A while ago, I posted this video "How The Double Bass Works" by luthier Thomas Martin.
Since then, I have discovered a bit more about Mr. Martin and his son George, who create beautiful handmade double basses, along with an assortment of violins and cellos. They also offer Double Bass lessons (even on Skype), and have a shop in the UK, where you can purchase all sorts of DB accessories.
THE MARTIN HISTORY
Thomas Martin's parents, on seeing their son's growing interest in music and especially the lower string sound, bought him his first double bass back in 1953. The seller, C David Horine, took the proceeds and opened the Bass Viol Shop in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
In addition to his studies on the instrument, young Thomas used to spend after school time and weekends at the shop nurturing what was to become a lifelong fascination with the instrument itself. Who were the great makers of the past? Who made the best ones? Why? How do they work? What tools are used? How do different woods sound? How do different ways of making affect the sound? What is the difference between a round or flat back? These and many other questions came to mind and many found answers.
Read the rest of The Martin History on their WEBSITE.
I also found this interview online:
Thomas and George Martin, Double-Bass Makers
By John Robert Brown
Four of the LSO double-bass players play Martin basses. John Van Lierop in the Scottish Symphony owns three. The Martin testimonials web page is impressive, particularly when one realises that Martin senior, Thomas, didn’t begin to make basses until thirty-odd years ago.
Thomas Martin was born in 1940 in the United States. “My father was a successful lawyer,” he says. “He didn’t want me to go into music. I didn’t do well educationally, because I was dyslexic. They didn’t know what dyslexia was at that time. They gave me tests, then said: ‘If you’re some kind of genius, how come you can’t spell?’ How did I know?
Read the entire interview on John Robert Brown's BLOG.
The Martins are old world craftsmen who create and built these magnificent instruments. The fact that they have made over 200 basses in a period of some 30 years indicates they think of each instrument as a life-form unto itself. To play one of these would be a rare treat, truly!
Check out the COLLECTION.
http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/double-bass-home
This is a full sized bass.
And have a listen to this delicious five stringer!! Check out that B string!
What an astonishing instrument!!! Hats off to the men who give them voice!
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