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Esteve Contrabass 6 String Guitar
AA1949

£1,795.00
£1,795.00
In stock

Description

Esteve Contrabass Six String Guitar Cedar Top

Top: Solid Cedar

Back: Laminated Indian Roesewood

Sides: Solid Indian Roesewood

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 750 mm.

Neck reinforced with Ebony insert

Handmade Hard Case Included.

History:

Musical instruments called contrabass guitars having existed at least since 1899, when a "Grand Concert Contra Bass Guitar" was listed in Mr. Joseph Bohmann's catalogue.[1] Bohmann, a violin, mandolin, guitar and zither manufacturer from Chicago, developed a large 6-string guitar. While it is speculated that this instrument may have been tuned down one octave lower than a standard guitar, no reliable information is available about its tuning or use.

The classical contrabass guitar is tuned EADGBE, like the classical guitar but one octave lower. It is popular in Fado bands in Portugal and South America. In this sense, it may actually be considered as an acoustic bass guitar, for it shares the same low-end range. Although called a contrabass guitar, the fact that it is tuned only an octave lower than a normal guitar makes it—in modern terminology—more an acoustic bass guitar rather than a contrabass instrument. Its strings are much thinner than a conventional acoustic bass guitar, so it lacks the "thick" tone of those instruments.

Contrabass guitars from the 1970s are often tuned "B-E-A-D-G-C" (B=B1 - the lowest B on the piano). Some players prefer "B-E-A-D-F♯-B"—to preserve the intervals of a standard guitar and have the top and bottom notes at the same pitch. They usually are electric instruments with a solid wooden body. After a first, arguably non-satisfying attempt by guitar maker Carl Thompson to create such an instrument in 1974, the first entirely usable contrabass guitar was built by Ken Smith in 1982 - again at the request of bassist Anthony Jackson, who would later ask Vinnie Fodera and Joey Lauricella of Fodera Guitars to build him several instruments according to his ideas.[2] The contrabass guitar influenced the development of the six-string electric bass.

Dav Byrne from the Australian band Terrorust plays a contrabass guitar tuned "A-D-G-C-E-A". At a fifth below classical contrabass tuning, some refer to this as subcontrabass.

In recent years, the use by the Niibori Guitar Orchestra has brought the contrabass guitar some renewed currency.

Delivery

Delivery charges within the UK

*Delivery is free on orders over £75.00 within the mainland UK excluding guitars and hard cases where a delivery charge of £9.95 is applied per order.

A delivery charge of £1.95 will be applied to orders below £75.00.

Orders received from the channel islands are free of VAT.

Delivery charges outside the UK

If not in the UK please use our secure checkout which will calculate delivery charges to your location automatically. If you have any questions or need further help with international delivery, contact us via email or by telephone on +44 207 493 1157. We will not take payment from you until you have confirmed the order. We are here 7 days a week to answer any questions.

Returns

If you are not entirely happy with your goods you may return them for a refund or exchange by notifying us within seven days of delivery. This does not apply to overseas deliveries.

Your custom is very important to us and we wish to make your purchases as trouble free as possible. We take great care in the processing and dispatch of orders but if you are not entirely satisfied please let us know and we will do our utmost to assist you.

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