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
For The Hawkes "Panormo" scroll down passed them both

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"

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

1894 Hawkes Panormo Sorry now sold

Squat model

Early very fine example

1894 Hawkes Panormo, Squat model

Very fine example. One of the earliest "Panormo" models made, crafted in England around the same time as the famous "Green" made Hawkes Panormo models and labelled as such.

Swell back, Lovely condition, plays very well, easy to get around, this bass has a very fine "English" bass sound, one of the best ones I have come across and only bettered by the darker "Green" made basses of the period.

It is now a 4 string with extension, it has been a 5 string but is better without the the extra string.

The extension is a renovated Fawcett extension refitted by Peter Barnaby of Lincoln and works well

Original neck, only 1 crack on front, new set up with adjusters on bridge, pearwood tailpiece and new endpin.

The bass has an E flat neck not a D but you get used to it very quickly, Pirastro original Chrome-steel strings and original machines and brass with the Hawkes logo.

What you need to know

Better than almost every Hawkes I have seen this bass sounds and performs like a proper English master, it has a quality English sound you would have to pay far more for if you choose a bass by other 19th centaury English makers.

The squat model is rare, shorter than most Panormos and does not have the soundpost "mound" on the inside of the back as many of the later models do.

This bass will simply never let you down and will thrive in any orchestral setting

If you would like to hear it go to

Listen pages and scroll down to the Big bass quartet book listings and click "locus Iste" or "cry me a river"