Viola da Gamba Society of America

Daniel Foster bass viola da gamba (1984) for sale. Instrument is constructed in the Barak Norman style and is in excellent condition. Instrument string length is 67.5 cm. New frets and strings recently placed on instrument by master luthier Edward Maday in NYC. Sound is dark and rich. Neck is fast. Excellent for a seasoned musician. Hard case and bow included. Examination in NYC is always possible. Sale references available upon request. Contact me for pricing (which is reasonable) and other details..

John Pringle 6-String Bass Viol “Henry Jaye 1624,” excellent condition, pegheads, custom-made Kingsham MTM case.

7-string bass viol by Henner Harders made in 2011 based on the 1689 model by Colichon. An excellent, versatile instrument that is great for solo, chamber, continuo and consort. It has a rich bass and a dynamic top range and speaks easily and clearly.
It’s well loved, lived in, but has never had any repairs, cracks or open seams at all and only one owner so far. The pegs work like a dream and the instrument stays in tune surprisingly well.
You can hear it in a few professional recordings I can provide and will work with you on trying it out. Will not include a case or a bow. This viol has seen and done a lot and will be missed.

Historical 6 string viol, Dutch origin, circa 1650. 69cm string length.
Length of top: 667mm
Width upper bout : 296mm
Width middle bout: 230mm
Width lower bout: 380mm

Includes custom pro case

Beautiful historical 5 string treble viol, circa 1700, Germanic origin. With bow and hardshell case.

Length of the top: 385mm
Width upper bout: 193mm
Width middle bout: 128mm
Width lower bout: 235mm

6-string Bass viola da Gamba for sale, made by Michael Plant in 1985 (Bertrand copy). Asking $3600. Includes Michael Wise bow, and 2 cases (a fiberglass case, and a soft case with backpack straps for carrying). Also has a brand new set of Pirastro strings. String length 69cm. There is an open seam on the back that needs watching, but the instrument has a good sound and is playable: a repair was carried out in 1995 on the advice of Michael Plant, and the repair was checked again in 2016 by a highly regarded Montreal luthier (documentation can be provided). Apart from the present owner, just one previous owner. Local Pickup only. The instrument can be seen at the the May 14th Mothers' Day Gathering of the VdG-NE at Slosberg Music Building, Brandeis University.

Treble viol after John Rose by Robert Eyland, 1980. This instrument is part of a chest of six matched viols commissioned by Allison Crum and Trevor Jones for the Consort of Musicke Viol Consort. It has been played professionally for many years and can be heard on recordings of the Consort of Musicke and the Dowland Consort, among others. It's in beautiful condition, sounds and plays well. Label inside reads: The Rose Chest No.4. This viol is part of a sett commemorating the work of John Rose of Bridewell, London. Hard case included.

Large consort bass: Zuchowicz 73 cm vibrating string length. One of the "Illinois Chest" built in 1986. Sonorous, full bass sound, speaks quickly, remarkable instrument. With hard case.

This Viol was made by Edward Maday in 1986.

The wood has a rich auburn color. The timber has a rich resound, ideal for soloist or consort gambists. Tuning is surprisingly easy.

The Viol and hard case are in pristine condition.

The length of the Viol is 126cm and the vibrating string length is 70cm.
The length of the case is 136cm, the width is52cm and the depth 24cm.

A full set of unused Sensicore strings is included. For additional details and photos please email me

Specs: 77 cm string length, no top d string. Lovely lower range, excellent consort bass for Renaissance music. All gut strings. Date: 2012. Includes Pringle Renaissance bow (black hair) and soft case.

Exquisite 17th century Tenor viol by Wolfgang Uebel. Made in Spain. Pristine condition. Two volume knobs. Octave fret. Formerly owned by Christopher Simpson. Reduced price!

Festooned pardessus constructed of alternating staves of figured maple and walnut. Based on historic iconography.
31.5cm string length, strings a custom set by Boston Catlines, great projection, a rich bass and sweet brilliant treble range.
Comes in hardshell case. Made by Christopher Davies, Portland Oregon.
$3400

Daniel Foster bass viol for sale- label 1985 no. 79. Good shape - some finish worn and needs a string restrung. Includes 2 bows.

Bass Viol, 6 string
after Barak Norman, c. 1700
built by Paul Hart
Salt Lake City, Utah. 1978.

The tone, playability, and expressiveness of this gem of a division viol will surely be of exemplary service in the pursuit of your interpretive goals and ideals. A masterful instrument built by a long-standing master luthier.

Dimensions:
Vibrating string length: 66 cm
Upper bout: 28.1 cm
Lower bout: 36 cm
Body depth: 13 cm
Body length: 63.5 cm
Total length: 118.7 cm

Please contact Laszlo at steinhoff.lr@gmail.com for more information, photos, or to trial. Located in Baltimore but can discuss transport.

Five string vielle by Westover Workshops, 1989, neck with carved head. Body length 438 mm, string length 472 mm. Excellent condition. Unmarked serviceable bow and handmade custom plywood box case included.

Tenor viola da gamba by Edward Maday, 1997, with a tenor viol bow by Arthur Bultitude and a Mooradian soft case. Body length 49.4 cm; vibrating string length 52.1 cm. Excellent condition. Viol, bow and case included.

This instrument is made with figured maple back and spruce top. It has purfled borders on the top, three purfled ornaments on the back, and a carved head. This model instrument is suitable for both consort and solo playing. Soft case is included. The viol has been refurbished under the direction of Gail Schroeder.

Excellent condition violone by Hans Jordan (1940), sold with exceptional bow by Gunther Hellwig. Instrument comes with perfectly-fitting gig bag. You will want to invest in new strings. Currently set up as a D-violone, but would serve well as a G-violone. String length: 90 cm; bottom ribs width: 51.5 cm; top ribs width: 40 cm; body depth: 17 cm; bridge height: 11.5 cm; nut width: 4.75 cm. More pictures here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/puFqqEGZzRxEZs6g8

Bass viol 7c 70cm via Viktor Koos, carved head, 2004
Item description: €6000 (compare to €12900 current price at https://viktorkoos.com/pricelist/viktor_koos_new_instruments_price_list_2022.pdf)
Current instruments he makes: https://viktorkoos.com/en/#seven_string_viola_da_gamba_2020
With carbon fibre case. No bow. More photos at https://tinyurl.com/johngambas
I am near the Avignon TGV. You are welcome to come via train and play the instrument. I can also bring the instrument to London in September.

Tenor viol 7c 58cm via Peter Hütmannsberger, carved head, heavily decorated, 2005
With snakewood bow. More photos at https://tinyurl.com/johngambas
I am near the Avignon TGV. You are welcome to come via train and play

Alto Viol made in 1997 by Norman Myall of London, England, for George Hunter, modelled on a Jaye viol in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In a Kingman case (no bow – I use my treble bow). I bought it in 2011 from the Estate of George Hunter for US $7,000. With papers proving provenance.

2020 Bass viol by Francis Beaulieu (after Henry Jaye).

Price includes a custom-made case by Maurizio Riboni.

More pictures upon request.

Viol is in excellent condition, but feel free to ask any questions.

Label says:
Aus der geigenbauerfstatt
Eugen sprenger lauten:und
Geigenmacher in Frankfurt 1961

Beautiful instrument made in 2000, played by Brady Lanier. Best for tall person, supplied with almost new Mooradian soft case. 68cm string length. Bow not included. I will bring the instrument to Conclave. You can hear the viol at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1My9laD_ax8

7 string bass viol after Colichon by Warren Ellison with string length of 69 centimeters. Double purfling and carving with Parisian motifs, scalloped pegs. Previously played professionally and loved; now, it doesn't get played enough. It is in immaculate shape and well set-up by Peter Tourin. Located in Philadelphia; can arrange transport to nearer East Coast cities or make a suggestion for a way to try it.

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. Hard wood case included. Pictures and sale references are available upon request

This Bow, made by H. Grabenstein, is in excellent condition.
The weight is 55 grams, the length is 72cm

Excellent condition, used professionally as a gamba bow and also for baroque cello. Purchased in 1983. Bow case included.

Bass bow by Eduardo Gorr (2018). 76g, 78cm.

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

Voices of Music is looking to buy, rent or borrow a Wesley Brandt bass viol based on any of Wes's three Jaye bass originals. The bass is for our upcoming concerts and filming projects for our YouTube channel.
We have trebles and tenors and are looking only for a Brandt Jaye bass. Thanks so much!

The Highlands Community Orchestra is a Sight Reading Baroque Orchestra in Denver Colorado that practices on Saturday Morning from 10 to 12:30 . We have played together for 15 years and have a library of over 100 boxes of music. We are looking for a musician to join our group. Advanced intermediate musicians who play a violin family instrument (violists must also play violin), or a gamba family instrument or a recorder family instrument (must play both "c" and "f" fingering or a traverso player are welcome.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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