Description

Gerald VonTietz Double Bass, 4/4, 2007 Ser. VTG002 “Grendel II”

This VonTietz double bass was built in 2007 by Gerald VonTietz at his shop in Arizona. Mr. VonTietz builds a variety of custom instruments including bass guitars and folk instruments. After a deep dive into the history of the double bass, he has built some fine full-sized instruments with excellent wood and craftsmanship.

This is a true 4/4 double bass which began with a 44″ string length – we’ve modified that to a more playable 42″. It is an impressive contrabass that moves a lot of air!  This American 4/4 upright bass has been refurbished by Upton Bass after sustaining some top damage. It has a new top carved here at the shop with wood plates provided by VonTietz. With gorgeous new varnish, it looks and plays like new, albeit with well-seasoned stable wood.

Makers Notes:

“After building 3 electric bass instruments with the violin look I set my sights on making the real thing! Over the next couple of years, I started researching the history of the violin family with an emphasis on the upright bass. The concept, evolution, construction, and materials used in the Old days were quite inspirational with the amazing fact of no power tools! I had to first build the mold with which dictate the exact form of the Bass. If one looks at photos of the surviving older basses you find the amazing wide variation of size and shape! I found examples of many beautiful and many, forgive me, ugly ones! I found 2 Basses that looked to me to be the classic Italian form, One, a Carlo Guiseppe Testore, and Two, a Nicolo Amati. From the photos of both instruments, I took a caliper and found the relative dimensional proportions (shape), and attempted to “morph” the two into one “offspring”. this became the drawings and finally the mold that was used to build the first upright!”

VonTietz Double Bass, 4/4, 2007 Measurements:

• Upper Bout: 22″
• C-Bout: 15 5/8″
• Lower Bout: 29″
• Rib Depth: 7″ at Heel, 9 1/4″ at End Block
• Length of Body: 46 1/4″
• String Length: 42″

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***Please note, double basses do not qualify for the website FREE SHIPPING promotion.  Please contact us for shipping, courier, or pickup options prior to placing your order.

Upton Bass String Instrument Co. specializes in building award-winning custom double basses and offers accessories for the double bass. Upton Bass also services all instruments and bows of the violin family with world-class restoration and repair, to view our online restoration portfolio visit stringrepair.com

Upton Bass is ready to offer advice and answer any questions regarding this Prescott double bass or related bass topics. Please contact UB at sales@uptonbass.com or call the shop at +1 (860) 535-9399. Hours of operation Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 6 pm. The Workshop (The Barn) and showroom are located in Mystic, Connecticut conveniently between Boston and NYC.