German Bass, ca. 1900
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Price: $32,000
Description:
With this bass Robbie McIntosh took a good sounding bass and turned it into something extraordinary. In addition to a full restoration and the addition of a C extension he modified the shape in subtle but profound ways. The body was too big, both in its length and depth, especially at the shoulders. Playing it must have been a chore. There was enough wood for him to cut down the length of the back at the button. He also narrowed the ribs from the lower corners up and made new, deeper ribs for the bottom bouts. This keeps the overall internal volume the same but creates a body shape that is more ergonomic, making it easier to get around into thumb position. This bass produces a huge, mature sound and is even throughout its registers.
