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Introducing:
The Guaneri
In the spring of 2023 the principal bassist for The Minnesota Orchestra , Kristin Bruya, approached Seth about building her a player's copy of the Andreas Guanerius bass which she plays for the orchestra. Intrigued by the challenge and the opportunity to study this old gem, Seth flew out to Minneapolis with his calipers. This is the result.
This bass matches the measurements of the Guarneri bass owned by the Minnesota Orchestra, including the original Eb neck as Bruya wanted to be able to switch back and forth seamlessly from practicing at home to playing at the hall. Seth adapted the design to accommodate a more usual D neck for another client, so this model is available with either. Photos of that one at the bottom of the page
The top is of Ponderosa Pine in 2 pieces. The flat back is of Western Maple in 4 pieces with strong flame at the center. The sides, neck and scroll are of the same flamed western maple. The varnish is brown over gold. The bass is equipped with a New& C-extension with four gates. It has Rubner tuning machines with wooden keys, and a New Harmony end-pin with a hollow stainless steel shaft. It has a straight ebony tailpiece, a 34 1/8 inch ebony fingerboard with light ebony 3/16 inch dots, ebony nut and saddle and ebony side bumpers.
String length; 41 1/4 inches.
Top Length: 43 7/8 inches
Back length with button: 45 inches
Upper bout: 18 1/2 inches
C-Bout: 14 1/4 inches
Lower bout: 26 7/8 inches!
D-neck Guaneri Style
A notable attribute of #80 is that not only was it made of all locally salvaged wood, is was also made with a GaiaTone™ fingerboard and a Sonowood™ New&extension, thereby making this a rare-tropical-hardwood-free instrument. While Ebony is not currently, as of 2024, restricted by CITES or the Lacey Act, such restrictions are becoming more strict all the time and the more we can move away from using these woods, the better for the planet. Click here to learn more about these groundbreaking products.https://www.vrichelieu.com/shop-sonowood-gaiatone
The top is of Ponderosa Pine salvaged from an old logging pond in the neighboring town of Springfield. The back and sides are from a Western Maple that was cut during a construction project just 2 blocks from our old home/workshop in downtown Eugene,
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