“It’s like a sea of overtones. This bass is a work of art. The conductor this morning kept telling me I was too loud… you almost got me fired!” -Severiano Paoli, owner, Groningen, Netherlands
I had the good fortune to visit this famous 1820 Cremonese bass in 2024, though I had planned a model based on this instrument many years before. The original not only looks amazing, but has a balanced, beautiful tone from top to bottom. Acoustic tests also revealed some of the skill of the maker in his choice of materials and dimensions.
Nr 7 is my first commission and is currently in the hands of my friend and colleague, Severiano Paoli in Groningen, Netherlands. Adding to the challenge of a new model and a specific timeline, my client requested a five-string bass AND that this bass have a removable neck, both of which took a lot of time but came off without a hitch. He loves the instrument.
I am anxious to make another one (four strings, solid neck), available for commission. The model pictured is fitted with five strings and a proprietary removable travel neck. It has a western spruce top, figured Italian black poplar back and sides, figured big leaf maple neck, premium ebony fittings, and finished in lustrous ruby spirit varnish, and hand-made tuning machines by Andrew Brown. String length 41,” body length 44.”
