2008 Donald Gorman Bass!!

[Calvin Marks]

These are some photos of Bass Prof' David Currie's bass, I'm getting the twin bass made but with a darker varnish and shorter string length. (This one is set to 42")

http://www.dropshots.com/Calvin87#al...%20Bass%202008

[Drake Chan]

That's a ridiculously small upper-bout! Or is it a ridiculously large lower-bout? Whatever; it's a really pretty and unique-looking bass.

[Calvin Marks]

hehe, the upper bout is small 18.5 inches across...the lower bout is about 29"

[Matthew Tucker]

That's just beautiful maple ... is yours going to have the same quilt?

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Weird shape...

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

That's just beautiful maple ... is yours going to have the same quilt?

Ya, it's really a gorgeous wood eh? It sounds fantastic too.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Weird shape...

Ouch, well it's certainly not "normal" but then again neither is my build when it comes to being a "bass player." I've seen a lot of instruments shaped like that, it's really just a variation on Quinoils, the Pollmann Salzburg and Alexandria shapes. It sounds really good so that's what I care about the most.

[Calvin Marks]

The 42" string length really powers this thing, it sounds incredible and I might get the upper bouts beefed up a bit. It's set-up in a way that caters towards a small person so that's what I need...and Don is a great guy and great luthier who was very accommodating in price.

[Ken Smith]

Well Unless you are playing more notes in the 2nd octave doing Violin Solos and not Playing in an Orchestra I don't see the need to chop the upper bout so much and possible sacrifice the Bass sound of the instrument.

I saw a fancy solo type Bass (I won't mention the maker but someone from Canada) being played in a small room at a VSA show. I was in the middle of the room and could barely hear him playing. Pretty Bass, great workmanship.. but no sound.

I have several Basses with the Bouts +/- 20" and not as much slope with the exception of maybe my Loveri and Cornerless. Those are big Basses though with plenty of sound. I can reach the bridge on most of my Basses if I need to but most of what I play is under the first octave. So, why bother unless you own several other Orchestra Basses and this one is just a Solo Bass for that once in a while time.

I saw Bill Blossom (NY Phil) play the Bach Solo Violin Concerto on Jeff Bollbach's #2. A twin Pallotta model to the Lion Head but with a flat back. He had no trouble playing end to end on that Bass and had plenty of sound even down to the C-Ext. He also uses that Bass in the Orchestra so a dual purpose Bass is more worth it in the math sense.

[Calvin Marks]

Ouch, once again. I didn't really post these photos for people to critisize myself or Don's work. I'm telling you though, that bass has one of the biggest, richest sounds that perfectly blend in an orchestra. The upper bouts aren't even really THAT small. They're about 19" across, it may just look small in comparison to the lower bouts. Once again I'm not a big guy and my teacher who's a professional bassist finds this bass extremely powerful and suggested it to me because the shoulders really allow me to get up there. On my previous bass I could barely play up to the 2nd octave g near the end of the fingerboard...If you're ever auditioning for an orchestra and you need to play any solo piece you're going to need to get up there, also for just playing everyday 3 octave scales. This bass has a really big sound and Ed Barker just bought a bass very similiar to this also from Don Gorman. I find it slightly rude that you guys are saying it looks funny and all this while you've never even heard it. Ken, I'm sure you have many basses in stock with an UB of 19" that work perfectly fine for orchestral playing. If you want to call me and discuss Don's work please feel free to, I'm more than willing to talk about his basses. It's funny cause if I said the bass had dimensions of let's say....UB 19,LB 25,MENSURE 40....You guys would be like ya it's a small bass....this bass has a 42"mensure, 19" ub and 29" lb, and it sounds amazingly loud and rich for both orchestra and solo playing.

[Calvin Marks]

If I wasn't 5'6" with small arms and back problems then I obviously wouldn't require a bass with that much slope. I'd rather have a bass that looks a bit funny but let's me do everything with ease vs. something just too large that will cause harm. Afterall it's your musicality and sound that wins a job, not the shape of your upper bouts,lol.maybe you guys should make fun of Ira Gold who plays with a 40.5" mensure or max dimoff with 39", both are smaller basses on top, and they sound amazing!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

If I wasn't 5'6" with small arms and back problems then I obviously wouldn't require a bass with that much slope. I'd rather have a bass that looks a bit funny but let's me do everything with ease vs. something just too large that will cause harm. Afterall it's your musicality and sound that wins a job, not the shape of your upper bouts,lol.maybe you guys should make fun of Ira Gold who plays with a 40.5" mensure or max dimoff with 39", both are smaller basses on top, and they sound amazing!

Well being that your 5'6" I can see the need for the shoulders like that. The Basses I use myself regardless of what I have or have had are usually bigger at the upper bout and with less slope. I can see the advantage for you. The 29" lower bout makes the Top look so much smaller. Thanks for the additional information to help clear things up. I hope you win a nice job down the road. Best of luck.

[Calvin Marks]

Totally, thank you BTW Ken that was a nice compliment! I'd totally go for a normal looking bass if I was just a bit bigger but my teacher and Mr. Braditech believe this bass suits me well. Thanks again!@

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Weird shape...

The Upper Bouts are 19" and the lower are 28", if you scaled the lower bouts down to 26" and had less slope on the upper bouts it wouldn't look "weird." By the way, this was the best sounding bass I've ever played and Ed Barker just got the exact same bass.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

I know Don Gorman, I like him, and I think he does nice work. The shape of the bass does not appeal to me and I am entitled to my opinion that it is a weird shape. I also build basses with a weird shape, so my comment is not inflamatory. Now if you scaled down the lower bout and changed the shoulders as you suggest above, you would have a completely different bass, so what is your point? I just personally do not have an affinity for basses with exaggerated upper-to-lower bout relationships.

Calvin, you had better get used to people disagreeing with you and having different opinions on aesthetics. You are in the arts after all, where no one type of music, or painting, or dance, is everybody's cup of tea.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

The Upper Bouts are 19" and the lower are 28", if you scaled the lower bouts down to 26" and had less slope on the upper bouts it wouldn't look "weird." By the way, this was the best sounding bass I've ever played and Ed Barker just got the exact same bass.

If this is the best ever then maybe you should try some old Italian and English Basses. Those are the best I have ever played. My Storioni is the overall best to date so if this guy can make a new Bass that sounds better than that, then I will be calling him yesterday.

Your Bass looks nice by the way. My cut Loveri is not too far off from your bass. Upper and Lower bouts are 19 1/4" and 27". The Top to the tip is 44 1/2" and the Back over the button is 46". It too is a great sounding Bass but, it doesn't compete with the likes of a Storioni or some other master grade Italian or English orchestral Bass.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

I know Don Gorman, I like him, and I think he does nice work. The shape of the bass does not appeal to me and I am entitled to my opinion that it is a weird shape. I also build basses with a weird shape, so my comment is not inflamatory. Now if you scaled down the lower bout and changed the shoulders as you suggest above, you would have a completely different bass, so what is your point? I just personally do not have an affinity for basses with exaggerated upper-to-lower bout relationships.

Calvin, you had better get used to people disagreeing with you and having different opinions on aesthetics. You are in the arts after all, where no one type of music, or painting, or dance, is everybody's cup of tea.

I agree with you that it is not the most conventional shape, I have no issues with anyone telling me that, but I don't think you have to use the word "weird." It certainly doesn't make me feel that great and I don't know what it does for you? Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I'm definitely welcoming feedback but I don't know why you would criticize the design while in reality it looks very much like a French bass with a slightly larger bottom. Once again, you're completely entitled to your opinion, and it's obviously a very valid one since you're a masterful luthier. All I'm saying is that for a student (like myself) who is laying down every penny I have it's not exactly the kindest thing to mock my investment. I personally don't think you would call this instrument "weird" to Mr. Barker's face.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

If this is the best ever then maybe you should try some old Italian and English Basses. Those are the best I have ever played. My Storioni is the overall best to date so if this guy can make a new Bass that sounds better than that, then I will be calling him yesterday.

Your Bass looks nice by the way. My cut Loveri is not too far off from your bass. Upper and Lower bouts are 19 1/4" and 27". The Top to the tip is 44 1/2" and the Back over the button is 46". It too is a great sounding Bass but, it doesn't compete with the likes of a Storioni or some other master grade Italian or English orchestral Bass.

I'm only a student so I've never had the opportunity to play a "great master" bass, all I'm saying is that for a modern instrument (which I'm lucky to have a lot of experience playing on) this one to me sounds the best. I'm not doubting that a seasoned english or italian orchestral bass will sound better. I just don't think people should write off a bass with more progressive dimensions that cater towards the players body.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

I'm only a student so I've never had the opportunity to play a "great master" bass, all I'm saying is that for a modern instrument (which I'm lucky to have a lot of experience playing on) this one to me sounds the best. I'm not doubting that a seasoned english or italian orchestral bass will sound better. I just don't think people should write off a bass with more progressive dimensions that cater towards the players body.

Ok, the Modern thing. Sorry about that. I thought you meant best overall Bass ever. Yes, it probably does sound good and today we see a lot of modern Basses in top Orchestras. I have seen a New Scaramelli in the Philly Orch. and a Bollbach in the NY Phil. That is enough to convince me they can work in a major section. For me as you may know, I prefer the older type Basses. Still, I don't think I am done buying or owning new Basses. I have had many over the years from Wilfer to Shen to Bollbach and they all worked just fine.

Good luck with your new Bass.. and to my esteemed Lunch companion Luthier Arnold, I think you are weird....lol.., but I love your work and your Basses.

Wanna talk about weird? ... Arnold, Jeff and myself having Lunch together and talking shop.. I think the food just got in the way..

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

I agree with you that it is not the most conventional shape, I have no issues with anyone telling me that, but I don't think you have to use the word "weird." It certainly doesn't make me feel that great and I don't know what it does for you? Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I'm definitely welcoming feedback but I don't know why you would criticize the design while in reality it looks very much like a French bass with a slightly larger bottom. Once again, you're completely entitled to your opinion, and it's obviously a very valid one since you're a masterful luthier. All I'm saying is that for a student (like myself) who is laying down every penny I have it's not exactly the kindest thing to mock my investment. I personally don't think you would call this instrument "weird" to Mr. Barker's face.

I did not call the instrument weird. I said it was a weird shape. I would gladly express my opinion of the shape to Mr. Barker or anyone else.

"Weird: 2. Of an odd, peculiar or bizarre character; unusual, strange, fantastic." (American Heritage Desk Dictionary)

Let's agree that it is of an odd character and fantastic. Okay?

Calvin, there was no intent to hurt your feelings, and thank you for the compliment.