Storioni Bass

Lorenzo Storioni (Attributed)

Cremona, c.1770

Orchestra size Cornerless Double Bass

ex-Bob Riccardi - Pennsylvania Ballet

This Cornerless Bass was at one time attributed to Pietro Giacomo Rogeri as well as Gasparo d'Salo in separate appraisals but was later attributed to Lorenzo Storioni. A Rogeri Bass owned by Italian Bassist Fernando Grillo looks very similar but the FFs are completely different as well as their placement. There is also a tenor Viola d'Gamba by d'Salo with a similar outline to this Bass but again, the FFs are different. Currently, we are going with the latest attribution until which time it can either be disproven or attributed to another maker with more certainty.

This Bass was recently examined by two prominent Bass Luthiers in the New York area. Both of them commented on the age after looking inside and noting the extreme oxidation. They both said independently of each other that this was a very old Bass but not quite 300 years yet. The estimates given were both from the mid-18th century or possibly earlier. If after the Bass is opened up and a pre-1770 date is suspected, then we will discard the Storioni attribution as his period started later at around 1768 or so.

18th Century Italian Cornerless Double Bass
Upper Bout: 19 7/8"	Belly Length: 44 5/8"
Center Bout: 16 3/8"	String Length: 44" (to be reduced to 42")
Bottom Bout: 27"	Varnish: Dark Golden Brown
Rib Depth: 7 3/4" tapering to 5 3/4" at the Neck
Top: 4-piece Italian Fir of extremely fine grain
Back: Highly Flamed Maple
Ribs: Highly Figured Slab-Cut Burled Maple
Neck / Scroll: Maple with Flamed maple Neck Graft
Features: This Bass is just about the warmest thick, dark sounding Organ-like Italian Bass I have ever heard. Even in its current condition (which it's been in for over 40 years) the sound carries from room to room sounding louder and deeper as you walk further away from where it is being played. Although this Orchestral sized Double Bass has a current string length of 44", it plays as easily as other Basses I own despite its longer length. Note: A full Restoration is planned for this master grade Double Bass.

This Bass had a mechanical Extension installed many years ago but old-school style where they cut into the Scroll. The Scroll will be fully restored to look as original as possible. A chromatic/fingered Extension will be added as well during the restoration without cutting into the head again. The beautiful detailed Italian 3-String Scroll is breathtaking to look at. Sometime in the 19th century it was converted to a 4-String Bass with these beautiful Gears.