Taskin 1769

FF-f3; 2x8',1x4', buff; at A=415 but transposable to 440 or 392. 92" long.

A strong concert-stage instrument with a richly-colored sound, reedy without being thin.

My French doubles are known for their largesse of sound and the strength of their basses.

The Taskin usually has a Swiss pine soundboard, and has walnut bridges and nuts, and a basswood case.

$25,000.

Stehlin 1760

FF-f3; 2x8', 1x4', buff; at A=415 but transposable to 440 or 392, retaining f3 at 440. 92" long.

A design with deep plucking points and large soundboard area, sweeter than the Taskin and just as full-sounding.

Basswood case, walnut bridges and nuts, usually a Sitka spruce soundboard.

$25,000.

Flemish double

GG-d3; 2x8', 1x4', buff; at A=415 but transposable to 440 or 392, retaining d3 in the 400 position. 88" long.

Not after any original in particular, but the result of my knowledge of ravalement instruments. A smaller, dryer instrument than the French: clearer speaking, with a simple strength.

Basswood case, pear bridges and nuts, usually a Swiss pine soundboard.

$23,000.

Joze (Jose) Calisto 1780, Portugal

GG-g3; 2x8' in brass, buff on the front 8'; at A=415 but transposable to 440 or 392. FF, is also possible. 104" long.

Despite looking like a large Italian this is not a dry isntrument: it has enough after-ring for the French music and to fill out the two-part writing of Scarlatti, while having the clarity of attack to handle Bach's counterpoint, and a differentiation between a dark bass and a bright treble to create shading in Frescobaldi or turn Scarlatti's repeated phrases into statements and replies.

Englemann spruce case, walnut bridge and nut, Swiss pine or cedar soundboard.

$17,500.