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Double Bass Best double bass you ever played? (DB FORUM THREAD)
- Thread starter fuzzy beard
- Start date
...it was a Gibson SB450 then a 1978 Precision then a 1965 Precision then a 1962 Jazz then a couple other 1965 Precisions, then a 1964 Precision then a late 40's Kay blonde then a 2007 Stingray then a early 80s 4003 then a 2013 Am Spl P and right now it's a G&L 2500 but that will be different soon too...
I've played some pretty nice basses, but two of them in particular stick out in my mind.
One is a bass attributed to Maggini c.1640s. Smaller bodied, and kind of goofy looking despite its unique beauty. wasn't the easiest bass to play ever (demanded good bow technique), but its tone was beautiful and it was LOUD, like, way louder than a bass of that size has any right to be. That may have to do with the guy who plays it, who is himself a loud player.
The other is an unlabeled Italian bass that is for sale in Boston (unless it was bought recently. whomever bought it got a steal for the list price). It was also a relatively small bass, but it had a rich tone and would make any orchestra player very happy.
I also think about my bass, but I'm biased because i play it every day!!
eerbrev
One is a bass attributed to Maggini c.1640s. Smaller bodied, and kind of goofy looking despite its unique beauty. wasn't the easiest bass to play ever (demanded good bow technique), but its tone was beautiful and it was LOUD, like, way louder than a bass of that size has any right to be. That may have to do with the guy who plays it, who is himself a loud player.
The other is an unlabeled Italian bass that is for sale in Boston (unless it was bought recently. whomever bought it got a steal for the list price). It was also a relatively small bass, but it had a rich tone and would make any orchestra player very happy.
I also think about my bass, but I'm biased because i play it every day!!
eerbrev
I also have two. One was this:
http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2693.htm
Not an easy bass to live with because of its size but lordy it was a gorgeous sounding bass (I was in Tony's shoppe in London).
The other was the Gary Karr/Koussevitsky "Amati" bass.
I had lesson with Dennis Trembly (principal bass of the LA Phil) and Dennis owns some pretty great basses, but none of them were in his apt when I went for the lesson. he was preparing to do a new concerto with the Phil on the "Amati" (Frank Proto, I think) and that's the bass I had my lesson on.
Koussevitsky is still spinning in his grave.
Louis
http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2693.htm
Not an easy bass to live with because of its size but lordy it was a gorgeous sounding bass (I was in Tony's shoppe in London).
The other was the Gary Karr/Koussevitsky "Amati" bass.
I had lesson with Dennis Trembly (principal bass of the LA Phil) and Dennis owns some pretty great basses, but none of them were in his apt when I went for the lesson. he was preparing to do a new concerto with the Phil on the "Amati" (Frank Proto, I think) and that's the bass I had my lesson on.
Koussevitsky is still spinning in his grave.
Louis
I snuck a few notes on Joe Guastafeste's Busan at the A440 Violin Shop in Chicago. A religious experience. Stuff I struggle to play on my Christopher just popped right out. Even elicited a "sounds good" from Roberta.
New York Bass Works, anything by them. And almost any Fodera I've played.
My friend Mike Frost had a 60ish Precision that smoked!!
My friend Mike Frost had a 60ish Precision that smoked!!
Upright bass, Sean. It says where you are right at the top of the page...
This may be heresy, coming from somebody who owns three older German basses, but I picked up a Shen Willow Rogeri yesterday and I'm really impressed with the sound. It's definitely louder than the old basses and plenty deep too, even strung with Spiro Reds. Playing it in will be fun.
This may be heresy, coming from somebody who owns three older German basses, but I picked up a Shen Willow Rogeri yesterday and I'm really impressed with the sound. It's definitely louder than the old basses and plenty deep too, even strung with Spiro Reds. Playing it in will be fun.
Best bass? John Clayton's German bass that was given to him by Ray Brown. That thing is a monster.
I played for a few minutes and that thing is a winner hands down.
I played for a few minutes and that thing is a winner hands down.
old Italian bass property of my former teacher, Symphony bassist.... Violin shape, supossedly 200 years old... Very similar in shape to a Pietro Vangelisti Bass listed in David gage's website... The sound totally powerful, expressive... best setup ever, very loud & the easiest bass to play in low notes, vibrato was a dream, plenty of sustain too...his cons: too big shoulders, also it is difficult to not hit the bouts when playing arco, the violin corner hurted my right knee when playing seated... it's a relic & any damage you do to that thing cost 1000000000000000000000000 million dollars to repair.. the sound was very similar to this one
+1 on the Brock in Contrabass Shoppe, that is a wonderful instrument and the tone was beautiful. I preferred it above all other basses in the shop.
I also have played a John Lott that was stunning.
My teacher's bass (made in the 1800's). Worth about $80,000. When you play a good bass (and I mean like the ones on the upper floor of David Gage in NYC), you realize there's no feeling like it, and your playing immediately blossoms for a good 10 minutes. You feel so CONFIDENT hahahaha 
My 250+ year-old German flat-back! Plays like butter, warm, round, dark, clear sound, top is about half as thick as most other bass tops I've seen. The only cons are that the tone is so clear that intonation must be perfect or it's very noticeable, and the shape of the upper bouts makes extended thumb position playing challenging.
Oh yeah, there was this bass at Chuck Traeger's shop in NYC I played about 30 yrs. ago whose low notes rattled my brain; cost $40,000 back then...
Oh yeah, there was this bass at Chuck Traeger's shop in NYC I played about 30 yrs. ago whose low notes rattled my brain; cost $40,000 back then...
I think they're not all spectacular. I played one at Hammond Ashley a few years ago that I recall being an absolute monster, but having a great, sweet, singing high end. But the last few I've played have been uninteresting.
To thine own self be true.
As for me, Invalid Link Removed was, as one prominent ex-poster around here might have said, a Bass of Power and extraordinary Refinement. It has the Kind of Sound which simply Makes the player Think in Capitals.
A ~200 year-old Dodd. Incredible low end and projection. It was a former 3-string converted to 4.
The Karr 'Amati' bass... amazing experience.
And then, a modern copy of a Guarneri, the original owned by the Minneapolis Symphony. The copy is supposedly better because it is of course in perfect shape.
And then, a modern copy of a Guarneri, the original owned by the Minneapolis Symphony. The copy is supposedly better because it is of course in perfect shape.
I recently played Drew Gress's French Hawkes bass which sounded amazing. Sounds even better when he plays it. Played Patitucci's bass recently too which I think is a pollman but didn't like it as much as Drew's.
