this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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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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[–] iltoroargento@lemmy.sdf.org 60 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

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 6 points 10 months 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.

[–] RevolverSly@lemmy.world 56 points 10 months ago
[–] Blaster_M@lemmy.world 32 points 10 months ago

octobass go BRRRRRRR

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 24 points 10 months ago (1 children)

!obscureinstruments@sh.itjust.works

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago

Thanks, I’ll crosspost!

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 23 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 21 points 10 months ago

Now we’re just being silly. Cool find.

I wanna hear Apocolytica incorporate one of these.

[–] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 20 points 10 months ago

drops the bass, losing tends of thousands of dollars probably

[–] NONE_dc@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

The original Super Bass

[–] tunetardis@lemmy.ca 18 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Psythik@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

I've always wanted to go to the MIM but have yet to get the opportunity. Worth the cost? Are there a lot of interactive exhibits? I want to play with unique and rare instruments.

[–] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 17 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Better not play the brown note....

[–] SPRUNT@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today -1 points 10 months ago

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

[–] spirinolas@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago

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

[–] FoxFairline@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 10 months ago

(Better not) drop the bass!

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 10 months ago
[–] Nougat@fedia.io 9 points 10 months ago

Davie504 boggles

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 9 points 10 months ago

I would love to try playing that

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 10 months ago

It gave birth to 8 violins and starred in a piorno.

[–] PacMan@sh.itjust.works 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Anyone happen to know what song they where playing?

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 8 points 10 months ago

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

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

If you play the wrong note, people probably won't even notice

[–] MintyFresh@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

The brown noise!

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

BASS!!! How long can you go?

[–] letsgo@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

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

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

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 10 months 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 10 months ago

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

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Piqued your interest.

Appreciate the share, because I can't see something like this and not want to hear it play G.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

Peeked my interest.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago

you've peaked my interest

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

[–] BlueEther@no.lastname.nz 1 points 10 months ago

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

[–] backscatter@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

If a string breaks, everyone in that photo is gonna have a bad day.

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

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