A few more links to some of the major makers of today:
http://www.poellmann-contrabass.de/
http://www.meyer-contrabass.de/eng/i...mo930taluh45h2
http://www.gruenert.com/
http://www.contrabbassi.it/eng/index-eng.html
Some of which are maybe not exactly new on the scene, but...

I've owned and played a Peter Elias 5-string for several years now, and I love it. I searched high and low for a good 5-string, and I've played many by top makers, both vintage and modern.

The Elias (with some nice, minor refinements by Mike Shank) is far and away the best 5-string I've ever played. My teacher wonders whether I don't have the best 5-string bass in the U.S. His words, not mine...

better late than never..
 

Yes, I have and had it here for a short while to play and check out. It was a sweet sounding bass copied from an Old German bass that he now owns and that I have played beside in the studio as well as sub for the former owner. Catching my breath.. The bass was made in 2009 and shown at the ISB at Penn State so when you asked in 2007, the answer would have been, well.. No or not answered as it was..

He used American Sycamore (Lacewood) for the Back, Ribs and Neck/Scroll. It's a gamba shaped round back with modestly sloped shoulders, fairly deep ribs and a nice bold scroll. The bass played very easily, sounded great and had a very comfortable set-up. It was deep and dark sounding with Pirastro Permanents on it. I almost bought the bass but I had one on commission from Arnold already so I just showed it a few times before it went back. He made it as his personal bass and it's the first one he's made. I look forward to seeing that bass again as well as any others he makes going forward. Mike does good work!

http://www.smithbassforums.com/attac...4&d=1295018734
White Pine Log being cut in half to fit into the bandsaw.

http://www.smithbassforums.com/attac...5&d=1295018762
The log just barely fit, in fact we had to trim some off.


http://www.smithbassforums.com/attac...6&d=1295018787
Stickered to air dry




I check in here every now and then to make sure I haven't missed anything important and saw Ken Smith's post on Mike Magee.

I have been making guitars lately but am collecting wood and devising plans for my next couple double basses. I have some pine seasoning that I milled and a some photos that show the top wood being milled by my sawyer. White pine was good enough for some yankee makers and might be good enough for me. It is about ready to run some tests on weight, density, speed of sound, radiation ratio and a few other tests that might prevent me from making a BSO from it if it doesn't compare well to Bosnian or the other available spruce wood.

I am copying a William Tarr that is in possession at the Guarneri House in Grand Rapids MI. It is a very pedestrian bass, designed by Tarr who was a player and prolific maker. I have always leaned "Italian" but this is a work-horse and that is what I am after.

Speaking of The Guarneri house:
Aaron Reiley is a second generation Double Bass maker who is fluent in double bass design. He makes basses that are very playable and well made.

Tarr?
 

I have seen 3 models from Tarr. One was a flat back Gamba northern English style. One was similar but looked German to me, not English but possibly made on contract and finished by Tarr and two Basses with Violin Corners and flatback, 100% Tarr's work and one of them from the Halle Orchestra where he played if not both of them. He made 9 basses for that Orchestra of record.

Can we see this proposed Tarr bass? I almost bought one last year but an old Italian came available and put the money in that one instead. In time and if available, I might still get that Tarr is it's available when I have the funds to do so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akQUx8HMPI

My plan is to copy the flat back like Christine Hoock plays. It has a large lower bout, gamba corners wide-ish ribs.

I am not sure if Aaron still has the Tarr at Guarneri but I will check. I have the outline and some measurements. I doubt I will copy the scroll, cause I got my own style.

Thanks for posting that. I was at that concert at the 2005 ISB convention. Wonderful playing!

Yes, beautiful sound from her hands.

I hope to get the honor of you trying my bass when I get it done Eric.

Look forward to it!