david robaire
producer. musician. los angeles.
7/8th size German bass, circa 1930
For Sale - $28,000
After careful consideration, I have decided to part ways with the very special instrument that has gotten me through countless performances and recording sessions since 2013. I'm just not playing enough these days to justify holding onto such a special instrument. This bass means a great deal to me, and it's really important to me that she ends up in a loving home.
I purchased this instrument in 2013 from David Gage Instruments, and it has lived with me in both LA and NYC. Lisa Gass at LA Bass Works has done the majority of the work on this bass over the years.
Assessment From Sam Finlay, David Gage String Instruments
(December 2013)
The top is made of two-piece, wide, wavy-grain spruce with gamba corners. The upper eye of the f-holes is two thirds the size of the lower. There is three-piece wood purfling around the top and back of the instrument. The bass-bar has been replaced and the top has been gently regraduated.
The deep, flamed maple ribs have thin, half-round maple exterior linings. There do not appear to be any major repairs the ribs.
The round back is made of flamed maple. The swelling of the back is slightly greater than that of the top. The original center-seam fasteners have been replaced by spruce cleats. A crack on the lower bout is secured with cleats that are the same size as what is used on the center-seam.
The highly-flamed maple neck accommodates an ebony fingerboard. The figure in the wood used to make the neck artfully echoes the figure on the ribs. The peg-box is narrow and is fit with brass tuners, mounted two to a plate. The tuner handles are spade-shaped. The peg-box tilts toward the E-side, which is very common for basses of this ilk.
The tailpiece is made of ebony.
The oil varnish is original and is golden brown over a yellow ground. This varnish is very successful.
Assessment by Lisa Gass, Los Angeles Bass Works
(June 2020)
The bass is gamba shaped with an arched back. There is a repair label which reads: "Van Der Rohe/Robert Rohe/Hancock Maine/ Nov. 1995 (handwritten) # Regraduation". The top is of two piece spruce with wide, wavy grain. The upper eye of the f-holes is two thirds the size of the lower. There is three piece wood purfling around the top and back of the instrument. The
bass bar has been replaced and the top has been gently regraduated.
The back is of two piece quarter-cut flamed maple, with matching ribs, neck & scroll. The neck is fit with an ebony fingerboard. The tailpiece is also ebony. The narrow pegbox is fit with brass tuners with spade-shaped handles mounted two on a plate.
The oil varnish is original and is golden brown over a yellow ground. The instrument is in very good condition.