This instrument belonged to the late Jack McCormack, legendary Principal Bass of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The bass is branded by the French maker Justin Derazey of Mirecourt and was made c.1880 or possibly earlier. It is big and beautiful and in very good condition. A serious orchestral instrument.
String Length 107cm. Length of Back 115cm
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
I have known this Hungarian bass for at least 10 years. It is based on a Venetian instrument of the Santo Serafin (Sanctus Seraphin) school of the early 18th century and captures something of the grandeur of that style. Despite being a modern instrument it has a sound that suggests a much older bass.
Although very playable it is a long bass the length being below the F-holes. It requires very little endpin. But it was my second bass for years and I had the slim Roger Dawson neck installed. I sold it to a professional London player who has now retired so I was asked to sell it again. It is now owned by a student at the Royal College of Music who I know loves the instrument.
String length 105cm. Length of back 118cm.
THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
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A very good example of this classic French design. A flat back viol shaped bass with the distinctive black outline and painted panels outlined on the ribs. This bass could come from a number of mid 19th century musical instrument making families in France but in this case is clearly labelled as by
Lafleur Pere et Fils , Porte St. Denis (Paris)
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The instrument has been well used and has it's fair share of repairs but it is still a handsome bass with a deep orchestral sound that comes as a surprise from a bass of this style.
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
This bass comes from the workshop of respected Hungarian maker, Akos Balazs. It is an example of his Silver series instruments. My understanding is that this can involve other makers and workmen but with Balazs overseeing and finishing the final product.
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The bass is obviously in excellent conditon with, currently a hybrid setup of Evah Pirazzi (lights), bridge adjusters and a David Gage piezo pick (to be sold with the instruments)
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Length of Back 117cm String Length 107cm
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
I have to confess that I have not had a chance to try this most unusual instrument. This makes it hard to describe in any detail. But the owner, a professional colleague and friend, is selling it so I have offered to put it on the website. It is a small instrument and obviously somewhat rustic in it's appearance. A one-off I would imagine. The slab cut front, violin outline and the colour of the varnish suggests Italian to me. However if anyone has some strong ideas as to the instrument's origins I would be fascinated to hear them. Apparently it has a Swedish label reading,
Pet Kraft, Kongt HofInstrum Macher, Stockholm No. 593, An 1796
String Length 102cm. Length of Back 102cm
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
Here is a first for the website - a bass that is not in the UK which I have been asked to list and, having seen and tried the instrument, am happy to do so.
Respected Canadian luthier Donald Gorman made this bass in 2005 and it has been well looked after. Subsequently the bass was handed to Mario Lamarre to be fitted with an extension and adapted to have a removable neck for ease of transport. This is all rather alot to describe in any detail but Lamarre's website
www.lamario.ca/index.php?lang=en has all the information required. As for Gorman's bass, it is a full sized instrument and extremely responsive, good sound and plenty of volume. I would suggest you get alot for the price. The instrument can be viewed in the Ottawa area.
String Length 41 3/4" (106cm)
Length of Back 46 1/2" (118cm)
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
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As a professor of the double bass, Thomas Martin has always endeavoured to supply his pupils with quality instruments. At different times these have come from different sources. In the 1980s a typical Tom student
at the Guildhall School of Music would own a bow by Reid Hudson and a bass by Horst Grunert which would be a copy of a classic model. Such was the quality of this equipment that both bass and bow were carried forward into the profession and have often remained there.
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This is such a bass. Dated 1988 it is a copy of a Vinceno Panormo c.1800 and has been played constantly since it was built, mostly in major London orchestras. It has recently had an overhaul and is looking and playing very well indeed.
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String Length 106cm. Length of Back 113cm.
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This bass is now for sale with another dealer.
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For anyone wanting a classic "English" bass on a very limited budget this Akos Balazs "Gold series" instrument dated 2011 is a gift. Made in Budapest, Hungary the detail is very impressive. The scroll is elegant and the antiqued varnish just seems right.
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This particular example of Balazs' work has been fitted up by Martyn Bailey with his own tuners and bridge and other adustments.
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As for the sound, it is a loud bass which is always useful. I have fitted Flexicor Originals (with a brighter string on the bottom - My usual orchestral setup) and I can honestly say that I would not be embarrassed to take this into any of the major orchestras I work with.
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Length of Back 114cm. String Length 105cm
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
I have known this instrument a very long time now. It was owned by a good friend of mine in his college and early professional days and I have tracked it's history since and even had a hand in its sale before.
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German c.1880, it is a very good orchestral bass in very good condition. Not unlike the Schmidt bass that was recently on this page, these instruments are handsome, well made and robust and proving to be a good investment for young professionals and keen amateurs. Or indeed as reliable second instruments for those fortunate to be in possession of a more valuable
bass already.
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Note the initials and dates carved on the shoulder of the instrument. Is this the love of previous owners leaving their mark? Naughty students at play or the product of boring rehearsals?
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Length of back 114cm. String Length 105cm
THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
The specialist double bass firm of E.M. Pöllmann was established in Mittenwald, Germany in 1888. Their distinctive instruments have always found a place in British orchestras and are loved by their owners.
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This 5-string Gamba model was made in the early sixties and has been played professionally for many years before it's owner retired. I am awaiting further information.
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String length Length of Back
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
This instrument has been on the website for some time which surprises me as it a beautiful and well priced double bass. However this has given me time to do a bit more research into the maker. Originally it was listed as by Marcolongo of Padua and referred to an article written by luthier Stefan Krattenmacher in 2004 for the Bassist magazine in which he suggested that another bass labelled Marcolongo was actually by another maker.
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I am now happy to concur with Stefan and say that this instrument is by Antonio Pedrinelli (1781 - 1854) who only began to make instruments towards the end of his life in Venice yet was awarded a prize for his work, sadly in the year of his death. His instruments then passed to dealers who sold his work on. The scroll is not original, hence the price, but matches the bass well. The bass is full of character and easy to play.
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String Length 105cm Length of Back 114cm
THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
A fine example of one of the Bernard Simon Fendt "Maggini" copies made in Germany for Thomas Martin in the 1970s based on the beautiful original Fendt that belonged to the late Robin McGee and which is now owned by the London Symphony Orchestra.
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This bass is dated 1976 and is No.35 according to the label. It was bought new by the much loved and much missed Steve McManus who played it on many, many film sessions amongst his other work.
It has been favourably enhanced by restorer Roger Dawson who also fitted the extension and it is in very good condition.
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String length 106cm. Length of back 114cm.
THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
Award winning luthier Mathias Heinicke (1873 - 1956) was born Bohemia, then part of the German speaking Austrian Empire and now the Czech Republic. He learned his craft in nearby Markneukirchen, Saxony (Germany) and was a highly skilled craftsman.
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This swellback double bass was made by Heinicke in 1923 in Wildstein (now Skalná) and is in excellent condition. The owner describes the sound as round and full bodied with a singing upper register.
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Note the interesting characteristics on the back of the scroll.
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Length of Back 112.5cm. String Length 105.8cm
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
This J.Thibouville Lamy bass is most unusual in my experience because of it's distinctive Lion's Head scroll. All other aspects are typical including the cello outline at the top of the back of the instrument. Perhaps it was made to special order.
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This instrument, like so many others, has a story to tell. For 35 years it was in the bass section of the Royal Engineers Band and has been stamped as such on the back. But French instruments tend to be robust and given it's age which, because of the scroll, I would put at c.1880 it is in a good condition and has given uncomplaining service to it's professional owner who bought it as a first year music college student over 30 years ago.
String length 107cm. Length of Back 112cm.
THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
Regular visitors to this site may recognise this double bass which was advertised here a couple of years ago and was then moved to the Archive page. The current owner has decided that he is now a 5-string player so must let this fine instrument go.
It is sometimes a great relief to be able to describe a bass that actually tells you exactly what it is on a clearly written label. In this case we have a German instrument made in the instrument "factory" of Ernst Reinhold Schmidt in Markneukirchen. The label is in English so the bass was made for export probably in the early 20th century.
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This handsome instrument is in excellent condition and very well made with beautiful woods. A very good orchestral bass.
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Length of Back 115cm. String Length 108cm
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
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A French double bass by Paul Hilaire (1906 -1967). Made in Mirecourt, this instrument is typical of his output in it's design. It is labelled and dated 1961.
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
The Barbé family of France were well respected instrument makers in the 19th Century and produced some excellent double basses in the style of this instrument.
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This particular bass is being sold as Barbé School as there is no proof of the actual maker. However it is without doubt a well made viol-shaped bass made in France c.1860 from some very attractive well figured timber. The condition is generally good.
String length 107cm. Length of Back 117cm.
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
Here we have a 1967 Wilfer 5 string double bass in remarkably good condition with an attractive shade of varnish and well figured wood.
Previously owned by a former member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra who I believe played it as his main instrument, this bass has been given a good overhaul by Roger Dawson and it is working as well as it ever has. Possibly better.
Labelled and Branded by Josef Wilfer
String length 107cm. Length of Back 113cm.
THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
This is a typical example of big German 5-string basses favoured by the orchestras of that country and occasionally by bass players in the UK. Internally this instrument testifies to it's maker and date of manufacture, Mathias Neuner, Mittenwald 1884.
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Mathias Neuner V (1831 - 1890) was a partner in the big Mittenwald firm, Neuner & Horsteiner and was also, at some point, Mayor of Mittenwald apparently.
This bass has a long and colourful history as described in a fascinating essay written by previous owner, Richard Bramhall (deceased) when he decided to sell the bass in 2001. Amongst other things it was played in the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the 1930s followed by many years at the Royal Opera House and then in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In the 21st Century it has been living and working in Wales.
The bass has lived a life and sounds as big as it looks.
String length 110cm. Length of Back 121cm.
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THIS BASS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE
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This is an excellent of example of a double bass from the workshops of Jerome Thibouville Lamy &Co. Made in the early part of the 20th century these instruments were produced from the hands of a number of instrument makers rather than an individual. Perhaps one carved the scroll while another made the table (front) of bass.
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All were highly-trained, skilled workers and this is reflected in the quality of this instrument which, according to the labels, was manufactured in France and sold through the company's London shop in Charterhouse Street by Smithfield Market in the City of London
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The bass has a big sound and is in very good condition.
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Length of Back 113cm. String Length 108cm.
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THIS BASS IS NOW SOLD
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