Double Bass Just thought I'd share

[standupright]

My Aunt played with the Virginia Symphony for 30-40 years with this lovely old Tyrolean (I'm pretty sure that's what she told me) bass. When I went to visit her I got to play it like she used to let me when I was student as a child. I have more pictures somewhere of the bass, but, in a ver unorganized fashion. I'll post more as I find them.

 

[eucalyptus]

nice!

 

[tomshepp]

Very cool!

 

[standupright]

and yes, i'm bowing french with a german bow.

 

[eucalyptus]

the angle almost looks like you're bowing with the wood. i love optical illusions.

 

[standupright]

ok....found some more pics. some of them not so great quality.

 

[standupright]

 

[standupright]

 

[dvmweb]

Very Nice to see. I love older instruments. How does it sound?

Walt MI/USA

 

[standupright]

Very Nice to see. I love older instruments. How does it sound?

Walt MI/USA

unbelievable. loud. deep. round. just about everything i would want a DB to sound like.

 

[John Wentzien]

That headstock is a work of art..nice!

 

[Gearhead43]

The pegbox and scroll are cool too.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

That headstock is a work of art..nice!

Somebody run over and check on Pee Dub. I think I heard a "pop".

 

[LouisF]

I THINK from looking at the peg box that this might have been originally a three-stringer, which got converted. Those basses (I'm in the final stages - I hope! - of having one converted and restored, myself) are generally pre-mid 19th Century, so the wood is old and seasoned. Some one once called them the "poor man's Italian" bass.

Congrats

Louis

 

[standupright]

The pegbox and scroll are cool too.

Somebody run over and check on Pee Dub. I think I heard a "pop".

 

[standupright]

I THINK from looking at the peg box that this might have been originally a three-stringer, which got converted. Those basses (I'm in the final stages - I hope! - of having one converted and restored, myself) are generally pre-mid 19th Century, so the wood is old and seasoned. Some one once called them the "poor man's Italian" bass.

Congrats

Louis

my aunt did mention that it is nearly 300 years old. she paid a mint for it when she started her music career 50 some years ago.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

It's not a headstock.

/Arnold Scharzenberger

I dunno what you call them but the knobless hatpegs are kinda cool.

 

[pigsonthewing]

It's not a headstock.

/Arnold Scharzenberger

I dunno what you call them but the knobless hatpegs are kinda cool.

My apologies

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I agree, man, the whole thing do looks great!

BTW.... how's that Nyman's working out on your P-bass?

 

[Paul Warburton]

I'm just ignoring the nastiness aimed at one of the less astute. Ya never see me doing that.

I love the bass, standup. The hat pegs were probably sawn off.
That wood is the original wood. They were originally, more than likely dyed black, as in most other older hat pegs. Somebody just didn't go for that, cut them down and sanded.
I like the way they look now, especially that they're full plates.
Most basses over 130 years, or so were originally three stringers, as Louis points out.
300 years IMO, is stretching the age.
Tyrolean shop bass would be my first guess.
Basses like this are very sought after, patucularly by jazz bassists, for thier open sound with pizz and arco. Good size to deal with and pretty damn hearty for their age.