The Contrabass Shoppe

Jerome Thibouville-Lamy or Gabriel Jacquet (Jacquet-Gand) ?

“Historic owner-inscriptions” or “graffiti” ?
Picture 1; On the bass-side top rib of a magnificent John F. Lott double bass circa 1840.
Picture 2; On the back-button of the same instrument.
Picture 3; On the bass-side top rib of a superb condition Jacquet circa 1860-1880.

What a great honour and thrill to handle this peg-hole reamer - once owned & used by the legendary master-maker himself.

High standards, dedication, enthusiasm and smiles were in abundance when these three young players from China met up to talk “Shoppe” (of course 🤣), drink tea (of course 🤪) and put our huge range of top quality instruments to the test.
From L-R;
Zhelin Wen who is currently a tutti player in the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Geneva.
Heyang Zhang who is currently studying in Berlin at the Universitat der Kunste with Berlin Philharmonic’s 1st principal bassist Jannne Saksala.
Mingze Li who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music, London.

In his diploma year (1967-68) Istvan Konya won the Gold Medal and first prize for a cello (now in the Cremona Museum) in the prestigious Triennale Competition. He is credited with over 600 instruments which are prized by players all over the world.
This beautiful instrument was made in 1983.

Good morning Spring sunshine.

It’s official. I’m in love with this gorgeous babe!
She has all the right curves in all the right places and a voice like an angel.

FYI. Lorenzo & Tommaso Carcassi, Florence anno 1752.

Which one would you choose to practice today?
From L-R; Jo. Panormo, Lott, Lafleur and Bros. Carcassi.

Our Jo. Panormo, London circa 1800 looking radiant after a polish.

Our Jacques Lafleur, Paris from C-1790 boasts a scroll of exceptional proportions, poise and artistry.

Our Jacques Lafleur from circa 1790 boasts spectacular flamed maple and well-executed double purfling that culminates at the upper back in an eye-catching geometric pattern.

It was a great pleasure to meet Kiwi - Lachlan Radford recently. Lachlan has been over here on trial with the BBC Concert Orchestra. He’s an extremely affable guy and we wish him every success.
Look out for a short reel of him testing our Kennedy bass.

In 1935 this gentleman’s uncle bought this pleasing looking Mirecourt bass secondhand and gigged on it in a South East London dance band throughout the 30’s and 40’s.
Following marriage in 1951 and children, gigging got sidelined and in 1953 the bass was consigned to the loft via a specially enlarged loft hatch - which being a carpenter by profession he made himself.
There the instrument was to remain in that hostile environment for the next 32 years until it passed to our man pictured. “Philip” being a professional flute player himself subsequently stored it under his staircase where it was to remain for a further 38 years. That means that the instrument has been in the same extended family for a total of 88 years out of which it has been in storage for a total of 70 years!!!
We like the fact that the instrument still retains its original wooden end-peg, super thick tail-wire and “Romberg-bevel” on the fingerboard which was common when gut-strings were the norm.
How fascinating do y’all rate this short story?

Super-excited about these two beauties which have safely arrived back after major corrective & restoration work
On the left is a very rare early Parisian instrument by Jacques Lafleur (b-1757, d-1833).
On the right is a very appealing German instrument by Carl Wilhelm Blaun, Antona-on-Elbe that he made in 1844.

Just back from major corrective and restoration work we are super-excited to find out what’s inside the cases.

Premier player Max Zeugner putting our rare 1903 Swedish bass by Alfred Nilsson Brock through its paces.

Sweet dreams are made of these.

No tricks - just amazing contrabass treats for contrabassists.

Autumn squadron of basses. No 1 & 6 Neuner & Hornsteiner 5-stringers, No 2 & 5 Ernest Francis Lant circa 1970, No 3 & 4 William Howarth circa 1880.

We have quite a few old English double basses ready for sale.

Excellent progress on an exquisite instrument by Carl Wilhelm Blaun, Antona-on-Elbe anno 1844

Now with atmospheric lighting. -bass

A very rare Swedish instrument by Alfred Nilsson Brock, Stockholm anno 1903.
It was made for Johannes Hegner (1852-1938) who was the principal double bass player of the Orchestra of the Swedish Royal Opera between 1876 and 1907. It is the only full-sized double bass that Brock made.

Lots of fine basses & bows, fine summer weather and a glass of cool white wine. Perfecto!

Mario Bandini, Ravenna anno 1980. An Italian-stallion with a well rounded sound of depth and quality.

Stylish hair-plait and super good progress on a rare French bass made by Jacques Lafleur in Paris around 1790 thanks to Anna@gellertbasses.

This gorgeous looking instrument has Cole-esque features yet dates from around C1790. Note the glorious varnish, the straight F-holes, the precise carving of the scroll and the quality early English machinery. Supporting this initial line of thought is an internal label stating that it was repaired by Geo Buckman of Dover in 1892. Another striking Cole-esque feature is the elaborate double purfling and on the back no less than six distinctive five-pointed stars. The instrument is currently being restored, but the question is - is it even English?

This solo bass dates from around 1850 and once belonged to the legendary soloist, teacher and Czech Philharmonic principal - Frantisek Posta (b-1919, d-1991).
We think that there is a good whiff of quality about it. What do you think?

Rex Surany (principal bassist of the Met Opera, NY) testing our meticulously presented 1886 Thomas Calow which is featured in full colour of the exquisitely produced publication entitled The English Double Bass.

Rex Surany (principal bassist of Met Opera, N.Y) certainly seemed to like our Thomas Calow anno 1886 bass which is featured in full colour in the exquisitely produced publication entitled The English Double Bass.