b
Excellent small bass with a big sound!
I purchased this bass in November 2025. I have now played it in numerous rehearsals and several symphony orchestra concerts, so now is the time to write a review.
"Tarantini Piccolo"? It sounds like a miniature instrument, suitable only for a small child. Not so! It has a similar string length to my previous 3/4 instrument (which was 40 3/8 inches) but the upper and lower bouts are smaller than usual. The smaller bouts and light weight make it easy to get through doorways and transport by car, very important features for double bass players!
In appearance, the bass is beautifully proportioned. The construction and detailing are excellent and the quality of the wood is superb. It is fully as good as the pictures you see on Thomann.
It was supplied with Thomastik Belcanto strings in EADG tuning. It was only necessary to fit the bridge, which was easy. The instrument was excellently set up, and it really could be played straight away. I did not need to go to a luthier to get the bridge recarved etc, it was already exactly the right shape and the perfect height above the fingerboard. Usually the bridge and nut are far to high on new instruments, not so here. The ebony fingerboard is really smooth, making it easy to shift with the left hand. The finish on this instrument is really good.
The supplied Thomastik Belcanto strings are top quality and widely used by professionals. They stabilise quickly in terms of pitch, respond easily to the bow and have a very warm, clear sound. However, as I play in the fifths tuning CGDA, I had to replace the strings. I used the low C and low G from the Pirastro Obligato Quint (fifths) set, the high D from the Thomastik Belcanto Orchestra set, and the high A from the Belcanto solo set. This combination is really nice; it makes CGDA, with all strings at their intended pitch. No need to tune a low B up to low C, or a solo F# up to low G.
I am using a German bow with Petz Premium Rosin Extra Soft (previously I used Pops). The sound of the bass with the above strings is superb. The low C sounds really strong and warm. It is very loud for a smallish bass. The highest notes on the high A string are very sweet with good volume. You can make a romantic sound on this bass with a good vibrato (e.g. for Dvorak) and it is perfect for the Baroque style as well (e.g. Corelli) played more formally and with less vibrato. In a 20-piece orchestra I can hold my own as the only bass player. My friends have commented on the warm sound, volume, and excellent appearance of this bass.
I purchased the Gewa Prestige Bass Gig Bag 3/4 from Thomann for this bass. Although this case is rather loose around the bouts (as you would expect) it is not that apparent because this case is constructed with thick foam and can hold its shape without sagging round the bass. So it works OK.
A final point: Unlike other string instruments, basses vary greatly in size and shape; some have violin corners, some are viol-shaped, some quite small and some enormous. So if you turn up with a Tarantini Piccolo, no one will pay you any attention. Thus, if you are looking for a smaller double bass, do consider this instrument.
Concerning delivery, may I add that the bass was shipped vertically on a pallet by a specialist delicate delivery firm. It was very carefully lowered down onto the ground on the pallet and placed outside our house, in perfect condition. They transported it across Europe without any damage at all. So you can confidently buy a double bass from Thomann!
"Tarantini Piccolo"? It sounds like a miniature instrument, suitable only for a small child. Not so! It has a similar string length to my previous 3/4 instrument (which was 40 3/8 inches) but the upper and lower bouts are smaller than usual. The smaller bouts and light weight make it easy to get through doorways and transport by car, very important features for double bass players!
In appearance, the bass is beautifully proportioned. The construction and detailing are excellent and the quality of the wood is superb. It is fully as good as the pictures you see on Thomann.
It was supplied with Thomastik Belcanto strings in EADG tuning. It was only necessary to fit the bridge, which was easy. The instrument was excellently set up, and it really could be played straight away. I did not need to go to a luthier to get the bridge recarved etc, it was already exactly the right shape and the perfect height above the fingerboard. Usually the bridge and nut are far to high on new instruments, not so here. The ebony fingerboard is really smooth, making it easy to shift with the left hand. The finish on this instrument is really good.
The supplied Thomastik Belcanto strings are top quality and widely used by professionals. They stabilise quickly in terms of pitch, respond easily to the bow and have a very warm, clear sound. However, as I play in the fifths tuning CGDA, I had to replace the strings. I used the low C and low G from the Pirastro Obligato Quint (fifths) set, the high D from the Thomastik Belcanto Orchestra set, and the high A from the Belcanto solo set. This combination is really nice; it makes CGDA, with all strings at their intended pitch. No need to tune a low B up to low C, or a solo F# up to low G.
I am using a German bow with Petz Premium Rosin Extra Soft (previously I used Pops). The sound of the bass with the above strings is superb. The low C sounds really strong and warm. It is very loud for a smallish bass. The highest notes on the high A string are very sweet with good volume. You can make a romantic sound on this bass with a good vibrato (e.g. for Dvorak) and it is perfect for the Baroque style as well (e.g. Corelli) played more formally and with less vibrato. In a 20-piece orchestra I can hold my own as the only bass player. My friends have commented on the warm sound, volume, and excellent appearance of this bass.
I purchased the Gewa Prestige Bass Gig Bag 3/4 from Thomann for this bass. Although this case is rather loose around the bouts (as you would expect) it is not that apparent because this case is constructed with thick foam and can hold its shape without sagging round the bass. So it works OK.
A final point: Unlike other string instruments, basses vary greatly in size and shape; some have violin corners, some are viol-shaped, some quite small and some enormous. So if you turn up with a Tarantini Piccolo, no one will pay you any attention. Thus, if you are looking for a smaller double bass, do consider this instrument.
Concerning delivery, may I add that the bass was shipped vertically on a pallet by a specialist delicate delivery firm. It was very carefully lowered down onto the ground on the pallet and placed outside our house, in perfect condition. They transported it across Europe without any damage at all. So you can confidently buy a double bass from Thomann!
0
0
Report
k
Small and low
I purposely chose a small size and it sounds just as good as any "big" basses, lovely low growl
4
0
Report