Always by my side: double bassists (and a viola da gambist) reveal what’s in their case

James Oesi, double bass

Firstly, I have a double bow case (above). I always have two bows on me. Last summer I was playing a recital and, halfway through a Gershwin prelude, all of the hair popped out of my bow. Thankfully it’s never as dramatic as it seems to the audience, but it is if you don’t have a spare bow with you!

Next, extra strings. I use Thomastik’s Spirocore Solo Double Bass 3/4 strings (above), as well as Sonores strings. At the very beginning of my solo career I played a concert where my E string snapped as I was tuning. My heart sank as I didn’t have a spare on me! I had stopped carrying extra strings on the advice of a colleague who pointed out how heavy double bass strings are. Needless to say, I seriously regretted that decision and I now always carry an extra set. Always!

Extra rosin is something I also always have, in my bow case and in my bass case, as well as an iPad, charger and pedal for page turning. If I’m on the way to or from a concert, I will often use the pouches of my bass case to store snacks. I did once forget there was food in one of them and found a hole chewed through the pouch the next morning by a mouse that had found its way into our home!

I also have a string winder for changing strings on the go, and two mutes – one rosewood and the other ebony, which actually sound quite different.

Lastly, I always have a good cotton cloth for keeping my instrument clean – François Rabbath once asked me if I ever cleaned my instrument when he had to use it for a rehearsal because his own bass was delayed in transit for the Dutch Double Bass Festival. I’ve never lived that down.

Uxía Martínez Botana, double bass

My essential is my Ferrari-red bow case; it goes with me everywhere! I also have an Accord flight case for the bass and a soft case for around town. I always travel with three little embroidered bags: one for my passport and airport stuff, one for medicine and one with my rosin, Henle pencils, nail clippers, and Hansaplast Plaster Spray in case I hurt my fingers with pizzicato.

I use Pirastro’s Flat-Chromesteel and Passione strings, depending on the programme I’m playing. I like the challenge of steel strings: they are really unforgiving for left-hand technique, and it makes you so much better. You will hear the smallest error if you are not completely exact, so sometimes I like to practise with the Chromesteel then switch to Passione for the last week before the concert. You notice you are really polished both technically and musically, because you’ve been making a bigger effort with the other strings.

I used to prefer a sort of powdery sound, but over the years I’ve come to like more grip, and now Pops Bass Rosin is the only one I use. It’s like glue! Over the years you change your style of playing, your strings and your bows, so you change your rosin too.

A dear friend says I’m a globetrotter now, always switching from one energy to another, so she gave me stones that I keep in my bow case. One is to keep you grounded and connected with the earth; another is to keep away negative energies. I think that’s an important thing to keep close to your soul.

Liam Byrne, viola da gamba

I use the Neumann MCM clip microphone. It has a natural and flattering presentation of the upper mid-range frequencies with an open bass as well. The build is very high-quality and it sounds great without any EQ.

For strings, I use a mix of Orpheus, Pure Corde and Aquila. These three string makers produce exceptional historical strings. Luke Challinor at Orpheus makes wonderful wound strings with a great proportion of gut to metal, resulting in a sound that is both brilliant and well blended. Valentin Oelmüller at Pure Corde produces thick plain-gut bass strings with focus and a deep core, which I love for unaccompanied music. Mimmo Peruffo at Aquila just released a new Venice-twist string, which speaks quickly and has loads of power and volume. I like these for ensemble playing.

Subscribers to The Strad receive the 2025 Accessories supplement free with their copy of the June 2025 issue

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