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William Tarr

A celebrated English double-bass player and maker, Tarr was born in Manchester in 1808, and began making basses in 1829. With the assistance of his sons Thomas (b.1833), Joseph (1859-1916) and Shelley (1868-1915), he produced a remarkable number of high quality concert basses which are highly sought-after today. He was also responsible for training James Cole and J.W. Briggs, who continued in the profession after Tarr’s death in 1891.

William Tarr

(Manchester, b 1809; d 1891)

A celebrated English double-bass player and maker, Tarr was born in Manchester in 1808, and began making basses in 1829. With the assistance of his sons Thomas (b.1833), Joseph (1859-1916) and Shelley (1868-1915), he produced a remarkable number of high quality concert basses which are highly sought-after today. He was also responsible for training James Cole and J.W. Briggs, who continued in the profession after Tarr’s death in 1891.

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