There are many kinds of stringed instruments – each with their own distinct sound and style. From the violins of the symphony to the bluesy electric guitar, these instruments produce beautiful sounds of all kinds. Stringed instruments are an ancient and fascinating way to make music. Orchestral string sections in classical music typically consist of both fretted and unfretted strings. Examples of fretted stringed instruments include the guitar, bass guitar and banjo while some examples of non-fretted stringed instruments include the violin and cello. Fretted instruments are those with metal strips called frets that help determine pitch. In general, these instruments can be divided into two broad categories: fretted (frets) and unfretted (non-fretted). Stringed instruments are found in most cultures, from the ancient Egyptian lyres and harps to modern stringed orchestras and bands. The varnish is red-brown on golden ground in color.Stringed instruments are instruments that produce musical tones by means of vibrating strings under tension, as opposed to wind or percussion instruments. The four piece spruce top has wide width grain in the center, narrowing in line with the f-holes and widening to the flanks. The neck is maple marked by a irregular figure. The two piece arched maple back is marked by a prominent narrow width figure ascending from the center joint. The sheer quantity of thick, wine-red varnish on this instrument is astonishing and it represents an opportunity for experts, who are perpetually examining the minutest of details, to appreciate a masterpiece on a truly grand scale”. On that occasion Tim Ingles, Head Department of Musical Instruments at Sotheby’s, London, writes in his preface for Stefano Pio’s book on Venice violinmaking “The Montagnana bass was the highlight of my first auction as Head of Musical Instruments at Sotheby’s and I still have an almost(!) life-size picture of the back hanging behind my desk. In 1999 the instrument was auctioned at Sotheby’s for a then record price of £ 155.000. Being published afterwards in several books on Montagnana and Venice violinmaking, the instrument was exposed at the 1995 Paris exhibition. Having a provenance dating back to 1840 it was already displayed as centerfold in The Strad Magazine of April 1911. A full dendrochronological examination has been undertaken by John Topham in 2013, which proves cross-matches of wood used by Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesù cut up till 100 years before the actual making. Montagnana, also known as the “mighty Venetian” only build very few double basses, as evidenced by the expenses to a blacksmith for iron tuning machines.The Montagnana bass has been determined by Charles Beare to be build in 1747. His double bass is made in absolute similar quality of craftsmanship and use of materials. In the past Gregor Piatigorsky, Heinrich Schiff, Frans Helmerson and at present Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Isserlis, Truls Mørk and Alisa Weilerstein play Montagnana cellos. Montagnana’s cello’s are known as the largest sounding instruments around. The double bass made by Domenico Montagnana in Venice 1747 is undoubtedly the most well-known and described bass in the world of string-instruments.
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