We are making some changes to our opening hours in 2023. We will be open by appointment 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Friday. Online orders received over the weekend and on Mondays will be sent out on Tuesdays.
Author Archives: Pete McLachlan
Virtual Lessons with Etienne LaFrance!
We are excited to announce that virtual lessons are now available for a limited number of double bass students, with virtuoso Etienne LaFrance. Students can sign up for a single lesson to work on something particular, or a term of lessons. Lessons are conducted via a video exchange, rather than video calls, ensuring that lessons aren’t effected by unstable video calling software. The benefit of this is that videos can be reviewed multiple times, and become a private resource for each student.
More information can be found here.
Please contact BassWorks for more information and to book in for lessons. Email: info@bassworks.com.au
NEW! AirTurn Products!
Do you use your iPad / tablet instead of lugging around piles of sheet music? Do you gig regularly and have multiple bits of kit that you peg to various bits of furniture around you? AirTurn have come up with great solutions for managing all the tech modern musicians use. We’ve just started stocking their range and Pete is enjoying his new AirTurn set up. Check out our new range here. If you’d like to see any of it in person please call on (08) 8278 2016 or email info@bassworks.com.au to make an appointment.
NEW! Acoustic Image Products!
We’ve got a great new range of Acoustic Image speakers and head units in stock. They’re all available individually, or can be purchased in a combo deal. Every combo deal includes a free mounting bracket and cable. Check them all out here.
Dorfler Bows
We have expanded our range of Dorfler Bows. Dorfler Bows are expertly hand-crafted in Germany. Since 1940, four generations of the Dorfler family have been making a range of bows for stringed instruments, using high grade, carefully aged woods and high quality fittings and parts. Every bow manufactured by this family-owned company is a hand-made product of the highest quality. BassWorks carries a range of Dorfler bows, to suit students through to professional musicians.
View our range here: https://www.bassworks.com.au/product-category/bows-accessories/double-bass-bows-accessories/doerfler-bows/
BassWorks 2020 – Postponed until further notice.
Upcoming Concerts & Masterclass events – Jeremy Kurtz, Rob Nairn, Rufus Reid
Master class with Jeremy Kurtz – principal of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
Tuesday, 11th of September, 2018, Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide 3-5pm, Bishop Hall.
Double Bass students and teachers are very welcome to attend.
Distant Isles – Norwood Symphony Orchestra Concert with soloist Rob Nairn
Sunday, 7th October 2018, 2:30pm, Norwood Concert Hall
Norwood Symphony Orchestra evokes the rugged beauty of the Scottish isles with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, inspired by the composer’s first visit to Scotland in 1829. Guest soloist Rob Nairn also joins the orchestra for Gran duo Concertante by Bottesini – a rare delight of a concerto featuring double basse and violin – and, rounding out the concert, is Bernstein’s perennial favourite Overture to Candide and Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe’s Sun Song. For more information, and tickets, go to: www.norwoodorchestra.com/distant-isles
Double Bass Day and Competition – FREE
Sunday, 18th of November, 2018, Melba Hall, Parkville (University of Melbourne)
The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music presents it’s second Double Bass Day and Competition, bringing together performers, teachers, students, luthiers and exhibitors from all over Australia. The day will feature recitals, masterclasses, jazz clinics, and lecture demonstrations. The solo competition is open to any bassists under 28 years of age and will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of judges including the principal bassists of several of Australia’s symphony orchestras. There will also be a special program for young bassists open to students of all ages and levels. Attendance for the day as well as entrance to the competition are free and open to any double bassists and their families. Featured Artists include: Rufus Reid, Andrew Sinclair, Steve Reeves, Max McBride, Stuart Riley, Damien Eckersley, Ben Hanlon, and Stephen Newton. Registration essential: mcm.unimelb.edu.au/bassday
For more information, the event poster is here: 2018 MCM BassDay Flyer_v4
Brilliant Bass!
BASSWORKS April 2018 – Early Bird Discount Ending Soon!
He’s on the way!
Etienne LaFrance from Quebec, Canada is one of our guest faculty. Etienne is a very encouraging teacher, an inspiring player, and will be performing two pieces with the Burnside Symphony Orchestra.
The bass workshop will provide inspiration for young and old players and everyone in-between, with some amazing concerts, master classes and lessons. I would especially encourage beginning players to register as the workshop will give an excellent overview and foundation for bass playing.
Please register soon, the early bird discount is only available to those who register before the end of January. Click here for more information and access to the registration form.
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New Model McLachlan Double Bass
New model McLachlan Double Bass
For many years we have concentrated on making French style instruments with narrow shoulders that are very easy to play in a solo situation. After requests for a larger instrument we have now developed an instrument with increased dimensions which is still very comfortable to play, but with a sound that would satisfy players in an orchestral section or jazz bassists looking for a powerful bottom end. The shoulders are very accessible and the projection (height of the fingerboard at the neck joint) allows for very comfortable playing in the upper positions.
The neck is removable and the action adjusted with a turn of an allen key.
Back, side and neck are from aged flamed European maple and the top is aged fine-grained European spruce.
African ebony fingerboard, German machine heads and endpin.
Bassworks C extension with 2 stops.
Peter has been playing this bass in an orchestral section for 12 months and is very satisfied with the projection and playability. It can turn heads in the cello section and a comment from a bass section member was “I feel like I’m playing a toy when I’m next to that.” Ben has started making another as Peter won’t part with this one.
Peter’s reply to customers who have have enquired about purchasing this bass is, “This is the instrument I have been searching for, for many years. Sorry but it’s not for sale!”
However if you would like to commission one or have a play of the prototype please let us know.