ok..
I shall let the cat out of the bag. I have not been entirely truthful here regarding me acquiring the bass.. more like trying to acquire the bass.
but I was trying to gather some info before the auction this morning. I hope have not broken any forum rules their Ken
I'm sure you could imagine my excitement when the estimate price was set at £250-£350!!!! i knew it would never sell anywhere near this price but this is a fairly small time antiques auction in the south of england not a specialist musical instrument auction at all. You live in hope. I thought hey.. maybe none of the double bass collectors have seen it tucked away in a small time antiques auction in the south of england. I thought wrong... Most of the major english double bass collectors and repairers were there. The auction... Everyone took their spots and it began.. I bid on the bass up £18k my limit... it sold for £22.5k. with commission and taxes thats over £30k. The buyer... the director of contra basse shoppe Anthony Houska. I'm sure the contra basse shoppe is a fine home and place for such a fantastic bass to be restored and loved for the next few years.. If I had the money I would not think twice about spending that kind of money on such an amazing instrument. Just playing one note on it brought uncontrollable smiles and happiness to me. I can only dream of acquiring a bass like this again in the future or maybe I should start saving so when Tony has restored it I may have to go and buy it from the contra basse shoppe in a few years
