Viola da gamba
I have been interested in building violas da gamba or viols since 1993. With each new order, we build custom instruments that are richly ornamented and have a full, warm sound.
Some examples:
Treble
Treble viol after Gregorius Wenger
This treble viol is based on a viola d'amore body by Gregorius Ferdinand Wenger, Augsburg ca. 1712.
Typical for the Augsburg origin are the viol-shaped outline, the flame-shaped sound holes and the continuous margin instead of a normal purfling.
I carved the small angel's head after an old model.
Alto
Alto viol inspired by Henry Jaye, Southwark
Only very few historical alto viols have survived, so we viol makers often have to sit together with the customer to create the best model for a new instrument.
We took the inspiration for our alto viol after Henry Jaye from several different viols made by this 17th century English master.
The result has an attractive, balanced tone and harmonious appearance.
Alto viol after Prague model (g´-G)
For years I have had the privilege of borrowing and playing an alto viol from a private collection. The outstanding quality of sound of this Prague instrument of an anonymous master, its beautiful shape and ideal size inspired me to build a replica. The colour also matches the original.
Bass
Bass viol after Henrik Jakobs
Bass viol after Henrik Jakobs, Amsterdam
This model, which I make with great pleasure, has very good sound properties and thanks to its quite large body it is ideal for 7 strings.
Bass viol after Henrik Jakobs, Amsterdam
Another version of this beautiful model, this time with a Moor's head, snakewood pegs and a different rosette.
Impressive individuality.
Bass viol after Bertrand
Modelled on an instrument of ca. 1704
Double bass
G double-bass viol
based on the "Delmas" model by Maggini about 1610
This wonderful double bass was created in close cooperation with our customer. The aim was to develop an elegant and well-functioning G double-bass viol model with G-C-F-A-D-G tuning which is not an exact copy of known originals. In this way the outline of the Delmas double bass was reinvented - reduced true to scale and idealised with compasses.
In building this instrument without a template we gave ourselves a lot of freedom to create slight intended asymmetries in the outline.
The peg box and scroll come from another Maggini double bass viol, which gives a new optical and functional entity with the body.
The varnish takes up the original very dark brown colour and the type of varnishing gives the instrument a slightly antique look.
Special features include the gut strings from Pure Cordes and custom pegs from Pegheds with wood heads which we manufactured individually.
Overall, this is where the desire for historically informed accuracy meets pragmatic innovations which nevertheless complement each other in elegant functionality. The result is a bass instrument that is easy to tune and easy to play, about which both we and the customer are very happy.
Viennese double bass model
after Joseph Stadlmann
Taking various original models as a basis this double bass in Viennese tuning (F-A-D-F#-A) picks up the most distinctive characteristics of the Viennese bass building tradition. The slim, viol-shaped body with its generous lower bout comes with the typical F-holes (instead of C-holes). The rib height is customised at approx. 25cm and helps give a full, sonorous depth. The mechanics are based on the original; the peg box has the typical wings and is crowned by an almost diminutive scroll. The chestnut brown colour changes its tone depending on the light. Both the endpin and the pegs are of course hand-turned in our workshop.
Double bass / double bass viol after Stephan Posch, Vienna 1723
This double bass in Viennese style with gut strings and frets completes our range of historical string instruments at the low end of the scale. The strings are 106cm long and tuned F'-A-D-f#-a.
This typical Vienna model has a viola shape, i.e. with a flat back, and thus counts as a viol instrument. However, it can still be played in a standard baroque orchestra. The Viennese tuning makes it ideal for solo double bass works of famous Viennese composers of the 18th century (Sperger, ...).
