Inner Focus Music

The Ergo Bass Electric Viola Da Gamba is a special instrument and one that I have been playing live for some time now. It is based on the traditional viola da gamba, a renaissance instrument and has many of the features of these instruments, with a few updates that I felt would be more appropriate for the modern player.

The Ergo Electric Viola Da Gamba features a 27″ scale (similar to the modern cello, and only slightly longer than a instrument bass viol). It has the traditional tied frets and I use the traditional bass viol bow with it. The traditional instrument features gut strings but this modern update comes with standard Super Sensitive Viola Da Gamba strings. (Available from juststrings.com, southweststrings.com) These strings have a synthetic core (much more stable, and long lasting that traditional gut strings, but still with the warm tone of gut, silver wrapped strings that can be ordered from a number of sources online. They can be tuned in the traditional way from low to high D, G, C, e, a, d. I have the seven string version which features a low A string. There are other alternatives for tuning – for example – up a whole step for more familiar bass layout (E, A, D, g, c, f). It is a versatile instrument that requires accurate left handed finger positions and excellent bowing technique – 7 strings!!

The main advantage for me – over the traditional viol is that it can be amplified – and you can use effects with it. The skies the limit in terms of different sounds. I would recomend the use of a high quality amplifier – and not a bass or guitar amp. One that is equipped to handle the full range of this fine instrument.

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