Gamba Italian Basses..

[Nick Hart]

Well Ken, Gamba means leg and Goomba is a southern Italian, quite like myself, so I guess we can draw the comparison of a leg to the boot shape of Italy?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Nick Hart

Well Ken, Gamba means leg and Goomba is a southern Italian, quite like myself, so I guess we can draw the comparison of a leg to the boot shape of Italy?

My Loveri is Italian and from Southern Italy. Does that make it a Goomba Gamba?

[Nick Hart]

Yes it does!

[Ken Smith]

I played the Loveri in 2 orchestras to give it a good run and see what it can do. It sounds great but personally I need a C-Extension for what I do. Having several larger bodied Italian and English Basses with Extensions already I have opted to send the Loveri off to market to find a new home. It will be showcased up at Arnold's shop in Brewster, NY.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, below you will see 2 Basses. One we know is a Carlo Loveri. The other has nearly identical F-holes. Please look for your self and tell me what 'you' see!



Maybe someone here has some 'photoshop' skills and can size and overlay these on top of each other to see how close they are.

On the Loveri, all Bouts have been cut and reduced in size so the relationship to the outer edges are not original but close as only the upper Bouts were cut severely. On the other Bass the C-bouts and Lower bouts are original but with some edge wear. The upper bout has been cut as well just above the cornerblock but only slightly. Have a look at them side by side!

[Brandon Mason]

They look very similar to me. The darker bass may be a Joe Loveri, one of the unsung Neapolitan makers.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Brandon Mason

They look very similar to me. The darker bass may be a Joe Loveri, one of the unsung Neapolitan makers.

There is a Joe (Guiseppe?) Loveri? Where is this information noted?

Thanks for the 'Photoshop' work. They look 98% identical. Plus, the 1873 Loveri was Cut. It is not impossible for the FFs to be slightly re-shaped on that Bass either. The new acquisition is all original in the FFs as far as I can see but I could slightly alter them and get it to 99.5% identical if need be..