Luthiery shop for the
doublebass
contrabassetto and cello
Building of new instrument upon
original models
as well as old instruments copies
I use very first choice tonewood
imported from Italy
germany and east europe
Beside classical tonewood I get
nobles tropical woods
as bahia rosewood and purpleheart
Tweaks and maintenace services as
fine graduation
of fingerboard and bridge
Maintenace and repair of
french and germany bow
with high quality horse hair
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My Contrabassetto

Thursday, 21 October 2010 21:09 Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 17:46 Written by Administrator

The Contrabassetto

Due to extensive interest, I developed a special type of instrument, which I've dubbed Contrabassetto.

Built to measure, I have developed many models in the last years, but the ones that have really stayed are:

Damasco

My most sought after model

 Odessa

Traditional yet modern outline

 Samarra

Pear model, tribute to Balndantoni

The contrabassetto is an instrument which I have developed last years to answer a quest of many customers for an acoustic, traditionally conceived yet portable bass. It have the same ergonomy of a really great double bass, with the same playing feeling and really true pizzicato and arco tone of the conventional upright!

No technical limites are imposed by the instrument, as well as adptation from the musician. You can play on it with all the articulations of an advanced playing technique; play all kind of repertoire is possible, without any problems feedback or hassles in the amplification.

The contrabassettos are instrument conceived for frequent travels and amplified concerts, althought they can be used very well in small chamber ensemble.

Gael Lhoumeau, renowed France-Brazilian solist, used a Damasco to record the 2nd Bach's Suite and the Fryba.

"Com o contrabassetto do Andrea Spada pude finalmente unir a tocabilidade, sonoridade e sensação de estar num contrabaixo acústico com a praticidade, leveza e vantagens de um vertical! ... "

André Vasconcellos

Para o Tony Botelho fiz um modelo especial (foi também meu primeiro instrumento...), feito sob medida e de acordo com as especificações que ele solicitou. É um modelo exclusivo, exemplar único.

Tony was kind enough to post a YouTube video, showing what he has been able to achieve with the instrument I built for him. With a musician of this caliber, of course, everything becomes easier!

Todos os modelos compartilham das mesmas caracteristicas de base:

  • Corpo acústico tradicionalmente esculpido
  • Barra harmónica e alma
  • Verniz artezanal, aplicado manualmente a pincel
  • Voluta clássica
  • Braço desmontável e regulável
  • Cabe no bagageiro da cabine do avião!

Experimentei muitas soluções para a amplificação; hoje em dia prefiro escolher entre três captadores, todas excelentes opções:

  • "Fishmann - Full Circle"
  • "Schertler STAT-B"
  • "B-BAND"