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Double Bass Lombardi 1976

Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,203
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
#1
After some time with this bass I am quite smitten with it. It's a very unique instrument. Lombardi basically has just one model. Mine is different than any other I've tracked down. Upon looking at Italian basses in the books I find that Lombardi was following some well known Italians before him. The one 'feature' I have not been able to find in any other bass is the edging. Lombardi did not bother to use purfling on this bass. He simply carved out an edge along the entire instrument. I wonder if anyone out there has ever seen such a feature on any other bass?

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IMG_0511 by mingusbeat, on Flickr
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IMG_0513 by mingusbeat, on Flickr
 
#9
That's right, I forgot about Jacquet. You're right about Lombardi, he seems to just kind of rough them out, throw on some varnish and be done with it. I've played four now. Some are more "finished" than others. As you know there a a lot of old Italian basses made this way, some far more extreme. I'm not sure if Lombardi was lazy or following a tradition. There are odd details like the neck block that took more time than a typical block. When people see this bass they always think it's very old. Sharp eyes always guess it's Italian. Although it still bites back a bit under the bow the bass continues to open up and is very punchy, loud and present.
 
#15
...being born close to where the Lombardi's workshop is, I took a chance to made a visit there last year. Giuseppe's son, named Foscolo Lombardi, now around 75, is still working as a luthier. Giuseppe passed away about 15-20 years ago. Foscolo also mainly deals with basses, although his work is even more rough than his father's. I've owned and sold 2 Giuseppe Lombardi basses in the past but yours, Jason, looks like the best made I've seen so far. I am sure it sounds great. Enjoy it !
 
#17
@bastef
Thats great information, thanks. I kind of started to look around to find out more about the guy. If I had him in the room I would ask him a lot of questions about why he did things the way he did. Ken Smith, who sold me the bass, said that Lombardi's appeared in NY in the late seventies and that he was asking 4.5K for a new bass. At the time this was a rather preposterous price as old classic Italian basses were about that same price. All I can gather is he thought a lot of his skills though he didn't seem to care too much for detailed aesthetics. I had seen a few Lombardi's before at Kolsteins and I always had the same thought upon playing them: I want to like this bass, it's very cool looking but kind of funky in that it doesn't quite feel quite finished or something. Of course, I wasn't in the market for a bass in this price range and was mostly interested in old pedigree basses. When I first saw this one I passed it right by in favor of some others in Ken's fine stable. But when I played the first note I took notice. It wasn't as refined but it had a lot of sound and the sound sprung off the bass. When I got her home I immediately realized that it was not as easy to bow as I had thought and had my doubts. But, as with most basses, as I played it I made my adjustments and the bass made hers. I'll always pine for the finest basses as is my true nature but I am happy with this instrument and feel like it is helping me express what I want to express, the way I want to express it.
 
#18
Jason, hope you enjoy :

here's Foscolo Lombardi, Giuseppe's son, talking about his work ;)

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Dovadola is a small village on the hills between Ravenna and Forlì, about 60-70 km from Bologna. I grew up in that area.
 
#20
Jason Sypher said:
Do you know any other basses by him online or any other info on Giuseppe? Are there basses owned locally?
Click to expand...

mmmhh not really, other than the 2 at Kolstein's and the other one at K.Smith's . There was one for sale in a French shop a while ago, I wonder if I still have the photo...

I don't know anyone here with a Giuseppe Lombardi instrument in his hands. And I know lots of players.
 

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