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Double Bass Why? Is it playable?
- Thread starter DrayMiles
- Start date
A gamba would normally not have violin corners and usually has no more than six-strings. This bass appears to be one of those things that is, but hadn't ought to be.
in the second picture presented you can kinda see the comparison with the bass in front of it. Granted it is a tough angle for depth perception. My initial reaction was a violone, but any instrument from the viol family will also have frets and almost certainly not have steel strings. Thanks!
It looks like all sorts of mischief is going on with the lower part of the bridge just to get the action high enough for the instrument to be playable. That bridge hardly is an easily replaceable off-the-shelf item. Nor is the fingerboard.
I just went to the Brobst Violins page. Holy crap. I think that might be a 3/4 double bass, modified to have 7 strings. Again, I wish it was clearly stood up against another bass or at least stood up next to a person.
When I first saw it in the OP's post, I was thinking that someone took a fractional size double bass (with violin corners) and tried to convert it to something that would pass itself off as an "early music" instrument.
The DC area has a relatively active early music scene, and I would not have been surprised if some straight-ahead player was bored enough to take one of their basses that they never use and try to convert it to something that they could use to hustle an occasional early music gig.
When I first saw it in the OP's post, I was thinking that someone took a fractional size double bass (with violin corners) and tried to convert it to something that would pass itself off as an "early music" instrument.
The DC area has a relatively active early music scene, and I would not have been surprised if some straight-ahead player was bored enough to take one of their basses that they never use and try to convert it to something that they could use to hustle an occasional early music gig.
It has a regular neck but the fingerboard overlaps it something like 2 inches on either side. That’s why I can’t imagine it being comfortable.
“view attachment” is just what appears when you quote a post with an attached photo. (Like your original post...)
Believe me, I wasn’t trying to compel you to go back and look at the pictures you posted.
That’s just a quirk of the TB software.
We're good bro! I didn't read anything into your comment.“view attachment” is just what appears when you quote a post with an attached photo. (Like your original post...)
Believe me, I wasn’t trying to compel you to go back and look at the pictures you posted.
That’s just a quirk of the TB software.
It looks like an unwieldy waste of money...but...
Darn, the string height was low and the sound was very even and clear, but I didn't really play it ... I just hit a few notes... But it was VERY focused regarding sound...
We're good bro! I didn't read anything into your comment.
but...
Darn, the string height was low and the sound was very even and clear, but I didn't really play it ... I just hit a few notes... But it was VERY focused regarding sound...
I am burning with curiosity; what was the tuning?
- May 3, 2007
- 1,468
- 1,156
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: D'Addario Strings, Remic Microphones
Hmmm seems like way too much space on both outer strings, it could use another string perhaps?
I would guess this setup is not it's natural state.
Action looks reasonable though.
Dirk
I would guess this setup is not it's natural state.
Action looks reasonable though.
Dirk
Wouldn't the 'Is it playable' question have been better answered while you were standing next to it, and presumably playing it?
I'm not sure, but I think the highest string could have been an F...
But here's a link to it...
Karl Höfner Workshop, Bubenreuth 1968, Louis Saverino custom 7-string model - Brobst Violin Shop
