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Double Bass C. David Horine, Cincinnati luthier
- Thread starter simps
- Start date
I wanted to add my 2 cents here after stumbling across this forum. I have an American Standard Bass restored by Dennis Knight in the late 1980's- fabulous work. Dennis was a student of my father at Ball State (Philip Albright) as was his older brother Anthony. Greta family with tragically short lives.
I have a few memories of going to the Bass Viol Shop with my father in the 70's. Lousy neigborhood but a wonderous place filled with instruments and very friendly folks. I was glad to see so many people remember Dave and also wanted to add my tribute to him- my father still speaks highly of him.
Tim Albright
I have a few memories of going to the Bass Viol Shop with my father in the 70's. Lousy neigborhood but a wonderous place filled with instruments and very friendly folks. I was glad to see so many people remember Dave and also wanted to add my tribute to him- my father still speaks highly of him.
Tim Albright
I came across this thread and had to add a comment. I met Dave Horine when I was a student at CCM from 77-81. I remember him as the kindest man. He worked on my bass, adding a C Extension. The job was perfect, and he was very nice in helping me work out the pay schedule for the job. He knew I was a student and priced accordingly.
All the Barry Green students at the time would hang out at the Bass Viol Shoppe whenever we had free time. Dave would let us try out any instrument, bow, string, rosin we wanted, for as long as we had the time and inclination.
He was a great luthier, and had a heart of gold.
All the Barry Green students at the time would hang out at the Bass Viol Shoppe whenever we had free time. Dave would let us try out any instrument, bow, string, rosin we wanted, for as long as we had the time and inclination.
He was a great luthier, and had a heart of gold.
I realize this is a very old thread but a great source of historic infor mation. I happen to run across an old bass bridge today. It was on a 1950 Kay bass I owned at one time. I bought the bass out of lNashville in the late very late 90s. For reasons I'm not even sure about I retained the bridge when I sold the bass. Well as I begin to scramble around for a bridge to put on another recently acquired old bass I found it today and for the first time saw a small label stamped on the bridge! C D Horne (and a 3 or 4 other characters after that I can't make out). I believe it to pretty old (hard as a rock) darkened up over time I presume - but, I'm not 100% sure. I was curious as to the maker and found this thread! I'm always interested in sources go great bassist, their luthiers and the fine workmanship done is past! I've attached the photo of the bridge here. Just hope it's something someone will enjoy seeing. Thanks!
Speedman,
Thanks so much for re visiting this thread, otherwise I'd have never seen it. The bass you see below was purchased from Dave Horine in 1972. Phillip Albright who was my bass teacher and mentor at Ball State University, drove me to Cincinnati to look at basses and we found the instrument that I have played ever since. You would have never know what this bass was to become, as the first time a saw it, it was covered in dark brown varnish, and in the process of being restored. After the restoration was completed Dr. Albright drove me back to Cincinnati to pick up the bass. It had been completely transformed through Dave's magic. I owe my carrier to Phillip Albright who showed me how to play the instrument and Dave Horine, who restored and provided me with a bass, that was perfect for me.
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She's a real beauty, Ric. I bought my first bow from Dave in the early 70's when I was a student at IU and playing a gig in Cincinnati.
Unless I am mistaken, I have the pleasure of adding the post to this thread that officially takes it past the decade mark. Happy Anniversary, Bassists! And not "Happy Anniversary, Us" because not only am I not a musician, I am also not in or from the area. "What is she doing here?" you are asking yourselves. Well, other than giving you the anniversary, I have a later business date with Bass Viol by several years, and it wasn't for a bass. We moved to Ashland, KY for five years in 1996 and Cincinnati was only three or four hours away. . My oldest son was a rising sixth grader, having completed five grades in an arts integrated elementary school in Charleston, SC where he specialized in violin. Reed Smith had given us the name Paul Bartel at Baroque Violin, Bass Viol, no name but the assurance that they also had a selection of violins and the name of a shop in North Carolina. The store across from the Music Hall loaned us a nice sounding French fiddle that we took back for his teacher to hear. Paul loaned us three more and we eventually bought a violin from him. At least as late as fall of 1996 the business across from the Music Hall was still open and still called "Bass Viol." I'm sorry that after all those years the business was lost, the name and the reputation connected to it. It sounds as though a lot of people through the years helped to build that reputation and in return Bass Viol helped to make the reputation of a number of people as well. I don't know what more anyone could ask than that.
I came across this thread and felt compelled to add my own experience with the Bass Viol shop. I spent five years of my life there and am still very sad about its demise. During all that time I heard so many wonderful testimonies about David Horine - and lots of great stories about how he got the shop going. It was his aura that I felt when I first arrived - and I believe that the shop survived for many years on the strength of his legacy.
I worked for Dennis Knight from 1995 to 2000 - mostly as his front-end manager - but I also learned a lot of lutherie skills and continue to work in that field. When I arrived, Jakstadt had just left - and his upstairs workshop lay untouched for years. Martin had been gone for a while - off to London where he began to make wonderful Cellos and Basses. Bein had also got his start there - and had gone on to form the very reputable Bein & Fushi. There were a number of other local luthiers, Lakeberg and Baer most notably, who had moved on to form the Bass Co-op - and I believe Lakeberg & Baer after that. Upon arrival I got the distinct impression that a lot of these luthiers had spit from the shop somewhat acrimoniously - and this was confirmed in conversations I had with a couple of them a few years later.
I took over front office duties not long after the first fire, which hung over the shop (literally) for some years after. I often found charred remains, burnt out cases and tools - and the details surrounding the fire (although not confirmed) were always somewhat mysterious. I got along fairly well with Dennis personally, especially at first, and had a lot of good experiences there. He was an excellent bow repairman - and perhaps did the best rehairs in the business - but I have to say that I rarely saw him work on basses or other instruments even though he tended to take the credit for all restorations and repairs to the customers (which is a fairly normal practice for proprietors of violin shops). The first few years I worked there all the repairs were done by Scott Jensen (who later moved to Quinn Violins in Minnesota). Scott was a fine luthier and taught me most of what I learned during my tenure there. The last couple of years the repairs were done by HyunHee Ahn (a Korean luthier that had to return to Korea when Dennis botched the paperwork) and Jen Gehler. There were other short-termers and office workers during this time also. When I arrived the business was fairly decimated by the fire and had little to no infrastructure. My contribution was to automate a lot of the business processes - bring in computers - and develop an online mail order catalogue. Some of you may remember the old Bass Viol Shop strings and accessories catalogue - that was my work.
As much as I loved the shop I decided to leave in 2000 after 5 years. The main reason was a growing discomfort with some of Dennis' business practices - especially relating to his consignment sales and treatment of consignees. I also felt that I had learned as much as I could there and decided to take an opportunity with a national music instrument distributor based in the same area. Dennis and I kept in touch as he was a customer of the company I had moved to - but I was concerned about him and the future of the shop. Somehow I wasn't surprised to hear of a second fire, which to my knowledge was ruled to be arson although the insurance company did cover it. I found out later that a lot of ex-employees were contacted for testimony but I was never asked. I was sad to hear some months later from a mutual friend and Bass Viol Shop customer that Dennis had committed suicide and that the shop was closed. Not only was it a tragedy of human loss - but also left a gaping hole in the bass community. I was also a little angry that David Horine's great legacy was now in ruins. I visited the shop some time it had reopened as Azzi & Wolf - and despite being a bass shop no longer it appeared to be in good hands. I had got to know Andy Wolf as a customer and he seemed passionate to keep something of the old place going with a new partner. I'm unsure of how things are now as I left the area some time ago.
This was all 15 years ago now but I could write a book on my experiences in that shop - and often thing back on those times. Dennis was a bit of a tragic figure who went from a young lad sweeping the floor under Horine to the shop proprietor over some wonderful luthiers that perhaps may have been better than he. I met some remarkable musicians and saw some truly amazing instruments come through that shop. I just hope everybody was compensated for any losses before it closed.
I worked for Dennis Knight from 1995 to 2000 - mostly as his front-end manager - but I also learned a lot of lutherie skills and continue to work in that field. When I arrived, Jakstadt had just left - and his upstairs workshop lay untouched for years. Martin had been gone for a while - off to London where he began to make wonderful Cellos and Basses. Bein had also got his start there - and had gone on to form the very reputable Bein & Fushi. There were a number of other local luthiers, Lakeberg and Baer most notably, who had moved on to form the Bass Co-op - and I believe Lakeberg & Baer after that. Upon arrival I got the distinct impression that a lot of these luthiers had spit from the shop somewhat acrimoniously - and this was confirmed in conversations I had with a couple of them a few years later.
I took over front office duties not long after the first fire, which hung over the shop (literally) for some years after. I often found charred remains, burnt out cases and tools - and the details surrounding the fire (although not confirmed) were always somewhat mysterious. I got along fairly well with Dennis personally, especially at first, and had a lot of good experiences there. He was an excellent bow repairman - and perhaps did the best rehairs in the business - but I have to say that I rarely saw him work on basses or other instruments even though he tended to take the credit for all restorations and repairs to the customers (which is a fairly normal practice for proprietors of violin shops). The first few years I worked there all the repairs were done by Scott Jensen (who later moved to Quinn Violins in Minnesota). Scott was a fine luthier and taught me most of what I learned during my tenure there. The last couple of years the repairs were done by HyunHee Ahn (a Korean luthier that had to return to Korea when Dennis botched the paperwork) and Jen Gehler. There were other short-termers and office workers during this time also. When I arrived the business was fairly decimated by the fire and had little to no infrastructure. My contribution was to automate a lot of the business processes - bring in computers - and develop an online mail order catalogue. Some of you may remember the old Bass Viol Shop strings and accessories catalogue - that was my work.
As much as I loved the shop I decided to leave in 2000 after 5 years. The main reason was a growing discomfort with some of Dennis' business practices - especially relating to his consignment sales and treatment of consignees. I also felt that I had learned as much as I could there and decided to take an opportunity with a national music instrument distributor based in the same area. Dennis and I kept in touch as he was a customer of the company I had moved to - but I was concerned about him and the future of the shop. Somehow I wasn't surprised to hear of a second fire, which to my knowledge was ruled to be arson although the insurance company did cover it. I found out later that a lot of ex-employees were contacted for testimony but I was never asked. I was sad to hear some months later from a mutual friend and Bass Viol Shop customer that Dennis had committed suicide and that the shop was closed. Not only was it a tragedy of human loss - but also left a gaping hole in the bass community. I was also a little angry that David Horine's great legacy was now in ruins. I visited the shop some time it had reopened as Azzi & Wolf - and despite being a bass shop no longer it appeared to be in good hands. I had got to know Andy Wolf as a customer and he seemed passionate to keep something of the old place going with a new partner. I'm unsure of how things are now as I left the area some time ago.
This was all 15 years ago now but I could write a book on my experiences in that shop - and often thing back on those times. Dennis was a bit of a tragic figure who went from a young lad sweeping the floor under Horine to the shop proprietor over some wonderful luthiers that perhaps may have been better than he. I met some remarkable musicians and saw some truly amazing instruments come through that shop. I just hope everybody was compensated for any losses before it closed.
I just discovered this series of posts.
I first visited the Bass Viol Shop when I drove down from Ann Arbor in 1973 looking for an instrument. I made several trips over the years for repairs and re-hairs, purchased a bass from Dave and a couple bows. The bass is a French style instrument with a good sound ... a huge improvement over the instrument I started on. I still have that bass and the original hand written receipt. I remember Dave told me the bass had originally belonged to his teacher and had to be rebuilt it as it had sustained some damage being used as a jazz instrument. There are a couple dings on the back from that period and that conversation always comes to mind when I notice them. A few years later I returned the bass to the shop to have a low-C fingered extension added. Dave checked the instrument in for me and I believe Andy Wolf did the work.
Dave was a wonderful man. I remember he always took time to check with me to see how things were going. We talked a lot about different schools of bass making and about repairs. A couple of our conversations took a more personal turn and he told me he had recovered earlier from a serious illness, lymphoma I believe. He said he had learned to accept his human vulnerability. The Bass Viol Shop was a magical place and I think Dave appreciated my fascination with it. He would let me and others hang out for hours playing the ever changing stock of old basses. The huge Octobass he had on display at the front of the store was the subject of a few conversations.
I visited the shop once or twice after Dave passed and found it was not the same. I've heard it said that organizations take on the personality of their leader and, for me, the Bass Viol Shop lost it's magic when we lost C. David Horine. He was uniquely passionate about his craft and his clients. He was a great guy and a true gentleman.
Mike Wilson
Chicago
I first visited the Bass Viol Shop when I drove down from Ann Arbor in 1973 looking for an instrument. I made several trips over the years for repairs and re-hairs, purchased a bass from Dave and a couple bows. The bass is a French style instrument with a good sound ... a huge improvement over the instrument I started on. I still have that bass and the original hand written receipt. I remember Dave told me the bass had originally belonged to his teacher and had to be rebuilt it as it had sustained some damage being used as a jazz instrument. There are a couple dings on the back from that period and that conversation always comes to mind when I notice them. A few years later I returned the bass to the shop to have a low-C fingered extension added. Dave checked the instrument in for me and I believe Andy Wolf did the work.
Dave was a wonderful man. I remember he always took time to check with me to see how things were going. We talked a lot about different schools of bass making and about repairs. A couple of our conversations took a more personal turn and he told me he had recovered earlier from a serious illness, lymphoma I believe. He said he had learned to accept his human vulnerability. The Bass Viol Shop was a magical place and I think Dave appreciated my fascination with it. He would let me and others hang out for hours playing the ever changing stock of old basses. The huge Octobass he had on display at the front of the store was the subject of a few conversations.
I visited the shop once or twice after Dave passed and found it was not the same. I've heard it said that organizations take on the personality of their leader and, for me, the Bass Viol Shop lost it's magic when we lost C. David Horine. He was uniquely passionate about his craft and his clients. He was a great guy and a true gentleman.
Mike Wilson
Chicago
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Hello everyone,
I just came upon this thread about David Horine and would love to add a few personal words about this wonderful man.
In July of 1966 I arrived in Cincinnati to start my new job with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It was a very unusual kickoff to what turned out to be a 31-year stay in that after around a week of rehearsals the orchestra was off on a 10 week State Department tour around the world. When I arrived at the first rehearsal I was told by the personal manager which chair to take. Since I was quite early, the stage was bare, except for a couple of percussionists arranging their artillery and the harpist tuning her instrument. I began looking through the music folder which was cram-packed with all of the repertoire that we would be playing on tour - around 6 different programs. Lots of music that I'd never performed before to look at, with music by composers I'd hardly heard of. Who was this Carl Nielson who wrote such difficult bass parts?! It looked like I was going to have to do some serious practicing in my hotel room the following few days before we left!
As I looked through the folder, touching on something I’d never seen before, musicians began arriving. The first bassist to appear on-stage settled in on the stand next to mine and, seeing a new and unfamiliar face, immediately smiled and said; “Hello, I’m Dave Horine, you must be the new guy.” A couple of minutes later the personal manager came up and told me that he’d need to find someone to room with me on the tour. Dave piped up and said; “I need a room mate also. How about if we roomed together?” I said; “Great, let’s do it!” So, over the next 11 weeks, from Cincinnati to Rome to Athens, all over Europe, the Middle East, through Bombay, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and the rest of the Far East, David and I got to know each other.
By the time we got back we’d developed a friendship that lasted until he passed away 20 years later. My wife and I, with no relatives in Cincinnati, spend many holidays as guests of David and his wife, Alice and were made to feel as a part of their family.
As a luthier, David occupied a perch at the top of the bass world with few others. Always the calm, unhurried, perfectionist who was able to do wonders with our “sick” babies, whether they needed a little tweak to get a wolf to behave better, or a major operation because of an accident of nature or automobile. In David’s hands we could all breath easier, knowing that all would turn out well.
One day, on my way across the street from Music Hall headed for the Bass Viol Shop, I saw a car parked right in front with a New York license plate and a tall figure pulling a bass out of it. When he finished extracting the bass and turned around I was surprised to see a former college (Manhattan School of Music) mate, Ron Carter. Ron had driven all the way from N.Y. so David could do some work on his bass!
Dave had not only gained much admiration from some of the finest players in our huge family, but also inspired a host of (then) young luthiers whom he took under his wing over the years. I was so happy to be reminded of the help, tutorage and friendship that he gave this then youngster, newly arrived in a new and unfamiliar place half a century ago. A toast to you and Alice, and the kids, Dave, Jr., Jane, Betsy and Joe too, my friend. You’re surely one of the good guys!
With love and affection,
Frank Proto
N.B. I’m uploading a photo of David which was taken around 1950 in front of Music Hall in Cincinnati. That giant bass spent a long time at the Bass Viol Shop. I don’t remember who the maker was and have no idea what happened to it.
I just came upon this thread about David Horine and would love to add a few personal words about this wonderful man.
In July of 1966 I arrived in Cincinnati to start my new job with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It was a very unusual kickoff to what turned out to be a 31-year stay in that after around a week of rehearsals the orchestra was off on a 10 week State Department tour around the world. When I arrived at the first rehearsal I was told by the personal manager which chair to take. Since I was quite early, the stage was bare, except for a couple of percussionists arranging their artillery and the harpist tuning her instrument. I began looking through the music folder which was cram-packed with all of the repertoire that we would be playing on tour - around 6 different programs. Lots of music that I'd never performed before to look at, with music by composers I'd hardly heard of. Who was this Carl Nielson who wrote such difficult bass parts?! It looked like I was going to have to do some serious practicing in my hotel room the following few days before we left!
As I looked through the folder, touching on something I’d never seen before, musicians began arriving. The first bassist to appear on-stage settled in on the stand next to mine and, seeing a new and unfamiliar face, immediately smiled and said; “Hello, I’m Dave Horine, you must be the new guy.” A couple of minutes later the personal manager came up and told me that he’d need to find someone to room with me on the tour. Dave piped up and said; “I need a room mate also. How about if we roomed together?” I said; “Great, let’s do it!” So, over the next 11 weeks, from Cincinnati to Rome to Athens, all over Europe, the Middle East, through Bombay, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and the rest of the Far East, David and I got to know each other.
By the time we got back we’d developed a friendship that lasted until he passed away 20 years later. My wife and I, with no relatives in Cincinnati, spend many holidays as guests of David and his wife, Alice and were made to feel as a part of their family.
As a luthier, David occupied a perch at the top of the bass world with few others. Always the calm, unhurried, perfectionist who was able to do wonders with our “sick” babies, whether they needed a little tweak to get a wolf to behave better, or a major operation because of an accident of nature or automobile. In David’s hands we could all breath easier, knowing that all would turn out well.
One day, on my way across the street from Music Hall headed for the Bass Viol Shop, I saw a car parked right in front with a New York license plate and a tall figure pulling a bass out of it. When he finished extracting the bass and turned around I was surprised to see a former college (Manhattan School of Music) mate, Ron Carter. Ron had driven all the way from N.Y. so David could do some work on his bass!
Dave had not only gained much admiration from some of the finest players in our huge family, but also inspired a host of (then) young luthiers whom he took under his wing over the years. I was so happy to be reminded of the help, tutorage and friendship that he gave this then youngster, newly arrived in a new and unfamiliar place half a century ago. A toast to you and Alice, and the kids, Dave, Jr., Jane, Betsy and Joe too, my friend. You’re surely one of the good guys!
With love and affection,
Frank Proto
N.B. I’m uploading a photo of David which was taken around 1950 in front of Music Hall in Cincinnati. That giant bass spent a long time at the Bass Viol Shop. I don’t remember who the maker was and have no idea what happened to it.
- Jan 12, 2004
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- Owner, Stand Up Guy Basses (Repair/Sell/Buy upright basses)
Dear Mr. Proto,
Thanks, so much, for signing on to the TalkBass community and posting your thoughts about David Horine! Very evocative, and the picture is fantastic...
