by Sebastiana Ierna
Since 1988 German double bass player Sven-Henrik Gawron, 67, has operated his Kontrabasspunkt store in Viersen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He deals in the sale of high-end French and German bows, restores and repairs double basses-of which he has an extraordinary collection-and offers his customers amplification systems and accessories for their instruments. Ahead of his participation in the 2024 edition of Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival, we had the pleasure of meeting him and talking about his many years of musical experience.
For over 30 years you have been dealing with double basses, especially second-hand ones, and their accessories. How did your interest in this instrument arise?
When I was a student, it was my music teacher who noticed a certain talent in me and directed me towards the “big brother” among string instruments: so, in addition to playing it, I taught myself to repair and restore it. Over the years I have shared my passion with numerous customers from all over the world, and since 2014 I have added bows to my catalog, to expand my offer on the market.
In 1992 the first prototype of the Vektorbass was presented. What is it about?
The design studio M.B. Schulz in Düsseldorf contacted me to collaborate in the reproduction of the series of an electric upright bass, known today as the “Vektor Electric Upright Bass”; in 1995 the trademark Vektor Germany was registered both in Germany and in the United States. The Vektor became famous in the early 2000s, when bassist Rhonda Smith used them for the entire One-Nite-Alone-Tour with Prince. This opportunity allowed me to expand my contacts and also be active in the jazz field. It is a chapter of my life now almost at the end, and for several years I have returned to classical instruments, also considering the development and growth of online music companies.
How does this new market affect your work?
Consider that I take care of my workshop by myself, and the big retailers do not make life easy for small shopkeepers. Specialized companies are increasingly establishing themselves on digital platforms, think of the German Thomann. The prices for high-quality instruments and bows have doubled or even tripled in the last 10 years, and finding the right supply is not easy.
Finally, a reflection on his experience at Cremona Musica!
Since 2017 I have been attending regularly and, compared to other fairs, I often manage to sell some of the products I bring with me: it is not a given that I can make the visitor understand the real value of the tools and accessories I present. But it is also a rare and precious opportunity for human and professional comparison.
In cooperation with TGmusic.it
