String Bass, Upright Bass, Double Bass Instruments
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Jean Auray Luthier
Jean Auray builds and restores double bass instruments, including a removable neck travel contrabass. Jean offers quite a few models of string bass. His 4/4 model violin shape upright can be built in 4 or 5 string configurations. Jean also offers Charlie Haden 3/4 and Diana Gannett 3/4 models of string bass. There is a Renaud Garcia-Fons 5 string 4/4 model double bass as well. Jean's removable neck system is offered on all of his master craftsman double basses. The sound quality of his instruments is in no way diminished by the removable neck system.Website: Jean Auray Luthier -
G Edward Lutherie
G. Edward Lutherie offers the Eminence Removable Neck upright bass for the traveling musician. It fits securely in a golf club flight case and features electronics for plug and play versatility. This string bass features a Rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard, laminated spruce top, laminated Curly maple back, 3" air chamber depth, a 10-1/2" x 31-1/2" body size, a fully adjustable maple bridge, and a weight of only 14 lbs. The Eminence Removable Neck double bass comes in 4 or 5 string configurations. Mr. Edward also builds a fixed neck, 4 or 5 string upright bass designed for portability that features the same body dimensions as the removable neck contrabass.Website: G Edward Lutherie -
AES Fine Instruments
Arnold E. Schnitzer, of AES, builds custom double bass instruments of the finest quality. It takes Arnold between 300 and 400 hours to build one of his string bass creations. Types of wood used include quilted Bigleaf maple , Sitka spruce for the tops, Oregon Black walnut and others. Overhangs are 5mm or more. Unique features include a graphite reinforced neck for enhanced stability. For increased depth and volume there is a specially carved and braced back. Check out Arnold's gallery of upright bass instruments that he has built in the past.Website: AES Fine Instruments -
K.C. Strings
K.C. Strings offers five series' of string bass. The K.C. Series is a student grade upright built in Beijing. The Heartland Series are graduated and fitted with a bassbar. These double bass instruments are designed for advancing students. The Richard Williams contrabass is made with a higher level of craftsmanship from European woods. The Williams & Krutz string bass is hand crafted entirely by K.C. Strings' senior luthiers. The Anton Krutz upright bass is the top of the line instrument offered by K.C. Strings.Website: K.C. Strings -
Gerard Samija Luthier
Gerard Samija works out of his home in Vancouver, building and restoring violins, cellos, and double bass instruments. Gerard constructs his string bass masterpieces with a balance between volume and playability. He can also make upright bass C-extensions. Mr. Samija offers repairs and restorations due to the large amount of damage caused by the airlines when transporting contrabass instruments. Website: Gerard Samija Luthier -
Gorman Basses
Gorman Basses, located in New Brunswick, Canada, is operated by Don Gorman. Don's upright bass instruments are played all over the world and they feature beautiful craftsmanship, sound and playability. Don also builds affordable student double bass instruments, and offers string bass set-ups, repairs and restoration.Website: Gorman Basses -
Heartland String Bass
Heartland String Bass Shop is owned and operated by Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand, and offers hand crafted double bass instruments, complete upright bass repair and restoration, neck grafts, and custom low C and B extensions. Chris builds his string bass instruments using select maple for the back, sides and neck, and spruce for the top. Heartland also features an inventory of finely restored upright basses.Website: Heartland String Bass -
J. Condino
James Condino plays the string bass and understands the difficulty in building one. The rib thickness of a double bass is typically within .5 to 1.0 mm of a violin's, yet the instrument is much, much larger. You can imagine the difficulty this brings to constructing one. This is why it is so important to choose a luthier who actually understands and plays the upright bass. James also specializes in buying and restoring historic string bass instruments.Website: J. Condino -
JR Judd Violins
The Samuel Shen Model 80 string bass is constructed to provide a good tone at a reasonable cost. This upright bass is fully laminated with an attractive lacquer varnish, and a hand-carved neck and scroll. The Samuel Shen Model 90 string bass, refered to as "the blonde" double bass, is also fully laminated with a clear lacquer varnish. This contrabass is built to look and sound like the old Kay basses with jazz players in mind.Website: JR Judd Violins -
Thomas Martin
Thomas Martin, along with his son George, offers custom string basses in four styles. The Thomas Martin double bass features Mountain spruce and fir for the tables and fittings, English "Baker" style tuners, round and flat back styles, and two sizes (4/4 (42") and large 3/4 (41")). The Bergonzi upright bass features a lower register and a string length of 103 cm. The Ruggieri upright is a four or five string bass with a 29" bottom and 42" string length. The Five String double bass features a string length of 106 cm.Website: Thomas Martin -
Upton Bass
The Upton Bass String Instrument Co. offers a variety of Upton double bass instruments, as well as basses from Engelhardt and Shen. Upton contrabass instruments feature ebony fingerboards, tailpieces, nuts and saddles. These string basses can be customized with 5 strings, left handed, Eb necks, C-extensions and tuner upgrades.Website: Upton Bass -
Kolstein Music, Inc
Kolstein Music is the parent company of Samuel Kolsteing & Son, Violinmakers. They offer many string bass instruments, including the Kolstein Busetto Travel Upright Bass, the Lee Rocker Busetto String Bass, the Kolstein Busetto Removable Neck Double Bass, and Orchestral Bass Violin, Fendt and Nardelli models of bass violin, and many, many others. Check out their inventory.Website: Kolstein Music, Inc -
Los Angeles Bass Works
Los Angeles Bass Works is owned and operated by Lisa Gass. Lisa concentrates on restorations, repair, building and sales of double bass instruments. Her inventory includes Eastman string basses, Hungarian upright base models, Paesold intermediate double basses, orchestra contrabass models, and pre-owned/vintage string bass instruments.Website: Los Angeles Bass Works -
Classic Contrabass
Classic Contrabass is owned by Michelle Fiore. Michelle has dedicated her life to the double bass. Aside from doing string bass repair, Michelle also sells carved upright instruments, as well as Shen models, hybrids and laminates.Website: Classic Contrabass -
Mike Asetta
Michael Asetta maintains a full performance schedule and also repairs/restores double bass instruments in his shop in Central Connecticut. A large number of string bass and other stringed instruments are for sale, ranging from student and orchestra levels to rare upright basses and cellos.Website: Mike Asetta -
Nahrmann Bass
The Nahrmann Bass Shop in New England offers a large selection of new and used double bass instruments from a variety of luthiers. Typically you will find string bass instruments from such luthiers as Doetsch, Eastman, Gagnon, Johannes Rubner, Paesold, Pollmann, Snow, Stentor and Shen. There are also Rumanian and Korean upright instruments available.Website: Nahrmann Bass -
Nick Lloyd
Nick Lloyd's main focus is the double bass. Lloyd upright bass models include a Walnut Gamba, a Brescian and a Panormo. Nick also carries Samuel Shen string basses. C-extensions are available, as are repairs. Nick's New Standard string bass models, in either plywood or hybrid designs, include the La Scala and the Cleveland. Website: Nick Lloyd -
Robert Ross
Robert Ross specializes in the double bass. Based in Denver, Robert has an excellent gallery of string bass instruments he has built in the past. Much of his time is spent on repairs, restorations, set-ups and C-extensions. Website: Robert Ross -
Ronald Sachs Violins
Ronald Sachs carries a complete line of string bass instruments, violins, violas, cellos, bows, cases and accessories. Ronald also does upright bass restorations. All of the instruments in the Ronald Sachs rental program are made at his shop.Website: Ronald Sachs Violins -
Solano Basses
Rumano Solano is a professional orchestral musician and a master double bass maker. Each upright bass is hand crafted and of the highest quality. Rumano works with each client on the design, materials, artwork and price of his string basses. Solano double bass instruments are made in the old Italian master tradition.Website: Solano Basses -
Stringed Instruments Restoration and Making
Stringed Instruments Restoration & Making is located a few minutes outside of New Orleans. Owned and operated by Salvador Giardina, this shop specializes in making and restoring double bass instruments, as well as cellos, guitars, electric and acoustic bass instruments, violins and more. Website: Stringed Instruments Restoration and Making -
The Acoustic Bass Shop
The Acoustic Bass Shop specializes in repairing and restoring double bass instruments. There is always a number of upright basses for sale. Typically you will find string bass instruments from Cremona, Christopher, Busetto, Symphonica and Eminence on hand. The Acoustic Bass Shop also offers contrabass rentals.Website: The Acoustic Bass Shop -
TheStringBass.com
Bruce Sexauer offers string bass repairs, set-ups and sales from his shop in Petaluma, CA. Typically, there are a dozen or more upright bass instruments ready for immediate sale. These are mostly mid-range quality double basses. Bruce can handle Jazz, Bluegrass or Classical contrabass set-ups.Website: TheStringBass.com -
Zachary S Martin
Zachary S. Martin specializes in the repair and restoration of contrabass and cello instruments. C-extensions are custom fit to each upright bass and can be reversed. Zachary's shop is located in Providence, RI.Website: Zachary S Martin -
The String Emporium
The String Emporium is a dealer specializing in upright, double bass instruments. They typically carry Giovani Battista Rogeri upright basses, Wan-Bernadel Deluxe string bass instruments, and an inventory of under $3000 double basses. There inventory is constantly changing. Website: The String Emporium