Gary and Chris are at the ISB Convention at Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida. Leading up to this up a number of very special basses have been finished, to be on display at the convention.
Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about “dream basses”, and that’s exactly what these are. Each one was built specifically for, and in close collaboration with its player.
When you reach out to us, we want you to be as informed as possible — to know what’s possible and what options you have. Maybe it’s ergonomics. Do you need a smaller bass with a shorter string length that’s easy and comfortable to play, but still delivers a big sound? We can do that. As with every bass, there are many decisions that affect the tone. We just finished a bass based on our trusted Bohemian pattern, scaled down a few percent to 5/8 – and it sounds fantastic.
Need more than four strings? No problem. We build five-string basses regularly, and when we do, we use a standard neck. The fingerboard flares at the bottom to allow for comfortable string spacing without making the neck too bulky. Can’t decide between a high C and a low B? Why not both? We just completed a six-string version of our Gagliano model, based on Blake Hinson’s original instrument. It’s a big bass, but very playable despite its size and string count.
Maple and spruce are the traditional tonewood choices — and there’s plenty of variation in that, from very clean to highly figured ambrosia varieties. But there are other options worth exploring. Two of our recent builds feature one-piece ash backs: a new interpretation of the Karr with violin corners, and a Santagiuliana model based on Blake Hinson’s other old Italian bass.
You’ll quickly find that every build involves a lot of decisions, and we’ll ask you plenty of questions. What’s your playing style? What’s your ideal sound? What are your ergonomic needs? What do you like — and not like — in other basses you’ve played?
To help you get started, we offer a free video series: “How to Buy a Double Bass.”
So, what’s your dream bass? Let’s talk and make something truly special.
