Helen McIntosh Travel Bass (2024)

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Price: $20,000

Description:

This bass is a beauty! Robbie’s daughter, Helen, made this gorgeous bass out of 50-60 year old, seasoned wood. The ergonomic design make it a joy to play. The sound is big and open. The bass has a removable neck and a clever way of keeping the soundpost in place when the string tension is released. It takes less than 15 minutes to assemble or disassemble the instrument. The bass also has an optional trunk made by Jean Auray, the Nanoo, which is an added $3,500.

String Length 40 7/8”, Upper Bouts 19 1/2”, C Bouts 14”, Lower Bouts 25 1/2”, Ribs 8”, Body Length 42 1/4”

Pollmänn Fendt Maggini 1975

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Price: $20,000

Description:

There is an interesting history to these basses. While visiting the shop of Pollmann in Germany, Thomas Martin brought his Bernard Simon Fendt Maggini Model bass that he was currently touring with. He asked the Pollmanns to make copies for Mr. Martin to sell. They are beautifully made basses and have a rich, dark sound, that is punchy and clear.

String Length - 42”, Body Length - 45 1/2”, Rib Depth - 8 3/4”, Upper Bouts - 20.75”, C Bouts - 14”, Lower Bouts - 26 1/2”

German Bass, ca. 1900

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Price: $32,000

Description:

With this bass Robbie McIntosh took a good sounding bass and turned it into something extraordinary. In addition to a full restoration and the addition of a C extension he modified the shape in subtle but profound ways. The body was too big, both in its length and depth, especially at the shoulders. Playing it must have been a chore. There was enough wood for him to cut down the length of the back at the button. He also narrowed the ribs from the lower corners up and made new, deeper ribs for the bottom bouts. This keeps the overall internal volume the same but creates a body shape that is more ergonomic, making it easier to get around into thumb position. This bass produces a huge, mature sound and is even throughout its registers.

Helen & Robbie McIntosh, 5/8 size, Piattellini Model, 2023

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Price: $30,000

Description:

  • This is Helen’s first bass made in collaboration with her father. 

  • The top is made from slab cut, eastern white pine that came from floorboards in a home in Greenwich, NY, that was built in 1785. Robbie used this wood on his fantastic Busan copy. 

  • The bass:

    • 39 1/2” string length

    • is a copy of a bass by Alvisio Piattellini

    • was entered into the makers competition at the 2023 ISB Convention at University of Michigan and won a Silver Medal for Tone

    • has a warm and projecting tone from top to bottom and is very easy to play

Seth Kimmel 5 string, 5/8 size bass 2013

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Price: $26,000

Description:

  • This is Seth's 28th bass. 

  • 38 1/4” string length

  • The top is made from spruce, neck and sides of plain maple and the back is made from quilted maple. 

  • The bass is currently set up with a high C string tuned to a B. The neck is Eb.

  • This bass has a big, warm, and refined sound. The action is incredibly low but doesn’t stop you from digging in without string rattling.

Pollmänn bass, 1971

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Price: $20,000

Description:

This bass is in pristine condition for its age. The bass was the former property of local bassist and beloved classical radio announcer, Bliss Michelson, who passed away last year from Covid. The bass has a 41.5” string length and comes with a padded cover. It has a clear, punchy sound.

Body Length - 44”, Rib Depth - 8 1/4”, Upper Bouts - 19”, C Bouts - 14 1/2”, Lower Bouts - 27 1/2”

Alberto Viegas 5 string bass 2014

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Price: $17,500 ***New Price***

Description:

This 5 string bass by Brazilian luthier Alberto Viegas is a beast. It has a huge cushiony sound with enough core in the mid-range to make it really project. It is a big bass but has a manageable 41 1/2” string length. Alberto’s basses have won “Certificate of Tone” awards at the 2003 and 2007 ISB Conventions.

Mario Bedocchi, ca. 1905

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Price: $100,000

Description:

This is one of the more fascinating basses to ever come into my shop. The bass was originally thought to be a Grancino, but there is no evidence to substantiate that claim. The bass has repair labels (or writing) from 4 different luthiers: Giovanni Cavani (1907), Enrico Orselli (ca. 1925), Cesare Candi (1940), and Sergio Scaramelli (1999). There is also a nearly unintelligible label in which “Maggini” and “Brescia” can be discerned only with the aid of UV light and image-enhancing software. Clearly, the bass is not by Maggini. After a lot of research and some help from Mr. Scaramelli, I can now attest that this bass was made by Mario Bedocchi (1880-1955) who worked in Reggio Emilia. The top is made with 6 pieces of spruce. The back is flat. The scroll is not original. It was expertly carved but has an extra ¾ turn and no chamfer. At first I thought the upper bouts were cut down but now I’m not so sure. There are no tell-tale issues with the purfling that would indicate that. The sound is loud, clear, with good depth and great projection. Dimensions: String Length - 41 1/4”, Body Length - 43 3/4”, Rib Depth - 7 3/4”, Upper Bouts - 19 1/4”, C Bout - 14”, Lower Bouts - 25 1/2”

Carlo Radrizzani, ca. 1945

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Price:  $40,000

Description: 

  • String Length 42"

  • Body Length 42 1/2 "

  • Rib Depth 7 7/8 "

  • Upper Bout 19 1/2 "

  • Middle Bout 15"

  • Lower Bout 27 1/4"

  • This bass was completely restored by Samuel Kolstein and Son in 1977 and is in beautiful condition. The sound is warm and open and the instrument is very easy to play.

  • Carlo Radrizzani (1896-1986) attended the School of Violin Making in Cremona and worked with his father Angelo in Milan and Vevey, Switzerland. Angelo (1870-1955) started work in Venice with his brother Alessandro (1864-1946) and then went on to work with both Giuseppe Rossi and Leandro Bisiach. Both Carlo and his father made the same model, and their basses are popular.

Robbie McIntosh, Busan Model, 2019

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Price: $35,000

Description:

Robert Macintosh Certificate of Merit

  • This is Robbie's 13th bass. 

  • The top is made from slab cut, eastern white pine that came from floorboards in a home in Greenwich, NY, that was built in 1785. The back, sides, and scroll are made from cherry. 

  • The bass:

    • comes with an ebony fingered C extension with 4 gates

    • 41 1/2” string length

    • is a copy of a 1749 Domenico Busan

    • was entered into the makers competition at the 2019 ISB Convention at Indiana University and won a Certificate of Merit for Tone

    • has that typical Venetian sound quality

    • has a full, round bottom end but with a complex and dense mid-range and a clear, open top.