Guarneri basses

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Martin Sheridan

The Guarneri family worked in Cremona, Italy. There are no known basses by any of the Cremona families although there is one bass attributed to G.B. Rogeri who studied there.

Didn't a confirmed Ruggeri sell recently to Toronto for a huge sum? Storioni and his pupil Ceruti also made basses but slightly later. I agree on this that Strad' didn't and the Amati family has yet to produce a confirmed DB. As far as any of the Guarneri members, this I am not certain of. I do know that as far as the larger instruments go, Venice was far more active in Basses (aka V.Cellos) and Double Basses in that period.

[Joel Larsson]

Isn't there at least one confirmed bass by Nicolo's son, Hieronymous II? Of course, he is considered far inferior to his father as well as to his contemporary, Stradivari, but people aren't always right. (Especially when it comes to basses... and attributions.)

Thomas Martin makes copies of a Ruggeri double bass, built in 1695, then apparently owned by a Dutch player. Maybe that's the same bass as the one sold to Toronto, or - all the better - there are more than one..?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Joel Larsson

Isn't there at least one confirmed bass by Nicolo's son, Hieronymous II? Of course, he is considered far inferior to his father as well as to his contemporary, Stradivari, but people aren't always right. (Especially when it comes to basses... and attributions.)

Thomas Martin makes copies of a Ruggeri double bass, built in 1695, then apparently owned by a Dutch player. Maybe that's the same bass as the one sold to Toronto, or - all the better - there are more than one..?

No, that bass is not confirmed as far as I know. I know the current owner of the bass as I just met him last week at the ISB. I was offered one by that maker as well a few years back and was told by another dealer that it was Amati 'school' at best or 'in the style of'.

[Calvin Marks]

More importantly, how does it sound??

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Amati, Shmati.. More importantly, how does it sound??

Well, I have no idea. I have never played either of them. Only saw them in pictures.

One day maybe you will get to play the Storioni and the Big Ben Gamba of mine and compare it to what you have played or heard so far. The only way to learn about these basses, origins or sounds is to see a lot of them, examine them, play then and listen to them. Pictures only fill in a small part of the puzzle. Real life hands-on from what I have learned is the only way. 'Experience' as they say is the best teacher.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Didn't a confirmed Ruggeri sell recently to Toronto for a huge sum? Storioni and his pupil Ceruti also made basses but slightly later. I agree on this that Strad' didn't and the Amati family has yet to produce a confirmed DB. As far as any of the Guarneri members, this I am not certain of. I do know that as far as the larger instruments go, Venice was far more active in Basses (aka V.Cellos) and Double Basses in that period.

That was 2 years ago. Jeff Beecher, the new Principal Bass of the Toronto Symphony bought Peter Lloyd's Ruggieri...What an instrument. You can hear that individual bass from the audience.

[Joel Larsson]

Pöllmann responded:

Originally Posted by Ralph Krahmer

Sorry for the late response.
We have seen the original Andrea Guarneri some years ago in USA and we
making a outline of the bass. The original is in Minnesota by Peter Lloyd.
Since some years we build this Guarneri and the Model comes
more and more popularly. So, some Bassmaker colleges have now
the great idea to make also Guarneri models....

Best regards
Pöllmann Bassmaker
Ralph

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Joel Larsson

Pöllmann responded: Originally Posted by Ralph Krahmer
Sorry for the late response.
We have seen the original Andrea Guarneri some years ago in USA and we
making a outline of the bass. The original is in Minnesota by Peter Lloyd.
Since some years we build this Guarneri and the Model comes
more and more popularly. So, some Bassmaker colleges have now
the great idea to make also Guarneri models....

Best regards
Pöllmann Bassmaker
Ralph

I just met Ralph in person along with hie 'big' brother Michael. We have talked by Email in the past but this time they (Michael mainly) looked over my 'Big Gamba' and gave me his opinion of how it might have been made and where. It was very interesting and to date, maybe the best opinion I have had as well. Then Michael said after giving his final opinion.."Ok, (hand reaches out) $100. please....".. But a slightly smaller smile that than as I was reaching for my wallet. His hand went down as I grabbed my wallet so I just smiled, put my wallet, shook his hand and said thanks.. He visited the Bass at least one other time afterwords as well.