As long as we work on double basses, we will regularly encounter the many amazing restorations of Lou DiLeone, the New Haven, Connecticut double bass luthier extraordinaire. Lou had a special touch bringing back many tired or injured basses back to life, often to a playing condition better than new – with modernized geometry, improved playability and tone.
He tended to work on early 20th Century Bohemian and German basses, rejuvenating each with a beautiful natural varnish, appropriate updates and masterclass-worthy fit and repairs. His setup prowess was sought out by Gary Karr, Don Palma and generations of NYC pro bassists.
Lou passed away a little over a year ago at the grand age of 100. We’re featuring one of his recent restorations below at a special price – as always, restored with respect for the original builder yet unobtrusively improved as if revealing the ideal version of each bass!
