David Arend of The Echo Falls played a double bass built in 1930 by Giuseppe Tarantino of Naples, Italy, on his band's new album. He uses a bow made by F.C. Pfretzschner (German-style!), and has formerly played in the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

In general, what makes a good double bass?

Two, maybe three things will impact the quality of violins, violas, cellos and basses:

1. The type and quality of wood -- for example, Stradivarius' instruments were made from trees that were especially dense due to years of light rain which had caused the wood to grow more slowly.
2. Craftsmanship -- this goes without saying; fine craftsmanship is revealed in the sound and also in the longevity of stringed instruments. Instrument-makers apprentice with masters just as performers do.
3. Age -- there's something indescribable about an instrument that has been resonating for hundreds of years. The wood has settled in, there's real history. New instruments can sound good too but there's just something special about a fine old instrument.

Tell me about the history of your double bass.

I wish I knew the story! It was born and has lived much of its life in Naples, Italy. I don't know when it came to the United States. Sometimes European instruments make it here through a network of dealers, other times a musician will tour with an instrument over there and eventually bring it back. My new bass, which does not appear on this album, was played in Europe for 150 years and then brought to the US by a military band member after World War II.

Can you describe its tone?

The bass you hear on our record has a certain brightness and clarity of tone and at the same time produces a fairly rich sound that has depth and color. Italian instruments are known for their, um, Italian-ness. It's hard to describe, something bright and focused yet deep and rich.

The bass I played on the album is notable not only because of its sound but also because of the almost psychedelic grain on the top face of the instrument. I remember taking that bass to a gig in New York and one of my Juilliard friends commenting that it looked like I was sitting beside a tree!

Are there considerations that make one double bass better or worse for rock / pop music as opposed to symphonic or opera?

Instrument preferences will definitely be based on what type of ensemble or situation you play in. For example, you might want a big, deep dark bass for an orchestra or opera position. On the other hand you'll need a smaller (easier to play high on) instrument with a brighter sound if you're playing a concerto or a recital. I play a lot of different styles on one instrument so I'm interested in basses that are not too large and not overly dark and spread out in their sonic character. I want a bass that will work well in a variety of settings, one that can go from opera and chamber music to acoustic rock or a hip-hop set with DJ.

What is fun for me about playing in The Echo Falls, aside from simply playing great songs, is that I can combine different facets of my playing into a hybrid that feels personal. My classical, jazz, rock and hip-hop experiences inform the bass lines and solos that I play. I need an instrument that can assume many guises.

Is this a studio-only instrument or do you gig with it?

I have one nice bass and one 'picnic fiddle.' I use my nice bass for orchestra and opera gigs, recordings and anything else special. I take my picnic fiddle to shows that might involve harsh climate conditions, beer/drink spills or general physical mayhem.

How is your bass amplified / recorded?

I use a Realist pickup for live shows and in the studio I use a nice pre-amp and place a mic (or two different types of mics) several inches in front of the bridge, pretty much in the middle of the instrument (stringed instruments do not vibrate in exactly the same way as amps or speakers so you won't have the same concerns that you would when miking an amp, though using two mics can invite phase issues).

What is the best thing about this instrument?

The sound, pure and simple. Clear, punchy and rich.

What is the downside to this double bass? Any complications with care or use?

The biggest downside is that it was STOLEN in February 2009 and I may never see it again. Readers, please look at the photo and let me know if you see this bass! It has an original label glued inside that reads 'Guiseppe Tarantino' dated 1930, and a later label from his son. The shoulders are sloping and the instrument is not very large, but it is unusually heavy. It's equipped with a Pat McCarthy extension. The bass was ripped out of a car window that wasn't big enough for the bass to pass through so there would have been pretty severe damage to the ribs (sides) when it was removed. Bummer. I took the insurance money and bought a nicer bass, so all ends well I suppose but I will always miss my Italian.