More sports in 2016? Here you go: get a skateboard from manufacturer Western Union featuring Jazz heroes like Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker …
Western Union also offers boards for double bassists, featuring pictures of Richard Davis, Charles Mingus and Paul Chambers.
An amazing double bass made of paper … with 5 strings! Found at www.hxon.net
Back in the early days of the 20th century, the Sears company published mail-order catalogues that offered nearly everything: clothes, shoes, hardware, construction materials, bicycles … they even started to make their own line of automobiles in 1906. Of course, they also carried all kinds of string instruments and double basses (probably imported from Germany, at this time). Price point: 18.95 USD to 22.85 USD.
You even got a fingerboard chart with every instrument: “It can be firmly gummed to the fingerboard, and in no way interferes with the tone or playing of the instrument.“
More about this newly built Octobass at http://magazine.amati.com, http://nymusikk.no
… but I learned a new word: Gildaxe (= a copper-like varnish).
More about this fancy bass varnish project at www.gildaxe.com
The Frankfurt Musikmesse will take place from April 15 to 18. Like last year, double basses and accessories will be exhibited at hall 3.1.
Jazz at the Freitagsküche: if you aren’t tired from the exhibition, the Freitagsküche might be the hang out venue for you! On Friday, April 17., we are going to have a Jazz Jam Session there, starting at 21:30 with Marcus Becker Quartet as opener band.
Directions: just around the corner from the fairground, at the backyard of Mainzer Landstr. 105 (it’s the same building where our Kontrabass-Atelier is located in).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q15LqTowvhA
Under the direction of Paul Hart, chair of the 2015 ISB Maker’s Competition workmanship judges panel, the ISB is inviting working bass luthiers attending the convention to help attempt a first in ISB Convention history. The participating luthiers are going to build a double bass in a week during the convention! This one-of-a-kind instrument will then be raffled off at the end of the week (tickets for the drawing will only be available for sale on-site at the convention), with proceeds benefiting the ISB.
Convention attendees will be able to stop by and watch the work in progress, and ask questions about the luthier’s art and process. There will even be opportunities for amateurs to assist with some of the unskilled prep work.
Luthiers and amateurs, if you are interested in helping out and want more information, please email Dustin Williams, chair of the 2015 ISB Maker’s Competition, at Dustin@WilliamsFineViolins.com.
The deadline to enter the 2015 ISB Maker’s Competition is May 1st.
The 7th biennial ISB Maker’s Competition will be held June 1st-2nd at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.