Whos heard of the Octabass

Yeah, it's Double Bassist, Number 3 from Spring/Summer 1997, pages 16-19. It was an interesting article to say the least. It says that the "Octobass" was built by J.B. Vuillaume in 1851.
If I get the time I'll scan a photo or two.
-Brad

 

Here's a pic:



and an excerpt:

Octobass p19

Enjoy!

 

http://www.ettorre.it/foto/ottobasso.jpg

 

WOW!!!
I guess I'd have a smile on my face if I got to play it too. Ha.

 

There is a good picture of it in one of the Elgar Books. It was also written that King George II asked William Forster II to build a large Bass so he would not be out done by one built by the Italians. The OctoBass was made later as the Foster story is from the late 18th century. Kings will be Kings!!

 

There is also an appendix and a few photographs/lithographs about the octobass' conception, purpose and other stories in Paul Brun's book. I think back in the 70's/80's?? omeone had another octobass made. more info to follow...............

 

I want an extended-range Octo-bass, w/single-course strings on the lowest two, doubled octaves on the next three, then tripled until the builder dies of exhaustion(at least 6 more courses)...
Now THAT would be a bass.

 

You could then lay it on it's back and use your feet and hands for tapping and call it twister style technique.

 

I was just watching 'The Polar Express' w/the kids- the elf band(near the end, after Santa takes off & the party starts)'s bass players(3 of them), being elves, are playing the DB in a very octo-bass-esque style- one bowing, another on one's shoulders, 'fretting'.

 

I have this on my shop wall, a fun pic.

 

Ha! That proves nothing! The kid could be 18 inches tall

 

He he, and that would make the door, what...3 feet?

 

Everybody?

 

Drummers must have been really loud back then.

 

i bet ya that nowadays that girl is playing an octobass!

 

It is in the Museum of Musical Instruments on the outskirts of Paris . I went there a number of years ago. Cool place and that bass is AWESOME.

 

A bit off topic, but Jeff's post reminded me of this nice picture:

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]​

Jimmy Garrison with son Mathew, then 2 yrs old, and bass.

Its no Octobass, but either Garrison was a smallish man or that's one big bass.

 

Me thinks a bit of wide angle lens trickery. I once made a fish my aunt was holding look 4ft long!!

 

It's partially the photo, but Jimmy was a small man. His nickname was "half-pint."