Double Bass Bass with nitrocellulose varnish

[AGCurry]

After trying the bass with the new varnish and the bass with the old nitrocellulose varnish, I bought the one with the nitrocellulose varnish.
The choice was difficult, but after spending two hours with the luthier comparing the instruments, I ultimately preferred the sound of the bass which had the nitrocellulose varnish.

I hope you're not concluding that the finish is a significant factor in the sound.

 

[Canauos]

Absolutely not !!
It's just a question of sound, beyond aesthetics.

On the other hand, I must admit that the double bass I chose had a sound color similar to the same double bass I had tried (same finish, same touch). The "new" one, with the new varnish, had a really different sound but also a different feel.

The two instruments being the same price, I wonder if there are not other things that have changed on the new one, in addition to the aesthetics. Hard to know.

But I realized that you absolutely have to try the instruments and focus on the sound, without considering the shape and finish.

I also have the impression that the new varnish is actually a kind of nitro varnish, but with another color that looks more "artisanal". It is difficult to know exactly how the instrument is machined.