Carl Ludwig Bachmann

History

Carl Ludwig Bachmann (1743-1809) was born in Berlin, Germany. Sources contain conflicting information about his birth year, with John Dilworth stating 1743 and Cecie Stainer stating 1748. He was the son and pupil of Anton Bachmann. Originally trained as a musician, he was a virtuoso viola player. In 1765, he was appointed Court instrument maker and Chamber musician to the King of Prussia, taking over his father's court position. In 1770, he founded the Amateur Concerts in Berlin in conjunction with Ernest Benda, which he continued until 1797. He married Charlotte Caroline Stowe, a respected pianist and singer, in 1785. She died on August 19, 1817. Bachmann increasingly turned his attention to lutherie, concentrating on it after 1785.

Craft

• Models: He made instruments on both Stradivari and Stainer models.
• Varnish: His instruments featured a golden-coloured oil varnish, also described as amber varnish.
• Instruments Produced: He produced violins, basses, plucked instruments, altos, and violoncellos. His violas are considered his best work.
• Construction: Bachmann was more careful in his choice of wood than his father, and his violins are more regularly built, though sometimes a little thick in the wood. Amateurs often mistook his instruments for genuine Cremona work due to their excellent proportions and choice of wood.
• Innovation: Around 1778, he began to tune the long, thick strings of double-basses by means of screw pegs, a method that has been in use ever since.

Influence

• Training: He was the son and pupil of Anton Bachmann.
• Musical Education: He was originally trained as a musician and was a virtuoso viola player.
• Collaborations: He collaborated with Ernest Benda in founding the Amateur Concerts in Berlin.

Further Information

• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Carl Ludwig Bachmann / Hof instrumentenmacher / Berlin 1766" and "Carl Bachmann / in Berlin, 1773".
• Workshop Location: Berlin, Germany.

Summary

Carl Ludwig Bachmann (1743-1809) was a prominent German luthier and musician, born in Berlin. The son and pupil of Anton Bachmann, he initially trained as a virtuoso viola player before becoming Court instrument maker and Chamber musician to the King of Prussia in 1765. He founded the Amateur Concerts in Berlin in 1770 and increasingly focused on lutherie after 1785. Bachmann crafted instruments, including violins, basses, and cellos, on both Stradivari and Stainer models, noted for their golden-coloured oil varnish and excellent proportions. His violas are particularly esteemed. He is also credited with innovating the use of screw pegs for double-bass tuning around 1778.