Davide Botto, who acquired the Pressenda bass in 2017, describes the tone quality of the instrument
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This is an excerpt from The Strad March 2026 feature, ’Making history: Pressenda double bass’. Read the full article here
I bought this double bass having no idea at the time that it was a Pressenda. I was immediately struck by the instrument’s unique voice; it had just been transformed from a three-string to a four-string instrument, and had not been played for years, so it felt very fresh and new.
In the low register it’s a regular, deep double bass, but I also discovered that it gave me the chance to play in long, melodic phrases, in a singing style.
I’m aware that this might sound strange to many double bass players, but I was particularly fascinated by the cello-like quality of its tone in the G string, which at the same time feels clear and warm.
I have also shown the instrument to Timothy Cobb, principal double bassist at the New York Philharmonic and chair of the Juilliard School’s double bass department.
His words: ‘The Pressenda catches your eye with its beautiful, glowing varnish and perfection of shape and symmetry. It has beautiful tone and projection, ringing overtones and, like all great Italian instruments, it gives whatever you ask of it: bottomless depth and power, with superb clarity. Overall, this is one of the finest double basses I have ever played.’
Read: In Focus: An 1895 double bass by Vincenzo Postiglione
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