Matthew Tucker 'Castlevecchio' Double Bass Sydney 2009

This double bass was made by Matthew Tucker in 2009. Tucker is a specialist double-bass maker based in Sydney. Before turning to instrument making, he worked as a screen editor, documentary maker and film studio manager, and has worked with double basses since 2002. Largely self-taught, Tucker has supplemented his experience through specialist training, including at the Oberlin Double Bass Workshops. His approach combines traditional bass-making methods with experimentation informed by the structural and acoustic demands of the instrument. Tucker makes double basses to commission and has developed his own Tucker Responsive Bracing System for flat-back instruments. His handmade basses have received international tone awards, including his 2021 Castagna Special Edition incorporating Australian timber and several design innovations.

This double bass measures 1110mm along the back, 420mm across the upper bouts, and 670mm across the lower bouts. The back and sides are made from a Tasmanian eucalyptus, and the top is of a finely grained Western Red Cedar. It has been finished in a red-brown varnish.