5-string by Benedict Lang, Mittenwald Double Bass circa 1960 - #2663 |
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Instrument description: Large hand made German 5-string instrument with violin outline and two-piece swell back - made by Benedict Lang circa 1960. Any Labels? There are two origional labels inside the instrument. The first states "Benedict Lang, Musicinstrument - Erzeugung, Mittenwald / Bayern, Made in Germany." The second is positioned immediately below the first and states "Handarbeit aus Mittenwald, Made in Germany". Who was Benedict Lang? He was contemporary with Gunter Krahmer-Pollman and seems to have worked during the mid-twentieth century. We are not sure of the year that he ceased to make instruments but one of our restorers has seen and worked on an instrument dated 1982. A small entry in the 1967 referance work by Karel Jalovec entitled German and Austrian Violin Makers reads "Mittenwald. 20th century violin maker who specialized in making double basses." - and the pioneering referance book by Raymond Elgar - Looking At The Double Bass - published in the same year as the Jalovec - notes that it was a commercial business but adds "…, the fine hand made instruments are splendid specimens and whilst still new, not so attractive in tone as they will be later when matured". Varnish: Original. Spirit based of a red-brown colour. Slightly glassy in appearance and texture. Wood: The table shows a good even-medium grain. The back and ribs are well matched with nicely flamed maple. Machines: Original. Restoration and correctional work: Remove front, remove bass bar and then re-thickness to reduce an over-thick table to the correct dimensions. Wash out table cracks (3), re-glue and secure with studs. Fit new bass bar and replace table. Shoot fingerboard, fit new top nut. Fit endpin unit and solder high-tension wire to tail piece. Fit new sound-post and adjustable bridge. Clean varnish. Touch in varnish. Fine tune set-up. Restorer: Martyn J. Bailey of M. J. Bailey Luthier Ltd. Sound: Simply superb. 5-string instruments rarely sound this good. Overall impression: We think that both you and you're colleagues in the section will be well impressed with this Benedict Lang. Final summary: Instrument such as this are now nearing or have flagged their first half-century and in terms of value are - well - looking decidedly undervalued. This really is a decently made orchestral instrument. The outside workmanship is nothing fancy but now that the instrument has been upgraded internally with a new bass bar and a table that flexes - the volume and quality of sound that this instrument produces really does belie its price tag. Stats: Width at the upper bout 20.25in (51.5cm) Price: £10 500-00 - Convert price with XE.com Personal Currency Assistant
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