INSTRUMENTS
From time to time we have some basses or bows for sale, they will appear on these pages, they can't be bought from the website so please telephone 01513361506 or 07833916420 or email me to arrange a view.
Basses are available to view by appointment at any time in the North West of England however they can be brought to London on request.
For 1992 Mike Hart please scroll down past the Italian bass
18th. Century Unnamed Italian Double Bass
Affectionately known as "Fritz" or the "Fritz bass" after the previous owner Fritz Spiegl
Unnamed Italian Double bass made in the 1700's
This bass is very interesting and distinctive, small and attractive in shape it has not been cut down as some might think. It has a lovely leaf design all over the scroll, a lovely bass clef design inlaid on the tailpiece (as have all my basses) I have owned this bass for 10 years and it has been a labour of love. When I purchased it from the widow of the previous owner it was in poor condition, it had been left close to an open fire and the heat led to shrinkage cracks which you can see on the photos of the back. so in the space of four years it had extensive renovations.
1. General clean up (Andrew Hutchinson)old glue had to be removed, there had been poor repairs over the years, this was put right and put into playing condition
2. New Neck (The Bass Place)the old neck had warped and was not usable, this was replaced and new fingerboard fitted
3. New Bass bar, crack repair, new bridge, tailpiece, endpin (George Martin)put into top playing condition
I have played it without any problems for the last six years It has a quality even sound but it is not huge, it is at its best when playing within a smaller orchestral setting or chamber environment however it will hold its own in a Bruckner symphony if needed.
The previous owner (Fritz Spiegl) was a true polymath, known in the bass world as the narrator of the BBC documentary "The great double bass race" about the Isle of Man double bass competition in the late 1970's if you have not seen it please do it really is interesting.
two links for you
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Spiegl
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTzy85j-wW4
Fritz was much more than a musician, a publisher and artist as well as a radio and tv presenter however he was only ever an amateur double bass player
Boring stuff
Vibrating string length (stop) 42" or 106 cm
Total height 72" or 183 cm
length of back 45" or 105 cm
width of bottom bout across back 26" or 65 cm
width of top bout across back 19" or 48 cm
What you need to know
This is a good opportunity to own a piece of Double bass history, it plays well, it's even, It has a Barnaby mechanical extension for the low notes, it will never over-play but it can't dominate a section in the same way as an old English master can. It would ideally suit a player who needs a quality instrument for a first job, a smaller person who needs a bass to get around easily or a chamber orchestra player who needs a blending sound that will not dominate an ensemble.
It's not heavy and has Pirastro flexicore original strings and a Tony Manson Superspike so it won't slip
Price £40,000
that is UK pounds Stirling
1992 Michael Hart 4 string, swell back
1992 Mike Hart bass, four string with C extension fitted by Neil Heppleston,
swell back, Lovely condition, plays very well, easy to get around, good size, even sound low down and at the top,
No cracks, very few scratches, new Pirastro original flexocor strings, lightweight and fits in a 3/4 size cover
I have had this bass for a few years and used it for quartet work and lots of practice at home :-)
Nothing else to say, it would suit serious amateur, good student or young pro. or an "at home" / touring instrument for any pro.
Boring stuff
stop length 42" - 46cm
Width across top bout (back) 20" - 51cm
Width across bottom bout (back) 27" - 67cm
Top of back to bottom of back 45" - 114 cm
Price
£12,500
That is UK pounds Stirling