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Created in the 19th century by the French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, this colossal double bass stands out for its impressive height, exceeding three meters, and its deep tonal range, capable of producing notes that approach the lower limits of human hearing.

Due to its enormous size, the octobass cannot be played like a conventional double bass; instead, the musician must use a system of pedals and levers to press the strings and modulate the sound. Although its use has been limited throughout musical history, some orchestras and composers have explored its potential to add a unique and resonant depth to certain symphonic compositions.

This rare instrument, which was a true feat of lutherie in its time, continues to fascinate classical music enthusiasts and organologists, remaining a remarkable achievement in musical engineering.

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[-] RevolverSly@lemmy.world 55 points 6 days ago
[-] iltoroargento@lemmy.sdf.org 59 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Oh. My. God... Becky, look at her [bass]...

Honestly, though, this is super cool. Original bass heads, for sure.

Link to a demonstration.

Edit: comma added

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 6 days ago

Thank you for that. Amazing, but entirely the wrong type of music. I wonder if pieces have been written for it + other instruments. I see a lot of potential as soon as you move away from classical classic.

[-] Blaster_M@lemmy.world 32 points 6 days ago

octobass go BRRRRRRR

[-] can@sh.itjust.works 24 points 6 days ago

!obscureinstruments@sh.itjust.works

[-] ickplant@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago

Thanks, I’ll crosspost!

[-] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 21 points 6 days ago

I tried to learn this but it was taking me 3 days to get to and from school.

[-] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 6 points 6 days ago

I saw some dude on the Subway with one of these. And he was sitting down!

[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 20 points 6 days ago

Now we’re just being silly. Cool find.

I wanna hear Apocolytica incorporate one of these.

[-] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 19 points 6 days ago

drops the bass, losing tends of thousands of dollars probably

[-] NONE_dc@lemmy.world 19 points 6 days ago

The original Super Bass

[-] FoxFairline 11 points 6 days ago

(Better not) drop the bass!

[-] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 14 points 6 days ago

The dude with the bitch ass cello in front is gonna have some PTSD with LOW vibration in his nape.

[-] BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago

Better not play the brown note....

[-] SPRUNT@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago
[-] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 1 points 6 days ago

The party pooping SOB is looking for a one way ticket to El Salvador. Right away.

[-] tunetardis@lemmy.ca 16 points 6 days ago

I saw one of these on display at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix AZ, but never heard one played. It's so huge you can't reach those frets at the top there, so the inventor had to come up with a keyed mechanism you see the guy working in the photo.

[-] spirinolas@lemmy.world 13 points 6 days ago

If this can't produce the brown note, nothing will!

[-] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 6 days ago
[-] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 9 points 6 days ago

I would love to try playing that

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 9 points 6 days ago

Davie504 boggles

[-] MintyFresh@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

The brown noise!

[-] PacMan@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago

Anyone happen to know what song they where playing?

[-] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 8 points 6 days ago

In my head, it's Another One Bites the Dust.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Ok, you've peaked my interest and I would like to hear the album "Drums & Octobass" by Keiji Haino & Guro Moe

https://conradsound.bandcamp.com/album/drums-octobass

I'll try it in my car later and on my home system with a decent sub

I really hope that "flower which is orange and very strong-willed" lives up to my very high expectations

Edit: ok, I listened to this turned up nice and loud and it's quite amazing but not at all in the way I expected. I know what album I am gifting my family and coworkers with this Christmas.

[-] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago

low-key that sounds like strangling a goose while a cheap subwoofer tries to squeak it's last audio because it exploded

[-] noride@lemm.ee 5 points 6 days ago

I was not strong willed enough to make it all the way through that song.

[-] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago

you've peaked my interest

I'm more impressed that a mountain drives a car!

[-] BlueEther@no.lastname.nz 1 points 6 days ago

I feel like that is something Ivor Cutler could produce while on an acid trip

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago

BASS!!! How long can you go?

[-] letsgo@lemm.ee 1 points 5 days ago

That dude from the Nuclear Whales laughs at your tiny little bass as he steams onto the stage with his contrabass.

[-] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

No, I said I wanted the world's smallest violin!

this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
503 points (100.0% liked)

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