Double Bass Wandre Naika Bass (Ca. 1960) sightings?

[Steve Swan]

Has anyone ever seen one of the Wandre Naika basses produced about 1960? They look like small 3/4 basses meant for pop or jazz combos of that time.

 

[mikjans]

You can see a few here:
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The Naïka basses were designed and built by Italian Wandré Pioli who also designed a number of outrageous electric uprights from the late 50s to the mid 60s. I have seen a few other Italian and very weird-shaped double basses as well, often with oddly-shaped f-holes, cutaways, lacquered finishes etc.

 

[henryrj]

I have one from 1962 painted with pink, black and yellow colors. Do you know how many were made in the 60's? Were they special order?

 

[mikjans]

I don´t think they were custom order, but they are quite rare, and from what I´ve seen they often differ from individual to individual so production was probably more artisan than factory. Do post a photo of your bass!

 

[henryrj]

Read article that there were 25 made.

 

[ricca]

Wandrè lived and worked 10 km from my hometown. He was a completely crazy man! A real artist. He had a little motorcycle accessory factory, converted in instrument making. All his strange instruments were handmade using lots of alluminium parts. Lots of them were painted by Wandrè himself. Great designs but not good sounding instruments, today collectors items. Naima uprights for example has alluminium bridges and tailpieces.
My W. upright has also a removable neck. He also works as a designer for Davoli instruments. Davoli instruments were factory made. If someone likes more info about Wandrè, let me know.

 

[Steve Swan]

Please, more information!

 

[ricca]

Well, he lived and worked in Cavriago (Reggio Emilia,Italy), he used the name QUERIEG (Cavriago in dialect) for an electric upright model. His factory was cilrcular with roof made of glass, so his employees could work loocking at the sun and sky. W. instruments were futuristics, with alluminium neks and bridges, masonite and plastics bodies, plexiglass parts, interchangeable headstoks (Fender or gibson style) and tops and hand painted decors. Everyone was different and often he putted an handmade label inside with a little poem. His most famous and rare (and, today, pricey) guitar is the SCARABEO, an "avant garde" instrument. He were well known for his electric upright basses, often with a removal neck (the bass could be close in half, like a suitcase). He uses DAVOLI pick ups (an amplification italian brand in Parma). He designed lots of instruments for Davoli, the most famous is the BIKINI, a travel guitar vith built in amp.

 

[ricca]

During the '60 almost every family near Reggio Emilia had a Wandrè: guitars, basses, acoustic and electric upright...I also have seen a crazy acoustic bass, with an alluminium neck larger at the headstock that at the body!! During the '70s Wandrè went out of businnes and he set his factory on fire to collect insurance money. His house were always open, with food ready on the table for strangers, even when he wasn't in and the walls were multicolored, as his car and his dresses. He became a painter and a poet full time and in the 90's, before he passed away, he was trying to buy his instruments back. In Italy lots of people collect W instruments.
I had several Wandrès and Davoli instruments in my life but,sadly, I gave them away. Today I have an acoustic guitar decored and signed by W and an acoustic upright, Querieg model, made of plywood with a giant handpainted spider and alluminium bridge. It sounds bad, but it's a little piece of history from my land. I will post pics soon

 

[Paul Warburton]

During the '70s Wandrè went out of businnes and he set his factory on fire to collect insurance money.

Whew. I can see why he went outta business. Setting fire to his business is, uh, kinda.........

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Ricca, thank you so much for the stories - he sounds like a real artist! You are lucky to have a little of his work to add colour to your life.

 

[Square Bear]

wow, fascinating read. thanks for the info, ricca. i absolutely LOVE this wandre's work, every instrument is a real work of art.

 

[Feral Feline]

Grazie Ricca, Grazie!

I'd love to have an acoustic W w/ removable neck -- bad sound or not, hopefully amped up it would sound okay for rockabilly, honkytonk etc.

Looking forward to your pics!

 

[ricca]

Pictures at last!
My Wandrè acoustic upright has a "Querieg model" label, usually used for electric uprights. I replaced the soft warped wood fingerboard with an ebony one and the alluminium bridge with a standard one, making it playable. The neck can be removed by a giant screw on the back, but it's not an easy and fast job, I've done it just a couple of times. Amplified with an Underwood and with weedwacker strings it's ok for rockabilly and bluegrass, but it's better for showing. It has a handpainted spider by Wandrè himself

 

[Uncletoad]

Fantastic. Great topic and thanks for the insights from so close to the artist.

 

[Feral Feline]

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Johnny Atomic]

very intriguing

 

[ethnicjazz]

Has anyone ever seen one of the Wandre Naika basses produced about 1960? They look like small 3/4 basses meant for pop or jazz combos of that time.

Hello, i have one in Montreal and i would sell it, if you might be interested. thank you

 

[ricca]

News from Italy:
Cavriago (Wandrè hometown) celebrated the artist with a great instruments exibition, rare instruments from private collections,pictures and pieces of art.
A complete biography with lots of photos is also been released. A big part of the book is dedicated to instruments.I think they made an engkish version.
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[ethnicjazz]

Grazie Ricca, Grazie!

I'd love to have an acoustic W w/ removable neck -- bad sound or not, hopefully amped up it would sound okay for rockabilly, honkytonk etc.

Looking forward to your pics!

Hi I have one Naika and I am thinking to sell it . would you be still interested ?