Tom Plays Billé on a Three Gut String Double Bass

Tom takes us back in time!
Whilst most of us play modern four- or five-string instruments with steel strings, double basses in the time of Bottesini often had three strings, and they were made of gut.
Here, Tom performs Billé's Study no. 11 on his own three-string double bass, showing us the unique sound of the gut string double bass, and the difficulties that this instrument poses.
#kontrabas #contrabas #kontrabasso #contrebasse #contrabbasso #contrabajo #cello #violin #viola #luthier #orchestra #contrabass #woodworking #bassporn #instrument

[@doublebassPaulBadiini]

Dear Tom your playing is always beautiful and your sound is like a bottle of excellent wine from the best vintages!

[@thinkpadedge1]

That was amazing! I think the original sound of the double bass with gut strings is special and deserves respect, it has an almost vocal quality!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Couldn't agree more!

[@haeven1622]

I wonder if it's also because it has 3-strings.

[@bassface84]

Brilliant. There's nothing quite like that sound is it? Glorious.

[@XaviBasser]

That's the bass Thomas played in my online class with him. I fell in love instantly, i love the shape and colour. The sound is so special, antique.

[@andreasschmidt3430]

I love the Sound of the Instrument and the gut strings ! So warm and beautiful 😍 brilliant playing! Thank you 🙏

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thank you very much!

[@user-ke2fz7xn9v]

watched this a few times, it never fails, a gift, thank you

[@ositoCastro]

Hi Tom and George. Very nice. It reminds me of my first teacher because he played his entire career until 1987 with gut Kaplan strings on his 4 s Altimira sized like Tom's pear. He bought it in Buenos Aires from his catalonian teacher from the. Valls school. Yes... a Torello fellow . Have a good day. Johnny

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Sounds great!

[@matthewgirolami4509]

Absolutely fantastic! Love the sound of those gut strings

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thanks a lot!

[@thomaschristopherson5623]

Bravo! How cool to have a 3 stringed pear bass with gut stings. Impressive memory too...

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Indeed!

[@azaryd]

i'm salivating at this sound and seeing all those beautiful basses in the background.. :)

[@lawrence18uk]

AWESOME harmonics 3:04 - 4:50

[@jamesgiles4061]

Bravo! Well done, you ! And that tone - A string for days .

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Many thanks!

[@juanpablonavarrosepteto2024]

Maestro !what a beatiful sound and playing ,I love it,thank you for your Music is a full inspiration !

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thanks for listening!

[@jasonlindsay719]

Tom...fantastic!!

[@Badtvset]

WONDERFUL PLAYING!

[@wszystkojedno696]

First of all, your excellent musician and this is real pleasure to hear your play. This bass has incredible sound and soul. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thanks a lot!

[@abrahamhumphrey2297]

Incredible. Thank you!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Glad you liked it!

[@VitoLiuzzi]

BRAVO Tom

[@ositoCastro]

Hi Vito. What about your website and library? Thanks. Have a good day

[@olivieraleman]

Love the sound of plain gut strings...thank you sir. John

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thanks for listening

[@slopbucket74]

Holy smokes, that was lovely!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thank you kindly!

[@bijouxmusic]

Wow! great job! those strings sound a lot less forgiving than modern strings...
Beautiful playing as always!
In the hands of the Master any instrument sounds good!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Glad you liked it!

[@glennlopez6772]

Always looking forward to the bass sounds.
Please continue your videos and make then better

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

That's the plan!

[@clueless3398]

That is certainly a charming bass. I kinda wish someone would make a new one to see how it would sound.

[@augustoduarte6623]

Beautiful !

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thank you!

[@jamesjamerson1537]

Bravissimo!

[@paulklinefelter4486]

Nice Tom! You still got it!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Oh yeah!

[@Danibass1]

Bellísimo sonido, felicitaciones!!!

[@murattaner7384]

may I request one more piece this time utilizing more of long long bass notes? Not saying these were not wonderful, but still I carved for some deep notes from this wonderful bass : ))

[@anastasiocatalan416]

Bellessima interpretazione 🥺

[@ngarber]

Billé "Method", Part II, Book VI, page 64. (lt's really the 7th book in the method, but there are two Book IV's, one from Part I, and one from Part II.)

[@VitoLiuzzi]

Great sensibility!!

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Thanks!

[@ricobass0253]

Great sound. Can you say anything about the bow weight, bow hair and rosin type, please?

[@ex_orpheus1166]

Didn't Bottesini play on silk strings? Would be great to hear a 3 string bass with silk strings.

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

He would have played on Gut strings :-)

[@Oscaraha]

Gut strings arco in high registers sounds like castrato singers. Its peculiar beauty.

[@probindemufhoes42069]

how far do three gut string basses go back? did any of them have gut frets like a viola da gamba?

[@FederinzC]

Thank you very much for posting this! What's the tuning of this bass?

[@jazznafbass26]

Bravo Maestro !!!! Anyone could help me get the exact reference of this Billé Study (I understand it s the 11th one) but I can't find it on the Billé Methods nor on the Studies in Every Key. Thank you in advance !!!!

[@ositoCastro]

I think it's from the 6 corso ER 305

[@hernancuadrado120]

Hi! Which gut strings is he playing on (Brand and/or diameters)? And would it be possible to find out the setting of the double bass concerning the string heights? Thanks a lot! Great video

[@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers]

Hi, glad you enjoyed the video! The gut strings are very old, that were taken off an old bass and Tom saved them. For the string heights, Tom wanted the width of his little finger under the G and the width of his thumb under the A :D

[@hernancuadrado120]

Great! Thanks for your answer, the strings don´t look old at all however! Did you treat them in some way before using them? And I should ask the diameter of Tom's fingers! :)

[@hernancuadrado120]

I would be very interested in knowing the diameter of the strings. I use gut strings in my basses, I've tried many brands and makers. I have many old strings as well but the range of the diameters is huge! I guess some were meant for soloing and others for orchestra, but it would be interesting to know the thickness of these specially this G string. It sounds beautiful in the high range (besides Tom's stunning skills and the wonderful instrument)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ThomasGeorgeViolinMakers Yeah not alot of people use 3 String Basses anymore cause Basses with 4 or 5 strings are much more enjoyable after alot of updates.

[@mikeescreet8703]

Hi Tom. Did that bass used to be Ernie's? I used to have lessons on one that looked very much like that, as I remember, but it had 4 strings.

[@haeven1622]

Hi. Is it tuned EAD?

[@moresalesoryourmoneyback]

It's NOT the gut strings that sound nice. It's Thomas who sounds great.
Try gut strings one day. They sound like a chainsaw.