Vitruvian Man Photos!
 

Lamario's newest creation!

http://lamario.ca/lamario2009-vitruve.php?lang=english

Wow, that's some fancy details there... I probably wouldn't have paid the extra cost for that - I mean, imagine constantly having a 3D copy of a genitalia (albeit of da Vinci design) resting towards your belly while playing? Maybe the extra masculinity is good for the sound, though...

Looks like a nice model, though. High upper corners are probably a treat for German players having trouble reaching the E, such as myself. Beautiful wood and workmanship throughout.

I think Mr. Quarrington mentioned owning this bass on his profile? I would like to know roughly how it is tuned. Is it perhaps tuned CGDAE? (High E)?

Please excuse my ignorance! :)

Amazing detail work as usual!

wow thats some amazing looking stuff...

great work...

Lamarre's sculpting work is as usual quite stunning. For me, the decoration under the button is most impressive and I really like his violin corners. I've never been keen on his choice of tuners though. For a bass of that class and expense, even though he decorates the peg ends, for me they don't seem to match the work.

I'd like to see more detail on how his adjustable tailpiece works!

Tuners..
 

Those are the new Rubners. I put a set with Ebony on my Batchelder about 6 years ago and they worked quite well. Not as finely tunable as Sloans or Krutz gears but nearly the best hatpegs I had seen. Great for changing strings as well.

You would be surprised at how many Italian makers put Hatpegs on the bases they made over the last 200 years as opposed to the better looking French or Baker style English gears that were available for the most part.

Maybe it's the wood thing they had in mind thinking mainly of the tone. The less metal, the better theory. You think? Even Sergio Scaramelli uses them today on his Basses. I have seen them up close and personal. They work just fine. Scaramelli also put rosewood Rubners on my martini back in 1999 when he restored it. Back then, I didn't like them so I changed them out for the Krutz. Looking back now, I would have left them on if I had it to do over again.

The tailpiece rides up and down on a dowel inserted into a hole in the endpin block. A set screw between the endpin and where the saddle would normally be locks the height.

I like the actual detail on the hat pegs but I hate the way the plate looks on the sides of the scroll...Seems like the "square" plates belong on a $2,000.00 entry level Asian instrument.

entry level Asian instrument?
 

Entry level? Have you ever priced those Rubner Hatpeg Gears?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...images/173.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...images/174.jpg
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...hBass/bat3.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...hBass/bat1.jpg

Maybe some entry level basses are using some better gears then!

Well, i agree with you Calvin. Like wearing sneakers with a dinner suit.

I wasn't referring to the hat pegs themsevles, just those square little plates that they rest on.

Take a look at the scroll on this bass...same style of those little square plates.

http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...n-Double-Bass/

Half Plates..
 

I agree with you on the plain ones on that Upton but the scroll and the bass itself is plain all over. They fit. Have a look at these and tell me how they meet your eye..ok?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...bohemian19.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/double.../lombardi9.jpg
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ages/shen9.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...llmann-002.jpg

Gears can be of the highest quality sometimes but the mounting design I think doesn't always match the quality of the Gear. I think the Sloans are one where the mounting looks way below their performance.

oh.. and..
 

How about these gears, should they stay or go? These same plates with Hatpegs are found on many old Italian basses. None of them were ever 'entry level' basses when the gears were installed or when the basses.

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...apolitan10.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...eapolitan4.jpg

Ken, in regards to your basses, I do not like the look of the half-plates, but that's just me. I'm sure you could find 50 people that like one thing and 50 that like another. Regardless of the price of the instrument, half-plates (to my eye) are fairly ugly.

Stay or go?
 

If they are fully functional, why consider changing them out?

Was there ever such a thing an an "entry level" bass 200 years ago? If so, what would they have used for tuners?

Can we get back to salivating over Mario's fine craftsmanship?

I don't love the look of the half plates, but don't mind them as much when they are tarnished or burnished as on the old Martini photo. When bright and shiny they seem kind of cheesy to me. I would prefer "cleaner" looking tuners with Lamarie's very intense and complex scroll carvings.