Viola da Gamba Society of America

Bass Viol by Dominik Zuchowicz

May 18, 2022

A plainly decorated Barak Norman model (70cm string length, 6 strings) with carved male head, made in 1998. Black Mooradian bag included. Excellent repaired condition, please contact for more information or to arrange a trial.

$8,000

Sudbury, MA

7-string Bass Viol by Charlie Ogle

May 18, 2022

Bertrand model in excellent condition from the Charlie Ogle Workshop, made in 2007, with dark green fiberglass case and bow included. Please contact me for more information, or to arrange a trial.

$2,800

Sudbury, MA

Two Tenor Viols by Eugene Sprenger

May 18, 2022

These two tenors from 1959 were used in all of the Oberlin Consort of Viols recordings and concerts until about 5 years ago when I acquired two antiques. They are by the father Sprenger of Frankfurt who was a very fine maker. They match beautifully both physically and sonically and I would love to sell them as a pair. I plan on bringing them to this year's Conclave in OH.

$12,000

Oberlin, OH

Bass viol by John Pringle

May 2, 2022

John Pringle 690mm Barak Norman bass viola da gamba with bow and case. Built 2003. Extra decoration. One “ding” to wood top. Hardshell case from Savage & Hoy. Welcome to visit (I’m in the SF Bay Area) and play it.

$5,000

San Rafael, CA

Electric bass viol by John Jordan

May 2, 2022

I commissioned this instrument in 2004 from https://www.jordanmusic.com/ as he made the finest electric cellos I could find, and nobody was making high end electric gambas. Body contact points copy my Barak Norman, though string scale is 675mm. There’s an (optional) end-pin built in. The machine was delivered 18 years later, and I unfortunately haven’t continued with the gamba (I’m a lute player). It’s in brand new, perfect condition. I’m fairly sure this is the nicest electric gamba on the planet, and I’m hoping it can find a good home. Includes a carbon fibre bow and soft case. Welcome to visit (I’m in the SF Bay Area) and play it.

$5,000

San Rafael, CA

Bass Viol by Daniel Foster

Apr 21, 2022

Daniel Foster bass viola da gamba (1982) for sale. Instrument is constructed in the Barak Norman style and is in very good condition. Strings length of instrument is 67.5 cm. New frets, and strings have been placed on the instruments by master luthier Edward Maday. Sound is dark and rich. Bass viol price is $7,500. Hard case included. Pictures and sale references are available upon request.

$7,500

Queens, NY

Tenor viol

Mar 24, 2022

Labeled “violadagamba.com” and undated; total length= 92 cm; vibrating string length= 52cm; condition is excellent; bow is of untooled, unmarked dark brown snakewood, 70.5cm, 64 gr.; condition is good.; padded nylon case (ca. 2007) included. Local sale only.

$2000 OBO

Oakland, CA

Treble viol

Mar 24, 2022

Labeled “Charlie Ogle Workshop/ Beijing ’07”; total length= 71 cm; vibrating string length= 36.5cm; condition is excellent; bow is untooled, unmarked snakewood with a small chip at the tip, 71 cm, 55 gr.; condition is good; padded nylon case (“violadagamba.com”, ca. 2007) included. Local sale only.

$2000 OBO

Oakland, CA

Violone by Michael Heale

Feb 25, 2022

Michael Heale Violone ca. 1983, built as a D instrument. Excellent condition (I am the original owner.) I can send more pictures if anyone is interested. I also have a couple of Violone bows (Louis Begin and Roger Doe) which could be included in the sale.

$15,000

Berkeley, CA

Bass viol by Dietrich Kessler

Jan 22, 2022

Dietrich Kessler, 7 string bass viol, after M. Colichon, Paris 1683. String length is 69-70 cm. The viol was made for me in 2000. The viol comes with a fantastic bow by Matthew Coltman, and a deep blue Kingham hard case.

If you are interested, please contact me, and I can send you photographs and information about the price.

Contact

London, UK

Pardessus by Carl Agren

Jan 8, 2022

6-string pardessus, Carl Agren, 1986. Kingham hard case, and bow. New frets, new strings, and the bow has been rehaired.
Contact me for further details: more photos or to discuss the price.

£2500.00

UK

Dominic Shann treble/alto viol, Ashmead bow

Dec 12, 2021

Dominic Shann 1981 treble viol; bridge to nut string length: 39.5 cm. Figured maple sides and back. Blackwood Ralph Ashmead bow. Early Music Shop UK hard case. Due to the long string length, plays well as an alto in C, which is perfect for Purcell and Locke consorts. Potentially easier to finger than a smaller treble for those with large hands. Can pack and ship at cost.

$5,500

Berkeley, CA

Bass Viol by Hans Zolch

Dec 8, 2021

1970 6 string bass viola da Gamba by Hans Zolch

$4,900

Menlo Park, CA

Jacob Meinertzen (1710) - 6-string bass viol

Nov 28, 2021

Jacob Meinertzen, Berlin 1710. (6 strings) The ribs and the back are made of thuya. The head, neck and tailpiece were made by Francois Bodart (Belgium). The gamba is located in Ghent (Belgium) A certificate can be obtained, if necessary, from Benjamin Schroeder (Frankfurt) or from Tilman Muthesius (Potsdam). A similar instrument is in the Berlin museum of musical instruments. http://www.ifos-instruments.com/Buch.htm

$75,000

Ghent, Belgium

Bass Rudolf Fiedler Viol and Hard Wood Case

Nov 7, 2021

Rudolf Fiedler bass viola da gamba (2003) for sale. Instrument is in very good condition with a non classical shape. Spruce front with flame maple ribs and back. String length is 27 inches with total instrument length of 47 inches. Very resonantly loud small bass viol with new frets which stay in place. Strung with new sensicore synthetic strings. Very good instrument for an intermediate player and quite versatile given texture of sound. Bass viol price is $4,500. Hard wood case included. Pictures and sale references are available upon request

$4,500

Dayton, OH

Treble viol by Wesley Brandt

Jan 1, 2021

Beautiful 6-string treble viola da gamba made by Wesley Brandt (Hoskins model) in 2005. This instrument has an exquisitely carved dragon head at the top of the pegbox. Instrument was well cared for and is in great condition. Total length: 74 cm. Vibrating string length: 39 cm. Includes Kingham hard case.

$8,500

San Diego, CA

Treble viol by Charlie Ogle

Jul 9, 2020

Strung in open gut, with the bottom four strings from George Stoppani, and it comes with a soft case.

$2,300

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Bass viol by Charlie Ogle Workshop

Oct 7, 2019

Bass viol, Barak Norman model from Charlie Ogle Workshop, 2010. String length approx. 25 inches. Includes soft case in great condition, and bow (unknown maker) that needs to be rehaired.

$2,200

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Bass viol bow by Harry Grabenstein

Dec 8, 2021

Bass viol bow by Grabenstein 72.5 grams; 29 5/8” length. No hair.

$1,900

Menlo Park, CA

Philip Davis bass bow for sale

Jun 7, 2021

Bass viol bow stamped “PL Davis.” Fluted figured snakewood stick and frog, imitation ivory button. 78 grams.

$1400

Louisville, KY

Marais bass bow by Harry Grabenstein

Feb 20, 2021

Beautiful "Marais" bass viol bow by Grabenstein that is not getting enough use. Figured snakewood. Willing to ship. Pictures upon request.

$1,500 or best offer

Philadelphia, PA

K&M music stand

Mar 24, 2022

Heavy-duty, black, in excellent condition, with a nylon carrying case and magnets. Local sale only.

$35

Oakland, CA

Black hard shell case for bass viol

Dec 11, 2021

Black case was used for my seven string Rubio viol, but a smaller viol would fit. All of the latches work and it is in very good condition. It weighs 15 1/2 pounds. Shipping would be expensive so if you are in New England or surrounding area, I would make an effort to meet you somewhere unless you’re planning to travel to Nantucket-Island.

$375

Nantucket, MA

Sheet Music

Sep 8, 2020

I have a ton of viol music to sell for 50% of original cost plus shipping. Highlights include complete 5 part Holborne and Brade; complete 4 and 5 part Ward; Coperario; East; beautiful Monteverdi book; and much more.

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Walnut Creek, CA

Wanted: Replacement frog

Apr 5, 2022

I need a replacement frog for my tenor gamba bow. Any suggestions or resources will be appreciated.

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Bryant, AR

Wanted: treble viol

Dec 16, 2021

I'm interested in restarting lessons on treble viol, but I'm missing one important element: an instrument. If you have one you'd like to sell, or know of anyone who might have a treble for sale, please contact me.

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Walnut Creek, CA

Wanted —bass viol

Sep 30, 2021

Looking for a smaller 6 string (possibly 7 string) bass viol. I will also need a bow, but want to find the instrument first. Can travel to try out in the Southeast, and will be in other parts of the country occasionally.

Budget somewhere in the $3500 and up. And if you’d like to trade for a modern Otto Hoyer viola bow (with picture lens in frog!), that would be divine.

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Nashville, TN

Stolen Grabenstein viol bow

Oct 5, 2021

I was the high bidder on a Skinner auction in June 2021 for the Grabenstein bow in the image. It was supposed to be shipped from Marlborough, Massachusetts to San Diego, California via FedEx by Global Pack Ship. The FedEx delivery person handed me a completely empty tube. Unbelievably, I could see straight through the empty PVC tube. If anyone has any information, please feel free to contact me.

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San Diego, CA

Found: Bass viol

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Found June 2018 in Durham NC. Six-string Chinese Song bass viol with carved head. Turned in at local guitar shop after being “found” in a dumpster.

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Lost: Bass viol

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I would like to report a viol gone astray (possibly stolen) while being shipped from Michgan to Pennsylvania in June 1998. Early (60's?) bass viol with hard case and bow, Shuster & Sons. Many signs of wear. Photos available. If anyone comes across it, please report its whereabouts to: Bob Purrenhage, 113 Central Ave., Berwyn, PA 19312; phone (610) 993-0936 or e-mail

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Stolen: Bass viol

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On March 1, 2006, in UK: A 7-string viola da gamba, made in London in 1979 (maker's name not remembered) owned by the Birmingham Conservatoire in a black soft tight-fitted case with a bow by Roger Doe. It has orange yellow varnish and an intricatly carved head in the shape of a griffin, worn frets, and a great sound. Bow is a normal cello/gamba model with screw frog in dark wood. The case also had in it a Bolivian string bag. If anyone has any info please contact Henrik Persson, tel. +44 (0) 7812 050669.

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Stolen: Treble viol

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Treble viol by West Dean Workshop 1999/2000, stolen week of October 7, 2002; Viol bow by Roger Rose; Black hard case by Kingham. Please contact Alison Crum regarding this viol, +44 20 8452 3254, or email

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Stolen: 6-string electric viol by Eric Jensen

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On January 3, 2008, in UK: Dark rosewood instrument with a brace of aluminum and stainless steel. The reverse of the instrument has a tag that says "Jensen" and it was stolen in a black tubular case with a black preamp the size and shape of cobble. For pictures or to contact the poster please visit http://lorenludwig.com.

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Stolen: Tenor viol

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A student-model, German-make, reddish tenor, with label "Buchstainer 1976" inside was stolen from Lucy Cross's apartment in New York on September 7, 2003. It's in a soft case with no handle (ripped off, and still in the apartment), with a bow by Uebel, extra strings (with Bill Monical's name on them), and a cake of rosin with thick wooden sides to it. The case is much too big for the instrument. If you come across this viol or hear about it, please contact the VdGSA webmasters.

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Found: Treble viol by Dan Foster

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A treble viol made by Dan Foster in 1980 has turned up in the Chicago area under circumstances that suggest it had been stolen. If you think you may have information about this instrument or its last owner, please send an email to the VdGSA webmasters.

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Stolen: Viol bows

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Two bows stolen from the Longy School of Music, Boston: (1) Baroque Cello/Bass Gamba bow 77.3 grams; stick highly figured snakewood stamped CF English and #345. Round stick, fluted 4.5 inches in grip area. Frog slides on Vuillaume style half-round track. (2) Baroque Cello/Bass Bow 79.5 grams; stick African Blackwood stamped #358 on stick under frog. Round stick fluted 4.5 inches in grip area Frog slides on Vuillaume style half-round track. Please notify Christopher English

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