This is a video of Lawrence Wolfe, assistant principal bass of the Boston Symphony and bass instructor at the New England Conservatory, performing some short Koussevitzky pieces on a Luis and Clark carbon fiber bass and bow. Quite a nice sound, although a player like Mr. Wolfe could make a $500 bass sound fantastic. This is a very impressive testament to the quality of these basses!
(submitted by K2pro)
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Slight correction: He actually wasn’t using a carbon fiber bow. I was at the performance, and when I asked him why, he said his carbon fiber bow was too gummed up with rosin from a previous BSO performance.
He also allowed me to play the bass, which was really interesting. It sounded like what you’d expect a carbon fiber instrument to sound like. It was very hard to hear under your own ear, but from a few feet away, it sounded like a bathtub. Also, the fingerboard was made of the same material, and was hollow, so whenever you put a finger down a little rougher than usual, there was a loud clicking noise, as you can hear in the video.
Hey it’s my old teach Mr. Wolfe!
Thanks for the clarification about the bow and the fingerboard material. Something tells me that bassists wouldn’t want this as a main instrument, but as a secondary/outdoor/extreme situation bass it would probably be ideal.
From Wales Uk jan 2012 : In my opinion any undesirable effects in high specification carbon fiber musical instruments may be remedied. Collaboration and pre-performance build enhancements are achievable.
I say any defect in the instrument can be removed to an individual style as required. Quality carbon is awfully good [yes – there is poor Carbonfiber and high spec Carbonfiber – contact me for info]. I don not sell carbon fiber, I just make carbon fiber stuff and I feel you should know the truth. If you have a carbon stuff builder near you yet you want re-assurance, contact me at eson@eson.biz : google ‘pocketboard’ and ‘poolaid’ as an illustration of my competence (both No 1 on google at this time of writing).
Sorry, but I have to provide a disclaimer: Until I am officially qualified in building carbon instruments my info is for contemplation only –If you use any or all of my information you do so at your own risk and I cannot be held responsible for any loss of whatever kind however so incurred at all by your reading and applying these (my) comments before you in any manner whatsoever.
Chees ?