4233 SE Boise St. Portland OR 97206
503-777-7027 By Appointment
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#1. The Tarr Bass

Completed 2020, by Pete Lampe.

Inspired by an English bass by William Tarr, ca.1853

  • 7/8 body, with a 41.25 inch string length. Eb neck. Easy to play, and get around. Not heavy for it's size.
  • Massive fundamental tone, with singing upper register arco. Very punchy and open feeling for jazz/pizz.
  • Extra long ebony fingerboard for soloists.
  • Very responsive in all registers. Loud, and projecting sound.
  • Northwest Big Leaf maple, neck, back, and sides. (aged over 20 yrs.) Highly figured 250 y/o Sitka spruce, (aged over 40yrs).
  • Expansive arching; Top and back are 28" across, and 2 pc book matched. Detailed workmanship throughout.
  • Rubner hat peg tuning machines. Handsomely inlaid purfling, on top and back.
  • Adjustable Despiu bridge. Heavy German endpin. Padded bag included.

Price $14,000

Top timber ready for shaping
Shaping the lower block
Braces and linings installed
Graham plays the unvarnished Tarr
Top
F-hole, bass side.
Tarr bass-Early varnish
Scroll- treble side
Scroll- front view

#3~The ISB Bass: Silver medal winner

Twenty years a go, I purchased two huge slab maple boards (approx 2 inches thick), hoping to one day to make one piece back basses from them.
Here are pictures of the building process

Update: Well, the ISB convention went well. This bass received a silver medal for tone, and welcome reviews from players and makers, all around.
The sound really is something. Mature and rich, with a bow; while the round, punchy pizzicato penetrates in any ensemble.

#3 Timber PNW Big Leaf Maple
Corner blocks and inset lining.
Roughing out the top plate.
Sealed, and ready for varnish
a small inclusion in the top edge.
Corner closeup
 note slight hook in upper bout for easier handling.
Runner machines fitted
Several coats of varnish
Another angle of the top plate

ca.1947 Andreus Morelli (German) 3/4 

Round Back. Carved, Violin corners. Excellent condition. Label reads Made in Germany "USSR occupied".

Strong focused sound  pizzicato or arco. Played for many years in San Diego Symphony.
Also works great for jazz. 

$14,500

Vintage Laminated Basses (Kay, King, American Standard, Epiphone, etc.)

 1946 Kay 5 string #13726 "Chubby Jackson" model Excellent condition for its age. Very powerful with a low B/C, or a high C string. Great sustain and volume. Easy playing 5 string. Flamed maple veneer, w amber/orange finish. Currently set up with Spirocore strings. Padded bag.

$4,995.00.

Shen Fully Carved Double Basses

 

Shen 3/4 Willow Flat Back 200.

(In Stock!)

Fully Carved, willow back and sides. Spruce top.
These basses always have a punchy attack, with a round focused  sound, that really penetrates in any musical setting.
One of my most popular (and hard to get) models. 

Adjustable bridge, fully set up, and adjuste. Shen soft bag incl.

$6,950.00

Shen Hybrid-Double Basses

Shen Model 150 3/4 Hybrid bass.
Set up and adjusted, with D'Addario Helicore strings, adjustable bridge and padded gig bag.
Call for current pricing.

Shen Model 150 5/8 Hybrid- hard to get!
Same set up as above.
On Sale! $4,000

Shen 3/4 Model 180 Violin corner Hybrid Bass.
Same set up as above.
Call for current pricing.

Shen Model 150 Gemunder 7/8 size Hybrid bass.
Special order.

Shen Laminated Basses

Pete's Upright Bass Shop of Portland, is proud to be Portland's exclusive source for Shen basses: The finest Chinese, student, basses on the market!

Model 80  size 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 (rental/rent to own)

Model 90 Blonde~ back ordered

Model 88 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 Hand oiled finish. upgraded veneer.

***ALL new Laminated basses are set up, adjusted and approved by Pete himself. includes: Expert fingerboard dress, with just the right amount of scoop. High grade maple adjustable bridge, upgraded endpin, with choice of D'Addario Helicore strings standard. And of course, a padded gig bag.

Shen 88 Laminated Violin destined for a local H.S.
Shen 7/8 Rogeri Hybrid waiting for it's new owner
Shen 3/4 Model 80

Testimonial

I also can vouch for Pete. I bought my Hungarian bass from him, it was made by a small luthier in Budapest, brought in by a relative here in the area. It was an upgrade from a fully carved Christopher which Pete sold for me in just two weeks.