Mark Leue Stringed Instruments

02/16/2024

Shen 5/8 size bass, model 288

Selling this for a client who is a motivated seller. This is a great little carved bass from 2016. Shen calls this model a 288. It has a carved mahogany back, birds eye maple ribs, and a carved spruce top.This is one of the very few with this wood configuration they have made in 5/8 and it is a winning combination as were all the 288 models that Shen produced for a while. I think the reason they sound so full and warm has to do with the soft mahogany of the back which makes the bass sound broken-in and immediately responsive. Shen’s 5/8 models have the short string length as one would expect for a bass described as 5/8 but the body dimensions fall within the small 3/4 size range. This makes this bass perfect for shorter stature bassists who have a hard time finding a comfortable model bass to play, and particularly women tend to be drawn to this size. This current set up uses Pirastro Evah Pirazzi strings and this favors a beautiful, very dark sound, especially for a smaller bass, but it could also be made much brighter with a jazzier string like Thomastick spiracore. The price includes a custom made, bright red cover by David Messina. Shen’s suggested retail price for the most basic carved 5/8 is $6,900 with no bag. This bass would have been about $900 more than that, and the bag is $400 originally, so it is a great deal at $3700

Shen 5/8 SB 288 2016-3-51
String length 39 3/8”
Upper bout width 20”
Lower bout 25 5/16”
Body length 42”
D neck
$3700

02/02/2024

Daniel Dunbar cello 1854 (American)
Not much in know about this maker but he is said to have been an associate of the well known Abraham Prescott of Concord, Mass.
The workmanship and materials show signs of coming from the “church bass” school from which the earliest known makers in the U.S. come. Unlike many church basses Dunbar clearly had a cello to measure, and with its modern set up this is a fully functional familiar feeling cello.
The instrument has wide pear wood purfling, very pronounced rounded edges with a deep channel, exaggerated round pegbox walls, and an extra half turn at the scroll. The upper heel of the neck is angled upwards towards the scroll. The top is somewhat flat and low arched, the back is is also flattish, but has a normal arching height. The instrument is initialed D D at the button. The varnish is a gold brown amber. The instrument has a fair state of preservation and is very playable with a very warm radiating tone. Length: 29-3/4” Upper bout: 13-3/4” middle bout: 9” lower bout:16-15/16”
For sale: $3,800

01/06/2024

Bass Bow Sale
A local retired professional bassist has asked me to help sell a nice collection of excellent condition bows. Most of these were assessed by Robertson’s in the 1990’s and are being offered at the 1990’s prices. Bows have gone up in value since that time, so this is a good opportunity. There are also several nice French style bows I’ll be listing later. The hair is still in very good condition, (new condition on the two white haired bows) If you prefer an expert rehair in white or chestnut we can take care of that for you as well.
Individual pictures and trials available.
W. Seifert, 148 grams, nickel, black hair $500
J.H. Hansen 154.4 grams, silver, pernambuco black hair $500
Unstamped Butler 141grams pernambuco, nickel $300
Rossini, (Brazil) 132 grams, pernambuco, nickel white hair $700
Otto Durrschmidt, pernambuco, silver, 130 grams $1,500
Swan head, tall frog,19th century, 145g. chestnut hair $675
Ary, France, pernambuco 145 grams, $500

12/21/2023

Two double bass flight cases. compared,
These are both for removable neck basses, the “Nanoo” and the “Concord”

Double Bass Flight cases for removable Neck Basses Compared. More info at www.theluthier.us

01/19/2023

Re sharing this piece I wrote a few years ago. I have since come up with less bulky temporary (original saddle spanning ) temporary raised saddles.

07/20/2022

I’m pretty excited about these strings from Gamut : top two are nylon wound over gut, bottom two are copper over gut. More durable, more stable, great Gamut sound and, well, RED.