The New Standard Bass Story

The New Standard^TM Story

Arnold Schnitzer and Wil de Sola, determined to fill a long standing gap in the double bass world, formulated a plan to create a modern, updated and improved version of one of the most sought-after American laminated basses. With many years of bass repair and restoration under his belt, Arnold had developed an affection for old American-made laminated basses. Having been a jazz and popular music player for 20+ years, he recognized a special quality in the best ones. They were punchy and deep, with a simple tone that cut through a rhythm section and was easy to amplify. In addition, the laminated construction was a plus when negotiating doorways, airplanes, subways, and crowded bandstands. And these basses stood up well to the wildly fluctuating temperature and humidity conditions typical of the Northeast U.S. But they had several inherent design flaws—the neck joints were weak and difficult to repair, the string lengths on some were too long for most players, and the quality of finish left much to be desired.

Sounds Like a Plan
A design was drawn up which corrected the playability issues, and all the details of construction were specified. Wil de Sola, with a several decades background in international trade and sourcing, set out to find a shop to build the parts. In a small town in Germany, he suceeded in locating a maker with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and access to the finest materials. Specially made laminates were ordered specifically for the New Standard^TM project. The first prototype was constructed and the components sent to New York. Arnold and Wil assembled, varnished, and set it up, and the first New Standard^TM was reality.

Their initial reaction was very positive. But, wanting to market the absolute best product possible, several improvements were put into place. The current New Standard Cleveland^TM model represents a culmination of ten years planning, design and improvement. It features an industry-standard neck mortise with adequate overstand, ebony-reinforced neck joint, string length just under 42" (106cm), and is built of the finest European maple, spruce and poplar, with a quality ebony fingerboard.

The varnish is oil-based and applied by hand. The advantage to this type of varnish is that it is durable and protective, but light in weight and flexible to promote tone and response. Most commercial laminated basses are finished with spray lacquer or polyester, neither of which has the tonal characteristics of oil varnish.

La Scala
The "LaScala" model was developed to answer the needs of bassists seeking an instrument with sloping shoulders and a more defined, somewhat brighter sound. The shape is Italian in origin, with violin corners and svelte curves. The string length was shortened slightly to accommodate more soloistic playing styles.

After successfully prototyping and introducing both models, the partners decided to give hybrid construction a try. The only change was to build each model with a solid carved European spruce top, as opposed to a laminated top. Since all New Standards^TM are built with solid maple ribs (more about that later), the Hybrid Cleveland and LaScala are actually fully-carved basses with a laminated back. Both experiments were quite successful, and both prototypes sold immediately.

More about the solid ribs: String instruments derive their sound from all of their parts. The top vibrates, as does the back, the ribs, and even the neck. When the shop in Germany built the first prototype, it was constructed with solid ribs. The result was a laminated bass with a better arco sound and response than expected. Arnold and Wil decided to keep this feature, although there is the possibility the ribs could be more susceptible to damage. However, because of numerous requests, we have developed an excellent laminated rib material, and are in the process of converting the laminated Cleveland models. In the near future, all the laminated Clevelands will feature laminated, rather than solid ribs. This will improve durability and weather-related stability without significantly affecting tone.

The shop director came up with a workable solution which kept the great sound intact — several cross-grain rib strengthening strips which help prevent cracking and other damage.

About Weight and the Special New Standard^TM Laminate Material
The best weight for a string instrument is the minimum which allows it to stay intact. The laminate material is specially manufactured for use in these instruments. It consists of internal plies of European poplar with external plies of fine spruce and maple. The advantage of this construction is stiffness and light weight. Many players are surprised by the light weight of these basses, but are enthused when they hear what this light weight does for the sound and for the response.

What They're Saying About the New Standard^TM
"My New Standard Cleveland^TM model bass is the finest sounding and playing instrument of its kind that I have ever owned in my thirty-plus years of playing the doublebass. The craftsmanship is first rate, the sound is strong and resonant both pizzicato and arco, and it is very comfortable to play. The instrument has several applications for student or professional and is well suited for a variety of playing situations. The New Standard Cleveland^TM definitely addresses an increasingly important niche in the world of basses for quality, craftsmanship, sound, and price. Simply stated, within its class, it is unbeatable. Please be aware that I do not endorse any product that I do not own and use. The Cleveland is a bass I play with regularity and with wonderful musical results. I recommend this instrument whole heartedly." Todd Coolman, Renowned Jazz Bassist and Director of Jazz Studies, Purchase College (SUNY) Conservatory of Music

Bassist extraordinaire Carlos Henriquez (left) tries out his new Cleveland model in the shop. The very next day he flew it to the West Coast for gigs with Wynton Marsalis. Carlos uses an all-gut string set-up and gets a huge, defined sound.

In the picture on the right, world-renowned jazz bassist Andy McKee checks out his new Cleveland bass. Andy is well known for his work with the Mingus Big Band, Elvin Jones, Chet Baker, Philly Joe Jones, and Michel Petrucciani. He currently leads the group One World and plays in Trio Mundo. He teaches at The New School in New York City when he is not touring.

"I just sold my beloved 60-year-old American Standard bass because I purchased a New Standard^TM that is tonally superior and more comfortable to play. Arnold and Wil have developed a bass that has all the favored pizzicato qualities of the great "plywoods"; strong fundamental, punch, and plenty of volume. But the New Standard^TM has an arco sound with a more pleasing nuance of tone than other ply's. And I get compliments on the beautiful woods and varnish. I would not hesitate to play it in any of the musical environs I'm involved with—be it touring, Broadway pits, recording studio, or the stage. Thanks Arnold and Wil for taking it to another level..." Jeff Carney, Bobby McFerrin Band; Principal bassist, NY Pops; Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast"; NYC Studio artist

"I love this bass. The third day I owned it, I made a recording and was extremely pleased with the results. I love the tone from top to bottom, the ease with which it plays, and the arco sound—perfect for the rigors of the road." Frank Tate, Bobby Short Trio, Ed Polcer Septet

"My NS Cleveland responds completely to the amount of energy I put into it. It has an amazing tone for a laminated bass, especially on the low end. It's even in all registers and has excellent accessibility to all areas of the fingerboard. The bass is surprisingly light and yet sturdy enough to stand up to the abuses of the road. I haven't seen many carved basses with this level of quality." James Camack, bassist with Ahmad Jamal

Ben Williams, winner of the International Society
of Bassists 2005 Jazz competition, checks out his
new Cleveland Hybrid at the shop

A note from Charles Oehrtmann, South Portland, Maine

Dear Wil:

Now that I have a moment to breathe, I'd like to update you on my Cleveland Hybrid. Very simply, I love it!

Thanks to both you and Arnold for developing, making and marketing the new line of hybrid basses. With the purchase of my new Cleveland Hybrid, I am able to truly enjoy playing bass for the first time in my life. Having been raised as a cellist, I can speak very highly of the response this instrument has — almost like playing a large cello or violin. The pizzicati ring with a vibrance and tone I truly appreciate. The strings respond to the bow well, particularly in piano passages — no more fuzzy entrances!

My new Cleveland is light years ahead of the old Kay I played for many years — surprisingly, the old Kay held its own in many an orchestra. With the new Cleveland, I am able to hear the center of the pitch for the first time in my bass playing career. One player wondered where I got my "awesome" bass — and it is truly awesome!

In particular, the "A" and "E" strings have a nice deep tone that blends well with other instruments in the section and adds some needed depth. I no longer need to fight the instrument to be heard. It's almost like having power steering instead of the old hard-to-handle steering mechanisms in the old autos. This bass almost plays itself and I'm merely along for the ride — but what a nice ride it is!

I have waited quite a few years to buy my own bass and am very thankful I got to purchase the Cleveland Hybrid. It will be the only bass that I will need. It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Keep up the good work. I'll spread the word here in Maine.

Once again — THANK YOU!!!

Sincerely,
Charles Oehrtmann

Hot Club of Cowtown bassist Jake Irwin and
NS partner Wil DeSola with Jake's Cleveland bass

"I just wanted to let you know that I got my Cleveland from Nick today (down in Cincinnati). It is so far beyond my expectations (because I didn't have anyway of comparing the bass in your shop to something I knew). You have an amazing product and I hope you continue to do well." Ben Rolston