Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Stark
Indeed. The Mariinsky Orchestra with Gergiev came over here for some concerts this week. I had a chance to talk with the section after. They all were fantastic musicians that could REALLY play. I was surprised to hear that the basses that they were using for the concert were their main instruments. The "nicest" ones were the front-desks; both Pollman Gamba five-string basses. The other instruments were all around 10,000.00. One was a Juzek with a false-nut and the bridge about 1 inch about the FF notches.
Measurements and specifications can be a means to an end. These guys could make anything sound great.
My two cents.
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A Juzek coming here with a Russian Orchestra? Must have immigrated there somehow from the states. All the old Juzek labels (
1920s to 1970ish) were put on the Wilfers in New York. Some of them had 43-44" lengths on their 7/8 models. I myself made a False Nut for one back in the last '70s before selling it. Just got it down to around 42" at best as I remember.
These basses were made on either side of the German border. First I think in Schoenbach before the war and later in Bubenreuth after it.
The bigger basses usually have a good sound if maintained and sometimes modified as there basses were made for the trade mainly. Pollmann's always sound good in Orchestyra settings. I will play next to one this weekend.