| Orchestral Model Flatback Italian Double Bass |
| Upper Bout: 19 7/8" (Slightly Cut) |
Belly Length: 44 3/4" |
| Center Bout: 14" |
String Length: 41 1/2" |
| Bottom Bout: 27" |
Varnish: Golden Brown |
| Rib Depth: 8 1/2" (7 7/8" at Neck) |
| Top: 2-Piece varied grain Spruce |
| Back / Ribs: Quarted figured Maple Back with figured Maple Slab Cut Ribs |
| Neck / Scroll: Maple with Maple Neck Graft |
| Features:
Amongst all of its wear and tear I noticed the Top Purfling running off the Bass just under the upper Corner Blocks. This along
with Top and Back Inlays over the Neck Block tells us that the Shoulders of this Bass were cut sometime in the last 100 years or so.
A name 'Marchetti' is stamped or written on the rear button but we also found a repair lable inside from 1976 with a similar green inked signature. Makers with that name worked in Turin in the late 19th to early 20th century as well as Milan in the early 19th century. By the style of this Bass alone I doubt that name has anything to do with this Bass. The FFs on this Bass though are very similar to a confirmed Carlo Loveri Bass we had recently. This Bass is clearly a Neapolitan/Gagliano School Double Bass from the 19th century.
Note: This Bass will be fully restored and evaluated before going on the market and has had numerous repairs over the last century or so displaying 3 different repair labels as well (1976, 1996, 2007). There are no less that 4 kinds of Linings inside the Bass showing that it was repaired here and there but never fully restored in our lifetime. A full restoration with a clean bill of health is a must for a beautiful old Bass like this with such promising potential. |
The 'Marchetti' name on the Neck Button was a mystery but we found inside a repair lable from 1976 with a sinilar green colored signature. The Bass looks to be Neapolitan and not from Turin or Milan where various members of the Marchetti's lived and worked. One of the Marchetti's may have repaired it in the past at most. After showing the Bass to several Luthiers, all have agreed it is Neapolitan 19th century. A living member of the Loveri family confirmed it is from his ancester, Carlo Loveri. Same F-holes a the previous Loveri owned. |
