Double Bass Most Expensive Double Bass

[Don Higdon]

I read somewhere before, while doing research on old instruments, that Stradivarius had made a bass, if the whereabouts of this were known, would it be up there?

Or does it not matter, as he didn't specialize in basses?

Stradivari never made a bass.
Neither did Amati, despite what this museum says:

 

[Mike Arnopol]

Most are forgeries. The most you can say is " Italian and old". Lots of letters of "authentication" were written between the 40's and 60's by people who didn't know basses. That's why there are a lot of Amati's and Busans out there. There was a bass owned by a former teacher in the CSO that had "papers" saying if was an Maggini. Gamba shaped carved back with a German 'trellis" at the top of the back. Likely a German bass. Another CSO bass with "papers" was a Gasparo DeSalo. All you could say about this ancient gamba shaped round back bass was that it was made like crap and was super-old. No way was it a DaSalo. Incredibly crude looking. I remember in the early 90's that a likely authentic Vincenzo Panormo bass was going for $40k in the UK----and I'm thinking "what idiot is going to pay that much for a bass" ?If it was $40k today, I'd sell an organ to get it!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

and I'm thinking "what idiot is going to pay that much for a bass" ?If it was $40k today, I'd sell an organ to get it!

Sounds like jet lag to me!!!!

 

[lhoward]

I think checkinig with Ken Smith would be a good idea. Of the basses he had at ISB 2009 at Penn State in State College, PA, one was priced at around $132K (if I recall correctly). That bass, which I don't recall the maker, was a beautifully sounding instrument and I drooled every time I heard it. I preferred to stand a ways from the bass when someone else played it so I could absorb that sound.

Lloyd Howard

 

[Don Carrigan]

Without giving the specifics of anyone's personal business: What is the most money a Double Bass has sold for that you know of?
Again I am researching for a program I am doing on the Double Bass. Hence I want to make the program interesting and educational.
I ask the above question at a music store that sells lower end strings instruments and the salesman's answer was, "half a million," for a Double Bass. (Don't know any details)

Last year SKINNER AUCTIONS in Boston sold the Italian bass used in the movie 'JAWS'. It went for $160,000 plus 17% for Skinner sales fee plus other rip offs (the buyer paid 17% on top of that!) Many complained about the bad repairs and expense to fix it if it could be corrected.

My father paid $80 in 1950 for my 1820 Prescott Busetto (now restored and a new 5 string neck was installed. The Luthier, Volker Nahrmann of Billerica, MA said what others repeat: "That belongs in a locked cabinet backstage at Boston Symphony Hall". It is now in the hands of Karl Olsen, U. KY, U. Indiana & Louisville Orchestra to play all 4 Brahms Symphonies in July. The tone, volume and projection cannot be described. It will join 3 other old Prescotts this summer at the Lake Erie "Lakeside" resort. I have no idea what it might be worth in Obama dollars. -- Don Carrigan, Gloucester, MA

 

[Pete G]

There was a bass owned by a former teacher in the CSO that had "papers" saying if was an Maggini. Gamba shaped carved back with a German 'trellis" at the top of the back. Likely a German bass. Another CSO bass with "papers" was a Gasparo DeSalo. All you could say about this ancient gamba shaped round back bass was that it was made like crap and was super-old. No way was it a DaSalo. Incredibly crude looking.

Those would be the Benfield and Guastafeste basses?