Double Bass Contrabassetto from the ground up

[BobKay]

There is also a resistance to Latin American makers because potential buyers are concerned about the (sometimes nontraditional) woods and the conditions (more humidity there during build). I found this when I was trying to get the late Roberto Giormenti's basses known here. I think both reasons are unfounded. If Roberto or Andrea were in Italy or the US their prices would double, and not just from cost of living adjustments.

While Bobkay has a point about “never buy a bass sight unseen”, commissioning a bass from Andrea (and previously Roberto) is not like ordering a stock bass from Gollihur, Upton or String Emporium -- let alone the significantly less dependable/reputable online dealers.

With Andrea my experience echoes Flatback's: you engage in a custom conversation, in great detail, about your needs, playing style, price range etc, as you would with any custom builder here. So, in that sense, you are buying an "unseen" bass from Arnold, Nick Lloyd, Gary Upton, etc., as well, if you commission a bass that does not yet exit. You are betting on their reputations. We think Andrea's reputation should be better known.

I agree. I ordered my first bass sight unseen/unplayed from Upton, based on probably less real world feedback than what you and Flatback have provided. It's just an observation on my part, not something I necessarily think is relevant.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@flatback @LouisF if either of you goes to the ISB this next time around, I would love to see your basses!

 

[LouisF]

Happy to do it... if!

 

[Ric Vice]

My bass is a 5/8 Mirecourt, I've had it since I was in college, which is a long time past. It plays easier and sounds just great. Not an orchestral bass but great for anything else.

 

[flatback]

THanks Rick I'll take it. It is a good thing you live across the country from me because I would be inclined toward a felonious act if you were closer. The sloped shoulders and fine shape, is just my cup of tea.

 

[Ric Vice]

Piro,
You have that beautiful Spada Contrabasetto, so there's no need to "covet thy TB er's bass" I've listened to that bass on youtube

and it sounds excellent. Great playing as well.

 

[groooooove]

so,

I posted in the "andrea spada basses" thread that I've commissioned a Maggini-inspired violin from him.

Since checking in with him on the violin (still in its early stages) we started chatting about making me a contrabassetto.

After a little back and fourth about my needs, his woods, other little details, I am absolutely pulling this trigger.

This design that he has created makes too much sense. a true string instrument made from fine tone woods, reimagined for both modern and traditional use. D'salo was a master, but he did not consider lugging those basses on a NYC subway when he was working the 16th century.

I would love to post updates all along the way. Of course I have not yet made it official with a down payment, but I intend to soon.

so, here's what I've asked him for: Rich, projecting solo sound. Suitable to string A-C for cello sonatas and the like. Perfectly capable to play with spirocore light for jazz. Able to survive long island humid summers and cold winters.

the tentative plan: violin cornered "zagora" outline, in lacewood with a hybrid back, and around a 39.5-40" string.

I'm still not entirely sure what the hybrid back is, but to my understanding it's a shallow-carved round back with bracing, something like the best of both worlds.

I think contrabassettos are the way of the future, outside of orchestral subwoofer basses. I can't seem to find anything wrong with them.

 

[flatback]

as is apparent from 40 pages of enthusiasm, I think you are going to be really happy. These are great basses. And yes they are a breeze to work with and travel with. Bravo. Mine is Zagora and it is lovely.

 

[LouisF]

Do it! )
Louis

 

[flatback]

Love this bass.

 

[groooooove]

I send andrea a down payment on my contrabassetto.

I am really excited to see this instrument get built, but of course more excited to have it in my collection.

I know i have not seen his work in person yet. but I have a feeling i'm going to be really happy with both instruments he is making me.

stay tuned for some wood photos hopefully!!

 

[Earl]

His contrabassetto website does not seem to work anymore. Is there another one?

 

[groooooove]

His contrabassetto website does not seem to work anymore. Is there another one?

not to my knowledge. he seems to use facebook, and occasionally instagram.

 

[Nathan Levine]

His contrabassetto website does not seem to work anymore. Is there another one?

That’s too bad. It was a beautiful site!

 

[flatback]

Andrea was in process of building a new updated website a few years ago...I think things got very busy and the politics down there got wacky and then the pandemic....He has a family too, plus he is a player, does repairs, builds violins, full size basses etc.
I feel so lucky to have one of his instruments, given the constraints on his time.
Back around the time I commissioned my contrabassetto I was pressing him to make several and bring them up here and I would help him sell them (without compensation) just because I so believe in his concept. I thought for sure there would be many more commissions for contrabsettos by now. They are extraordinary jazz instruments- the sounds sits so well in a band and the instrument is so superior to all the other small bodied basses - I thought for sure he would be making nothing BUT Contrabassettos...The thing about them is that they are CARVED, and by HIM. So they aren't you know an Eminance or, up the scale a Kolstein. He doesn't CNC everything and then slap some varnish on it either. He even carves the bridges. Just saying.
I miss his website too, he has made some beautiful Contrabassettos- guitar shaped, half guitar shaped, busetto, gamba, violin cornered, round and flatback and other more far out shapes too. I wanted him to make a flatback gamba- he wanted to too- I think some european dude commissioned one and he has this cool video where he packs it up into a bike case and wheels it out of his hotel room. On the Contrabassetto FB page...

 

[groooooove]

Andrea was in process of building a new updated website a few years ago...I think things got very busy and the politics down there got wacky and then the pandemic....He has a family too, plus he is a player, does repairs, builds violins, full size basses etc.
I feel so lucky to have one of his instruments, given the constraints on his time.
Back around the time I commissioned my contrabassetto I was pressing him to make several and bring them up here and I would help him sell them (without compensation) just because I so believe in his concept. I thought for sure there would be many more commissions for contrabsettos by now. They are extraordinary jazz instruments- the sounds sits so well in a band and the instrument is so superior to all the other small bodied basses - I thought for sure he would be making nothing BUT Contrabassettos...The thing about them is that they are CARVED, and by HIM. So they aren't you know an Eminance or, up the scale a Kolstein. He doesn't CNC everything and then slap some varnish on it either. He even carves the bridges. Just saying.
I miss his website too, he has made some beautiful Contrabassettos- guitar shaped, half guitar shaped, busetto, gamba, violin cornered, round and flatback and other more far out shapes too. I wanted him to make a flatback gamba- he wanted to too- I think some european dude commissioned one and he has this cool video where he packs it up into a bike case and wheels it out of his hotel room. On the Contrabassetto FB page...

I completely agree.

I see these contrabassettos, and i see how he works. the idea that anyone would buy that kolstein instrument, instead of this (for around $2k less than the kolstein..) absolutely boggles my mind.

Once I get mine, and pending being thrilled with it (i'd be shocked it i was not, but i suppose anything is possible!) I plan on bringing it around to all the guys in this area and turning them on to this concept. I would be surprised If i dont get at least a couple of my friends to order one - one guy in particular who's a very popular player/teacher I know is going to love this.

anyway, andrea is finishing up a few bass orders in the near future. then my violin should be delivered possibly next month.

Once I have the violin i'd be happy to show that to anyone interested in his work in this area. Not a bass, but still an example of his work. I asked him for a maggini style, we settled on pear wood back and sides, and I was aiming for a rich warm tone rather than a bright projecting cannon. we'll see!!

I also should have photos of the leopard wood he will use for my contrabassetto soon. woo!!!!

 

[peterpalmieri]

Why the negativity about the Kolstein bass?

 

[groooooove]

Why the negativity about the Kolstein bass?

I really don't intend to come off as negative. I want to purposely state that my opinions are meant to be positive towards what our friend andrea does, rather than negative about what kolstein does.

there's a huge difference in what you are getting for what you are paying, that's all. $6.5k + tax is significantly more than the most expensive contrabassetto, which would be hand made, by one master builder, to your specs. as others stated... he even hand carves his own bridges. they really would be in the $20k range if he lived elsewhere..

and if someone has a kolstein travel bass and loves it, that's awesome. no negativity intended. I've played them at the shop many times and they're just not for me is all.

 

[Ric Vice]

Since I already own a Mirecourt 5/8’s the Kolstine Busetto wasn’t purchased to replace my good instrument, rather to stand alongside it. Had I heard the Spada first based on Piro’s enthusiasm and praise that would have likely been my choice. Where and how the Busetto’s are built isn’t something that’s commonly known or shared. My luthier had to rebuild the heel of my Busettos neck, while I’ll not go into specifics here, I will say if you have a Kolstine Busetto Bass make sure it’s insured. Just my take.

 

[groooooove]

oh yes...

that's leopardwood.

I love how unique it is. I love that it's native to brazil where he works. I love that he told me this would have the "most amazing result" for what I was asking for tonally. I love how wild it looks.

This is phase one: a picture of blocks of wood. but those are indeed the pieces selected for my instruments back and sides.

my violin order from andrea he hopes to complete by the end of this month. I'm super excited, as I use a violin daily for my day job. That being said, i'm even more excited for this contrabassetto.

can't wait to check back in here with updates eventually! as of now the original estimate for the contrabassetto would be around this summer.