This is a 140 year old Double Bass Guitar masterpiece. The double bass with a scale length of more than one meter is the largest instrument of the violin family. Yet looking at its origin it cannot really be called a family member. Forerunners of todayââ¬â¢s double bass, which arose in Germany at the end of the 16th century originated in the family of the violas da gamba picture left. At first glance violas da gamba resemble violins but they differ in some of their most important features. Gambas are also bowed but are kept between oneââ¬â¢s knees while being played. This is why they are also called knee violins. Partly they had frets made of gut strings bound around the neck and the fingerboard. There were a lot of different variants in regard to tuning, string length and the amount of strings. In the course of the centuries they were replaced by the violin, the viola and the cello and are only of historical significance today. Some features of the gambas however have been preserved until today: the sloping shoulders, the flatback and the so-called German bow being held from below. In Italy around 1600 double basses developed which resembled violins in regard to their form.
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