Olde English "Gamba Supreme" Circa 1780

This Bass is attributed to the early English School dating from the late 18th Century. Opinions from English Dealers as well as some in USA believe this Bass to be of British origin. The English were the great copyists of the Italian School which is evident in this Bass when looking at the long Gagliano/Strad style FFs as well as the Teardrop Scroll Button.

This full view shows the proportions and the beautiful patina of an older instrument. The Bass was made with magnificent wood throughout. The grade of which is usually seen only on fine Violins. The tone of this powerful sounding full sized instrument is complex with a deep, punchy organ like depth but with clarity on every note. Despite its size, this Bass is fairly easy to play.

Note: The Scroll was a 3-stringer originally as the plugs from the upper two gears were still visible before the neck graft. This Bass was most likely converted to a 4-string much later, nearer to the start of the 20th century. The Back of the Bass was also repaired sometime in the 19th century and possibly in New England as the 2nd set of Cross Bars were replaced with a single X-Brace without the customary 'lap-joint'. Scars from the original narrow rail-type Cross Braces are still visible and appear to be similar to the old English Gamba making school. A 3-string Maple Tailpiece (stained black with 2 holes added for 4 string) also came with this Bass. This, along with the Yankee style X-brace, hints that this Bass was in use or restored in the USA sometime in the 19th century.

After showing this Bass to several Bass experts at the 2009 ISB convention, the Mystery still remains. The Italians see Italian in the Bass, the English see English in the Bass and the Germans see some Mittenwald style in the Bass. So, the only School of making that I know of that was influenced by both the Italians and Tirol schools combined are the early English of the 18th and early 19th centuries where both Stainer and Amati were copied followed later by Strad and then Maggini in the Basses. This Bass is definetly nothing to do with the later Maggini idea but we do see a bit of modified Strad in the FFs. Until we see another near exact example of this Bass that is definite of different attribution, the c.1780 English will remain as the overall combined opinion. This Bass has been Sold.