality, but pray everyday that someday Joop will be playing a double bass which will be litarally made in Heaven!

 

[Rama Temmink]

A family shoot^^