Karr-Koussevitzky double bass

[1] It is renowned for its tonal quality in solo music but is considered to be difficult to play.

[2] The bass has been officially possessed by Koussevitzky, his widow, Karr, and the International Society of Bassists.

[5] In 2011, the instrument was featured with bassist Scott Pingel and the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.

However, recent studies suggest a French origin and a fabrication date closer to 1800.

In November 2015, the Karr-Koussevitzky bass suffered damage during the course of handling on a Southwest Airlines flight, where the neck became detached from the body of the instrument.