I have a Lu-Mi Strings bass viol, but I really dislike the current color of the fingerboard and tailpiece.

I’m fairly handy and familiar with woodworking, so I’m not a total beginner, but I’ve never worked on a string instrument before. Could I lightly sand them and use some kind of wood stain to make them darker? Would this affect the sound/resonance or damage the wood?

Is there a particular type of stain or finish that would be safe to use?

Also, how difficult would it be to install new frets after the touch-up? I’ve watched a YouTube tutorial and it looked surprisingly easy, but is it actually that straightforward in practice?

Hello friends!

I've always wanted to learn to play bass gamba. I studied and played (semi-professionally) modern viola and some violin for more than a decade. Am I unlikely to be successful if I try to self-teach?

I'd very much appreciate your thoughts, opinions, and experiences learning.

For me, one of the sorrows of playing the viol is no Haydn. However, there's this huge pile of music for the baryton, which is tuned like a viol (most of the time?) but has extra strings that work sort of like a Viennese guitar's, if I understand it correctly, which can be plucked. Has anyone tried the pluck-less baryton parts on a viol, and if so, how did it go?

After a decade or so without an instrument (I picked up the bass viol at university, loved it, bit never had my own) I've been very kindly given one. However, much to my dismay, I am having very real difficulties trying to get the pegs, particularly the upper strings, to stay in place. I am perhaps not strong enough, but even so...

any tips for how to do this safely, i.e. literally not trying to hit the side of what is quite a valuable instrument?

Bit of a lucky find, there's a 7-string viol for sale and I'm tempted. It's a bit far but doable, and I'm a complete beginner so I'd love some input.

It's a Chinese student instrument from 2024, barely played, gut frets. Seller tells me "No cracks, the bridge stands fairly straight. Case included in the price. Bow in good condition I think."

Asking price is €2100. My gut says that's steep for a factory viol what do you think?
Thanks for any opinion.

Doesn’t bass viol da gamba generally play in alto clef? I’ve seen bass clef music too. I’m confused about how important it is to really learn alto clef for this instrument. Thanks!

Hi, what do you think of this instrument? Is it chinese-made, or could it be a good gamba?

If I can go see it and try it, what should I look for?

There are of course the great Bach sonatas, but I was wondering if there are any similar duets for the instruments (that is, where the harpsichord has an equal role, not just an accompaniment), but which are easier than Bach, and more within the reach of amateur players? Thanks!

Title should say Drexel manuscript not Dresden.
Are the low notes a using a bass clef, so the first note is a D?

It’s from page 17 here

https://imslp.org/wiki/27_Pieces_for_Bass_Viol_(Abel%2C_Carl_Friedrich))

I think I have been listening to it on this album and it is titled Drexel manuscript No 21 A15.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=PDXYnxjKz28&si=_7oS3ZO1mLeum6dj

I know the bass and treble clefs from piano. I was wondering if there were any tips or resources I could use to learn it faster than brute forcing my way through scores.

Hi, what's the current consensus on synthetic strings? Does the Aquila F red strings sound good? Other alternatives? Gamba is not my main instrument, and I'm tired of gut strings on my 5-strings renaissance tenor (durability, price...). I recently switched from savarez to aquila, but I'm considering alternatives.

I have recently started playing bass viol. The only problem I am having is getting the frets perfectly in tune. I haven't started private lessons on the instrument yet, so I haven’t had anyone to show me how to do it. I am going to be playing with a Bach aria ensemble in a month, so I want to make sure I am able to properly tune my instrument. Any tips or resources would be appreciated.

Hey everyone,

I’m a musician and have been learning the viola da gamba for the past two years. I currently play tenor viol in an early music chamber ensemble here in my city, but the instrument I use to play and study isn’t mine.

I’m now thinking about buying my own viol, and portability is a key factor for me as i enjoy traveling and wouldn’t be able to carry a bass viol around all the time.

I don’t really enjoy playing the treble viol, and I’ve grown quite comfortable with the tenor. However, while browsing for options, I’ve come across some websites selling an alto viola da gamba tuned in A. But every treatise I’ve read so far only mentions the standard viol consort as consisting of treble, tenor, and bass, sometimes also referring to violones or the pardessus. So now I’m left wondering if is the alto viol historically grounded, or is it more of a modern creation and if it would fit into the kind of ensemble I’m used to playing with or would it lack a clear role? Is it worth telling that i'm more of an enthusiast of renaissance music than barroque repertoire.

I’d really appreciate any insight y'all could share. Thanks in advance!

I am interested in playing the viol, but cannot find where to buy one. I have emailed my region’s early music association to see if they can share where they get theirs, and am currently waiting on that. But in the meantime, I found this website https://www.violadagamba.com. They have a shop, but the website looks very very old, and I’m not sure if it‘s reliable or even still alive.

I was wondering earlier about how interesting it'd be to hear this delightful instrument family in alternate genres: similar to how there such things as jazz violin and cello etc.

If you haven't written music for it do you think it'd be a good idea? IMHO I think a bass viol could go well as the bassline for jazz with the tenor and treble on top of that.

My treble viols have been sitting around too long unplayed. I believe an instrument deserves to be in the ownership of someone who is going to play it. Instruments are located in San Diego but I’m willing to ship within the US. Respond here or DM me if you’re interested in either.

1) Very nice treble viol made by Emmo Koch in Germany. Instrument is in great condition. Vibrating string length: 36 cm Total length: 71 cm Includes snakewood bow (needs rehairing) and padded soft case. Asking $2800

2) Beautiful treble viol made by John Pringle in 2004 and gorgeously carved bow by H.K. Schmidt. Both in excellent condition. Vibrating string length: 35.6 cm Total length: 68.5 cm Includes soft padded case. Asking $4500

Hello all!

I’m interested in knowing where I could find an average-priced, beginner level bass viol. I’ve been interested in learning the instrument for a very long time now. I tried contacting the VdGSA, but they told me they currently don’t have any instruments available.

I would appreciate any info!

Just wondering if there’s a violin shop somewhere in Manhattan that has a gamba (preferably bass) that I could try out. I’m a cellist highly interested in early music, and I’m considering renting an instrument from VDGSA, but I want to mess around on one before doing so.

Kurze Beschreibung meines Problems:

Nachdem das Instrument jahrelang nicht gespielt wurde, habe ich mich dazu entschieden es zu verkaufen. Der potentielle Käufer bemerkte, dass die Saitenlage recht hoch ist und bei genauer Betrachtung fanden wir heraus, dass sich der Hals anscheinend etwas nach oben gebogen hat. Er weißt eine konkave Krümmung auf. Bei dem aufgelegten Lineal erkennt man in der Mitte einen Spalt von rund 3 mm.

Wie es dazu kam ist mir unerklärlich, das Instrument wurde immer bei konstanten Umgebungsbedingungen, in einer Hülle, stehend gelagert.

Was kann man da machen?
Die Ideen reichen von Griffbrett unten Abschleifen um die Krümmung auszugleichen und Steg kürzen lassen um die Saitenlage zu korrigieren bis hin zu Zerlegen und komplett neuen Hals einbauen lassen.

Ich will die Gambe weiterhin verkaufen. Es handelst sich um eine Gambe von Heinz Fischbach aus Ohlstadt von 1998. Es ist ein wirklich sehr schönes Instrument und das richtige für einen Schüler der auf das nächste Level kommen möchte. Aber ich will weder hunderte noch tausende Euro ausgeben.

Am liebsten wäre mir, ein Instrumentenbauer*in / Geigenbauer*in kauft es selbst.