Description
This ca. 1924 Italian 1/2 size flatback bass is a fine chamber bass or melody instrument. The former owner, based in Milan, played solo concerts all over northern Italy with it. The bass received a major restoration and a maple scroll graft several years ago. The top is 4-piece spruce, the back and sides are maple, the original scroll may be poplar. The contemporary brass tuners were new at the time of the restoration. The nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle are ebony. The light weight maple bridge has had adjusters added. The Czech endpin has a graphite endpin rod. The varnish is somewhat opaque, but still thin enough not to affect the responsiveness of this light little bass. Currently the stringing is Pirastro Passione.
Dimensions are:
Top length 38 1/2″ (97.8 cm), Upper bout width 19 1/2″ (49.5 cm), Middle bout width 13″ (33.0 cm), Lower bout width 25 3/8″ (64.5 cm), Length of back including button 39 7/8″ (101.3 cm), Rib depth at tail 6 7/8″ (17.5 cm), Rib depth at upper bout corner 6 3/8″ (16.2 cm), Rib depth at neck joint 6 (15.2 cm), String length 36 7/8 (93.7 cm). This lively bass is a very nice chamber instrument. With padded cover.
