Il Nuovo Basso

 Il Nuovo Basso, "the new bass," has been a vision of mine for over 20 years. I first sketched this design around 2000, during my Mandolin carving days. It wasn't until 2024 that I finally pulled the trigger on a project that ended up being one of the most rewarding of my career. 

This Double Bass, believe it or not, is loosely based on a 1790s Vincenzo Panormo bass viol. The specifications, such as scale length, projection, graduations of plates, are similar to the Panormo, with slight modifications like a round back, an increased body taper, increased overstand, and narrower nut width. The obvious differences being a radical shape change, sound hole location, and open carved scroll detail. 

The body is hand carved from Curly Cherry and Carpathian Spruce. The neck is carved from a two piece Curly Cherry billet, and is removable. The fingerboard, tailpiece, nut, saddle, and points are carved from a single piece of Bolivian Rosewood (Pau Ferro). It features a shellac “french polish” finish, custom Rubner tuners, and Pirastro Perpetuals for strings.

With such radical changes to the traditional double bass designs, trying to anticipate the tonal qualities and virtues of this design was near impossible. Uncharted territory.  Anticipating the structural integrity of a new shape was equally difficult. After stringing it up and “playing it in” a bit, I couldn't be more pleased with the tone, volume, playability and looks.

"The radical aesthetic of this instrument breaks the traditional mold. It has an ease of playability with a rounded bottom end and superb sustain."  - Stuart Schwab, bassist

I want to thank all who contributed, consulted, witnessed, opined, mentored, laughed and guided me in this project.

• Keveney Bair - my ever so patient wife
• John Preston - Preston Violins
• Travis Holley-  (appalachiantonewood.com)
• Eddie Fletcher - (appalachian wooden ware - facebook)
• Tommy Blevins - (archelonacoustics.com)
• Brad Combs - (@cbcguitars) instagram (stringsmicrofactory.com)
• Stuart Schwab - Bassist
• Jenny Harnish - Photography - (greenbrierimages.com)