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Double Bass interesting scrolls

Mike Arnopol

Mike Arnopol

Inactive
Commercial User
Jan 4, 2005
3,423
2,813
71
Chicago
Disclosures
Owner of MAS Soundworks
#1
I'm having a bass made and asked the luthier if he did lion's head scrolls. He said he'd love to do that and did I have any ideas as far as what I'd like. I'm wondering if anyone has any pics of lion's head scrolls or maybe a woman's head scroll. I'm open to suggestions as far as alternatives. I have some pics of Jeff Bolbach's and a Gand and Bernadel. Appreciate any input.
 
#2
Doesn't Ed Maday have a lion's head scroll bass done? I'd actually lean a little more towards the cherub scroll that Thwaite's used in their DOUBLE BASSIST ad since about forever. I think it was Brunelleschi?
 
#4
I don't know Ed Mayday. Any contact info? Yeah, I"ll check out Thwaites. I used to buy basses there in the early 90's. (when the dollar and pound were about 1=1 ) Luciano Golia is making me a bass.I figure that at age 52 I can be allowed to have fun with my instrument and I remember as a kid seeing the lion's head and thinking that it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. I do like the idea of a cherub or woman's face, too.
 
#6
Oh, I know that carved figure scrolls may be considered tacky, but after 30 years playing for a living, I'm more interested in having a bit of fun. Luciano Golia is making the bass. I had mentioned in some earlier posts that my bass got trashed by US airport security. I like the sound of Luciano's basses, and to be frank, they are priced at a point that I can afford. When I was starting my studies in my teens, I used to drool over the lion's heads and other carved figure scrolls. After years of buying and selling nice instruments and being a bit of a bass snob, I have to admit that my tastes are still just as immature as when I was 16.
 
#7
Do you have a copy of BIRD LIVES? There's a photo in there of Bird posing with a piece of Egyptian pharoah-era sculpture that looks uncannily like him; I always thought that would make a nice scroll. Having Bird looking over your shoulder all the time...

Anyway, I found this nice pic on line....
 
#8
Ed Fuqua said:
Do you have a copy of BIRD LIVES? There's a photo in there of Bird posing with a piece of Egyptian pharoah-era sculpture that looks uncannily like him; I always thought that would make a nice scroll. Having Bird looking over your shoulder all the time...

Anyway, I found this nice pic on line....
Click to expand...

That would be a great one; I drive by that sculpture often. Of course, it is a couple of stories high, so you'd need to size it down just a bit.
 
#18
Mike, this is very exciting. I think Bolbach's lion's head is the bomb. A few years ago, I checked out an old Louis Lotz bass with a wonderful, subtley carved lion's head. Unfortunately, while it was a beautiful instrument and the head completely gassed me, I thought it was a bit too delicate for the jazz life, so I passed. I would love to have that feature!!
 

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