Westover/DiLeone Collaboration—SOLD
Westover Baroque Bass Number 1533, built in 1981. Offered at our shop for $12,500.
String length: 42-1/8”
Quartered spruce top
Birds-eye Maple back and ribs.
Restored in 2023 with a diagonal back brace.
The Westover bass came to us with this story attached:
“This lovely looking bass was built in 1981 by Harold (1923-2000) and Allene (1923-2011) Westover as Number 1533. The varnish is by Mr. Lou DiLeone.
The Westovers dedicated the latter part of their lives to building viol da gambas and harps. They also held workshops to share their knowledge and excitement for instrument making. The Westovers retired to St. Joseph, MO in 1990.
They built two double basses, of which this is certainly the prize. The sound of this bass is very bright and clear to the player with a flat aspect well suited to recording and to bowing. The listener tends to hear a louder, mellower sound than the player.
This bass, although pretty to look at, has very thin ribs and at one point almost every rib had a crack. After the cracks were glued, the major cracks were cleated with spruce diamond cleats and the ribs were then lined with crate paper. Crate paper has superior shear/tensile strength and when coupled with hide glue it becomes even stronger…. almost like carbon fiber.
The late Mr. Lou DiLeone was a double bass luthier of legendary status, having worked for his entire career near New Haven, Connecticut. Almost every double bass luthier in the New England area can be traced back to his teaching either directly or indirectly.”
Curious for more details? Give us a call at 518 677 3151 or send us an email at mcinbass@gmail.com.
Click on each image below to see a larger view.
