Octobasse

Octobasse name of a giant *double bass built by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume of Paris in 1849; it stood 4 m. (13 ft.) high. Its 3 strings were tuned C1 G1 C0; they were stopped by levers worked by 7 pedals, and the bow was supported by devices like oarlocks. In 1851 an improved model was brought out. Two specimens survive, one in the collection of the Paris Conservatoire, another in Moscow. Also called basse gigantesque.