Viennese basses

[Michael Glynn]

I was hoping to get some information on the Viennese school of double basses. I am thinking of old makers (or families of makers) like Thir, Stadlmann, Posch, Lemboeck, etc.; or newer instruments that are similar to these designs.

Of course many of these were originally built as 5-string violones and the Viennese style seems to me to be more closely related to the viola da gamba than other "gamba" shaped basses.

Does anyone have much experience with these instruments? Thoughts on how they might compare to other schools of double basses in terms of sound, playability, etc.?

Here are some examples of old Viennese instruments:
http://www.gruenert.com/feine_streichinstrumente/seite4.html
http://www.worldofbasses.de/Instrumente_02/Stadelmann/Stadelmann.html
http://www.orpheon.org/Seiten/Instruments/violone/vo-thir.htm

And a modern copy by Gruenert:
http://www.gruenert.com/gruenert_englisch/gruenert_instrumente/baesse/lemboeck.html

Thanks,
Michael

[Ken Smith]

I briefly played a large old Thir several years ago and it was more German like to my recollect. Also, a friend of mine has a Bass that we believe might be Vieneese (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/Viennnese/Viennnese.htm) but was cut and modified with a new Back and Ribs. It too sounds old German as the repairs are German as well.

That's about all I know at this time.