Copenhagen OPERA HOUSE

Ekvipagemestervej 10 • DK-1438 Copenhagen K

Thomastik

A Company with tradition: 80 years in the heart of Vienna

In 1919, two former officers of the Austrian monarchy, violin maker, Dr. Franz Thomastik, and civil engineering specialist, Otto Infeld, decided to become collaborators. They co-founded the company, invented the steel string and thus caused a revolution in the music world.

Suddenly the conventional gut string was challenged by a new string with the highest quality of tone, precision and reliability. It was received enthusiatically by virtuosi across the world.

To the present, an ennormous variety of strings with this new exciting sound for bowed and plucked instruments are produced at the homebase of Thomastik-Infeld, right in the of Vienna, the world´s music capital.

Thomastik-Infeld constructs and manufactures machines for producing strings in its own workshops. With a staff of 190 people, it produces yearly over 3.000 different strings. 97% of them are exported to more than 100 countries.

bassico

We love double basses – bass up your life

At Bassico you’ll find everything you need to make the most out of your double bass playing. Our aim: good products at a reasonable price.

For individual double bass set-ups, repairs, pickup installation and other services, our bass luthiers would be happy to assist you. Our workshops are located at Schellingstr. 21a in Munich, Germany, and at Eubabrunnerstr. 17 in Erlbach, Germany.

We have also built up a network of reliable partners in various parts of Germany and Europe.

If you need help with your double bass we would be happy to recommend someone in your area.

Stefan Nestler & Markus Fiebig

PIRASTRO

Founded 1798

It is the quality of our strings and rosin that makes PIRASTRO a well known brand name which stands for reliability and beauty of sound.

Many musicians of bowed classical instruments prefer PIRASTRO strings because of the string's ability of modulation and altering the tone. This allows the musician to create an individual sound and to evoke the special sound characteristics of the instrument.

Musicians can chose from the most comprehensive product program available in the industry, which offers gut strings such as Oliv, Eudoxa or Chorda, synthetic strings like evah pirazzi, Obligato, Violino or Tonica and steel strings such as Permanent, Flexocor or Chromcor.

PIRASTRO rosin is adapted to each string in such a way that adhesive power and playability are optimised.

The ancestors of the owner family came from Italy to Germany more than 200 years ago. From the beginning as a small workplace of craftsmen in Offenbach near the Main river, a modern company has evolved under the name of "Pirastro GmbH", with a staff of over 150 employees.

We are looking forward to a further fruitful cooperation.

Upton Bass String Instrument Corporation

Double Basses, Upright Bass String Instruments For Sale

Welcome to Upton Bass String Instrument Company of Stonington, CT and Boston, MA. Upton Bass specializes in building custom hand made double basses, award winning and highly acclaimed worldwide. Working closely with some of the most renowned bassist in the world like Gary Karr, John Pattitucci, Harvie S, Eric Revis and many more has given Upton Bass even further insight into the craft and understanding of what different players need in an instrument.

Thomas and George Martin © Violin and Double Bass Makers

Makers and Restorers of Fine Double Basses and Other Stringed Instruments

We are the UK’s premier makers and restorers of double basses, we are happy to undertake all work from simple setup, to full restoration or a newly built instrument.

We make some of the finest new instruments in the world, specialising in the double bass. We also do repairs and restorations as well as offering fine old master instruments.

Björn Stoll

Stoll - living family tradition

Please permit me to introduce myself: My name is Björn Stoll, and my workshop is birthplace to cellos and basses crafted in the traditional manner – placing the highest demands on workmanship and sound.

Size and setup are always tailored to your individual wishes, and your satisfaction is at all times the measure of my work. By cultivating exchanges with musicians and fellow instrument-makers, I have been able to develop a succession of new models and innovative ideas. And also after your purchase, I remain your competent partner for all questions concerning your instrument.

D'Addario Strings

D’Addario & Co. is a manufacturer of the finest strings and accessories for violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Brands include Kaplan, Zyex, Helicore, Prelude and Pro-Arte.

Established in America in 1905 with roots back to Salle, Italy in 1680, D’Addario continues the tradition of fine stringmaking and innovative design at their state-of-the-art New York facilities where 100% of their strings are designed, engineered and crafted.

Chevalets Despiau

The Despiau family, wood craftsmen since 1920.

Three generations recognised for their high quality in wood manufacturing.

Jean-Louis Despiau created the first bridge in 1984, after 10 years of research on acoustics, boosting the manufacturing to become CHEVALETS DESPIAU, one of today's world leaders in this exclusive market of high quality bridges for stringed instruments.
Three of his children joined the company later on to take on the sales and marketing, quality and management roles.

We offer a complete range of products, classical and baroque styles which will meet your highest expectations: high, medium, low arch and heart, treated or untreated wood, customized bridges. All these are available in four different types of quality.

Stefan Johann Krattenmacher

Maker and restorer of fine stringed instruments

During my years working as a restorer in Hong Kong, Australia and London, many masterpieces of the 17th and 18th Century have given me a lifelong source of inspiration.
However, my work is equally influenced by my every day life.

With each symphony I hear, with every musician who visits my workshop, or when encountering an unexpected street musician, my idea of the sounds I wish to create in my own instruments is altered and illuminated.

Inspiration also comes from anything that moves me: the sight of a piece of wood, the sound of a brook playing with pebbles or the quietness of a landscape. It may come whilst stood on the peak of a mountain, or whilst simply lying beneath a tree.

Our workshop is in an 18th century barn in a small winemaking village in the South of Germany: Inspiration is just behind the door!

te Hietbrink Bows

Modern bows for the Violin family and Double Bass

Bow Makers are hard to find. Bows are commercially readily available, but for a professional hair, repair or restoration of your valuable bow you should go to the specialist: the bow maker. In Arnhem find Henk Hietbrink since 1990 specializing in new construction according to British tradition, modern bows for violin, viola, cello and double bass. Besides construction of bows in various price ranges, you can contact me for a quick and professional hair, and for repair or replacement of defective parts such as clutch drawers duimleders, wraps, screws and screw eyes. Defective but valuable slippers can I make a copy. Also, I attach importance to inform you about the raw materials such as Pernambuco, Iron Heart, Ebony, Mammoth Ivory, leather, metals, and last but not least, different types of horsehair. If there are ambiguities, or if you have questions after reading this site, please feel free to contact me. I will be happy and your question as best as possible.

I wish you much pleasure while browsing this site,

Henk Hietbrink, bow maker

Sünnenblink Musikwerkstatt

Soundart & Doublebasses

Bows, musician, archery, workshops, musical development, strings, Windelband, double bass, double bass, pickup

Nick Lloyd and Martin Penning Basses

American bass maker Nick Lloyd www.nicklloydbasses.com and English bass maker Martin Penning www.mpenning-luthier.co.uk are selling modern handmade doublebasses!

Nick Lloyd - "Nick Lloyd's bass is truly a work of art. The depth of its sound seems limitless, and with a clarity that takes one by surprise, a quality which I often witness in fine old Italian instruments."
- DaXun Zhang

Martin Penning - I have been making instruments since 1993, graduating from the Newark School of Violin Making in 1999. I believe it is imperative to be in control of the whole process, sourcing my own materials, and making pigments and varnish. I am inspired by the instruments of Cremona and Venice in particular but like to use my own artistic freedom.

Lundgaard Amps

Handbuilt amplifiers for doublebass.

Hi-end audio circuits, class D amplifiers, neodymium speakers and lightweight calibrated cabinets. Powerful, cleand and natural sound. Easy intuitive controls.

Violin Maker Jakob Motter

New Instruments, Repairs, Fine-Tuning, Sales, Rentals, Bow Re-Hairing

Whether you have troubles with your violin, your viola, your cello or your double bass (contrabass, upright bass): Me and my staff will provide you with the required assistance and support.

You'll find me at the Reuterstr. 49 in Neukölln, in the south of Berlin, near the Hermannplatz metro station.

HertzStrings Carbon Bows

- a modern bow based on old traditions

New revolutionary technology and knowledge! The development of these perfect bows is the result of a cooperation between professional musicians, bow-makers and music teachers, applying the newest technology and materials.

Carbon fibre has made it possible to take a further step from the traditional way of making bows to fulfilling all the demands of modern music in one single bow. Carbon fibre is a revolutionary, strong and flexible material wich is far better than wodden fibre ensures the tension and the form of the bow.

HertzStrings carbon fibre bows are on a qualitative level far beyond even the best phernembuco bows. Weight and balance are perfectly harmonized. In addition HertzStrings carbon fibre bows are tolerant of the elements as the material is weatherresistant.

We render a 10-year gurantee on the bowstick, the stick is imperishable. Horsehair from Mongolian stallions are used for bow-hair; the Froge is carved from either African Ebony or the very beautiful Snake Wood.

WILSON PICKUP SYSTEMS

– the professional choice

• Famous for producing the closest sound one can possibly get to an “amplified acoustic sound”.

• This unique and patented Danish invention is the only transducer on the market where each string can be individually adjusted for volume by simply rotating one of the pickups.

• Convenient for use on stage, the WILSON pickup system connects directly to an amplifier, with no pre amp required. It has a frequency response of 20Hz – 30 kHz and is accurate and completely linear in all registers.

Bass Maker Horst Grünert

The company was founded by Erich Grünert in 1956 in Zwota, a small town in Saxonia with a long tradition of instrument building. 1960, after the family had to flee from the GDR due to political reasons th coompany was founded again near Landsberg, Bavaria. In 1970 the company moved to Penzberg, into their own workshop. After Erich Grünert's death his son Horst Grünert carried on the business. For more than 25 years Horst Grünert is assisted by Wolfgang Suldinger.

Horst Grünert specialised solely in builiding and restoring elli and double basses and their baroque predecessors.

By restoring valuable masterpieces a lot of experience was gathered which is entering into the making of new instruments. The workshop of Horst Grünert is very famous for doing difficult restoration work and copying old masterpieces.

In 2003 he was awarded with the Silver Medal of the International Society of Bassists at the Maker's Competition.

Bass Maker Jean Auray

Jean Auray crafted double bass with removable neck system.

Nanoo flightcase for basses with a removable neck system.

Fly Auray bass with its Fly Auray case designed for extra light travel.

Pöllmann-Contrabass

Der Name Pöllmann ist mit der Geschichte des Contrabassbaues seit anno 1888 untrennbar verbunden.

Unsere Meisterinstrumente entstehen nur aus über Generationen abgelagerten bestem Tonholz. Durch den stetigen Kauf von Hölzern, über vier Generationen hinweg, verfügen wir über Tonhölzer der verschiedensten Arten, (Fichte, Tanne, Ahorn, Nussbaum, Pappel, Weide….) ganze Böden- und Hölzer die über 200 Jahre alt sind.

Bogenbau Dölling

The bow makers know that they can market their good name only in accordance with a convincing quality.

These include participation in international exhibitions and symposiums. The bow makers exhibiting at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt / Main, Los Angeles, Sydney and Shanghai. Your customer base is worldwide.

Abroad, there are mainly offering various retailers, including the arches in Australia, England, Japan, Austria, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain, Taiwan, Korea and the United States.

The German clients obtain a Dolling - bow mostly through direct contact to the workshop.

David Gage String Instruments

The Realist Transducer is the industry standard for transparent amplified sound of acoustic basses. This year, DGSI announced the release of The Realist Docking Station, a volume knob that works with all basses and all brands of pick-up.

The Czech-Ease is a full-function bass designed for travel and/or playing in amplified situations. Its true-bass sound sets it apart from the rest of the portable bass world.

The Gage BOLT is a full 3/4-size bass made with K-1 technology and a removable neck. Whether you're travelling by subway or by airplane, the K1 lets you bring a big, bold signature sound with you.

The Gage Case is the finest travel trunk available to string players. This year, the newest version of The Gage Case for removable-neck basses was released. Its unparalleled strength, paired with a very simple easy-to-use design, allows bassist with removable-necked basses to travel confidently.

For information on all DGSI products, visit www.davidgage.com/gage_products.php

Seccion Contrabajo

Located on the outskirts of Madrid, Seccion Contrabajo is a specialized double bass shop owned by Luthier Antonio Manen, that offers a wide range of new and old fine double basses, student and professional quality bows as well as an extensive stock of accessories aimed for the double bass player.

With various renting programmes, a dedicated part exchange service and the ability to deliver worldwide we trust to cover any expectations of the classical and jazz bass player.

Patrick CHARTON Luthier

With his classical hand made double basses, Patrick CHARTON won numerous gold medals at international competitions.

In 2003 he invented the first modern d.bass with detachable neck : the "B21" which is now played by George MRAZ, Robert BLACK, Sylvain LEPROVOST and many others.

Specialised in double basses, Patrick Charton also makes violins, cellos, violas and he won international prices for all the instruments of the string quartet.

Based in France, in Paris and St Etienne, his workshops attract musicians from all over the world, for new instruments but also repair work, sound adjustments...

His team includes 3 gold medal winners such as Richard GONON who is present during "BASS 2012" in Copenhagen.

F.GÜNTER HOYER

With more than 220 years family tradition Hoyer has the longest unbroken record of bowmaking in all of Germany.

For approximately 60 years the Hoyer workshop has been specialized in bows for double basses. The wood for the current bows was stored in the workshop of the family for at least 40 up to 90 years.

All bows are handmade. Customer wishes are taken into account with pleasure. Playing can be easier and occupational diseases can be avoided by the individual consideration of the anatomy of the customer at the making of the bow.

Many famous double bass players use Hoyer bows. The family Hoyer looks forward to a meeting with good friends in Copenhagen. For these and all new customers a select assortment of different double bass bows is presented to the Bass2012.

Leeds College of Music

As the only specialist UK conservatoire to offer both Higher (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) and Further Education courses, Leeds College of Music provides a unique opportunity for students to progress from BTEC courses through to Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees.

Students are taught in a vibrant and creative environment by academic staff who are active in the music industry as performers, composers and producers.

The College provides the highest quality education and training to help each individual student fulfill their potential and achieve a career as a professional musician.

On 1 August 2011, Leeds College of Music enters into a strategic alliance with Leeds City College, further strengthening its position as a centre of excellence for music education.

Savarez - Corelli Strings

Strings for double bass - Corelli

Corelli strings for double-bass have gained their exclusive characteristics from essential discoveries in specific materials like sophisticated rope cores and specially treated high-tech metals.

1. Tungsten wound strings - Orchestra sets 370 and Solo sets 360
2. Nickel wound strings - Orchestra sets 380 and Solo set 390
3. Strings in "TX" Series (Tungsten or Nickel)
4. Strings individuel(MI plus longs,5ème corde, DO aigu)
5. Sets for small-sized Double bass

Matthias Beimdiek violin maker & restorer

After gaining experience for several years working for renowned masters in Denmark and Germany I have started my own company in Copenhagen in 2011. My work focuses on restauration, setup/adjustment and dealing of fine string instruments.

I particularly get impulses by playing music myself, visiting concerts, exchanging ideas and experiences with colleagues and musicians worldwide.

My workshop is located in the heart of Copenhagen at „Israels plads“ with a panoramic view over „Ørestads park“ and only 5 minutes walk from Nørreport station. Here musicians are welcome to try instruments in an inspiring atmosphere.

DPA Microphones A/S

DPA Microphones is the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high quality microphone solutions for professional applications in broadcast, studio, theater, video/film and sound reinforcement environments. All DPA microphones and components are manufactured at the factory in Denmark.

DPA Microphones has released several new microphones that have already been well received in the industry. These include the d:facto™ vocal microphone and the d:fine™ headset microphones. DPA also recently announced the rebranding of its popular 4099 live instrument mic series - now known as d:vote™ 4099.

DPA’s ultimate goal is to provide you - whether you’re in broadcast, live sound, recording or theater - with the absolute finest possible microphone solutions through groundbreaking technologies. Our products are globally praised for their exceptional clarity and transparency, superb specifications, supreme reliability and, above all, pure, uncolored and undistorted sound.

jrpmusic.dk

jrpmusic.dk is producing, composing and arranging, music for the double bass.

Many booklets for 1-4 basses are made.

The booklets are also showing possible solutions for tecnnique - left and right hand.

Latest release is "Songs for Two Basses I"

Musicalificio Grande Blu

Play your Bass with your Bones

Get your body ready to play fluid music
Bones for Life® by Ruthy Alon

It is an intensive four day course from the 15th till the 18th, August 2012

The Course will be held during the BASS2012 COPENAGHEN in The Opera House, for one and half hour each day from:

8 - 9:30am or 1 - 2:30pm

for a maximum of twelve people in each session,
wear comfortable clothes and socks.

The cost is 60 € without Tax

Marvin Cable Tailpieces

New buffer design looks more like a standard tailpiece

Greater Sound and sustain

• Less mass/weight muting the vibration of the bridge.
• Single cable across the saddle does not stabilize the bridge allowing freer movement and vibration.
• Greater elasticity of tailpiece allows freer bridge movement and vibration.

Faster bow response

• The bridge comes to full vibration faster because tailpiece does not slow the response.

Reduced wolf tones

• Tailpiece buffering eliminates impact on wolf tones. Wolf tones emanating from the tailpiece or strings below the bridge are eliminated.

Softer feel when fingering

• Additional elasticity of cables allow the strings to be deflected by the left hand with less force. The tension of the strings is not different, just the elasticity (ability to stretch).

Julien Bozzolini Luthier

Double bass made by Jacquet in Mirecourt France in nineteenth century and bass bow.

SONORES

No-steel-strings for doublebass

Angela Gebler

Get your body fit for your double bass!

Being a double bass player means a lot of work not only playing but carrying your instrument. Doing the same movement pattern again and again might cause problems like overuse or pain syndroms or problems with your posture.

I offer you an individual treatment so you get the chance to learn something about warming up, stretching exercises after playing, what to do if you have f.e. back pain, exercises to strengthen your back muscles and raise your awareness for your " Body as Instrument".

If you need a relaxing massage for your neck and shoulders I will be happy to help you.
Come and sign up for your individual chance to feel better and enjoy a new feeling in your body!

SC Sound

SC Sound is a Danish owned import sand middleman company, which has existed since year 1972.

We are an importing Godin guitars, Schertler, RCF, Røde, Mipro, Studiomaster, Neutrik, Mogami m.m.. to the Danish market.

Menzel Geigenbau & Reparatur

My workshop is located in the old sexton's house, next to the entrance of St. Nicholas Church on Südermarkt (12 min. Walk from Central Station) in the pedestrian zone of Flensburg.

The workshop

Same when you come in, you are in, as violins are built and repaired in my workshop rooms, where you can watch.

'El Maestro'

Here you will meet me, Antonio Menzel.

I was born in 1963 at Brunswick, and have completed my training as a violin maker in Wales to a violin-making school in the years 1984 to 1987. After my community service I have from 1989 1994 when violin maker Stefan Hansen worked in Hamburg and then learn my skills in terms of repair and restoration can. My masters study I have taken in Hamburg.

In 1995 I took over the workshop of Franz Ruppert in Flensburg (then still in the Toosbüystr.).