SUB-CONTRA BASS in Bb

The sub-contra bass in Bb is an enlargement of my sub-bass in F. The only original recorder of a comparable size, in the Vleeshuis in Antwerp, was not suitable for copying. This instrument is in fact a sub-bass in F with an "extension" to C. This extension has the much narrower bore of a contrabass in C, and keys that have to be played with the little finger and thumb. Mersenne even mentions this recorder with keys that can be played with the feet or by another player. So there must have been
different versions of this giant! I am also very grateful to Paul Leenhouts. Without his fantastic help and inspiration, the sub-contrabass would never have come into existence.

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1.  Original "Rauch von Schrattenbach" (c.1535) Subcontrabass with extension in the Vleeshuismuseum in Antwerp.
2.  My scetch for the Subcontrabass
3.  Drawing "Mersenne" Hamonie universelle (1636)
4.  Sawing the wood
5 + 6 + 7 + 8.  Turning , drilling  and reaming the pieces of wood together with Paul Leenhouts
9.  Pieces just from the lathe without stain and oil
10. Stained footjoint
11. Milling the part for the key on the footjoint
12. Pieces without keys
13. My son Nelson playing
14. Nelson and friend on their way to Paul Leenhouts to deliver the bass.

 Link to the nice Loeki stardust videoclip http://www.loekistardust.nl  " instruments"