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The Bass Violin Shop began in 2001 as a small repair shop for double basses founded by Bob Beerman in Greensboro, NC. Over the years, our commitment to providing high-quality artisanship and customer service has established the Bass Violin Shop as a trusted resource for bass players at every level, and allowed us to grow into a full-service

shop for repairs, restorations, retail, and rentals. 

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We maintain a broad inventory of double basses, bass bows, and accessories. Our team is dedicated to taking the time to understand each player's needs and preferences. 

Whether you’re an aspiring musician or a seasoned professional, we have the knowledge and experience to help you attain the right double bass to take your sound to the next level.

 

Meet the Team

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Bob Beerman

Before opening the Bass Violin Shop in 2001, Bob spent 25 years playing double bass, initially jazz and later, Classical. While playing an outdoor performance in 1995, Bob's bass was knocked over, breaking the bridge, which led him to Artley's Violin Shop in Gibsonville, NC. He became curious about how it was done, and asked if he could observe, and ended up making his own bridge while Dr. Artley showed him how. He was then able to apprentice with Artley and Fred Lail, who hired him that same year. That led to violin summer repair workshops at the University of New Hampshire and then Oberlin with the Violin Society of America, led by Vahakn Nigogosian, Chris Germain, and Rodney Mohr. It was in those workshops that Bob was able to greatly enhance his luthier knowledge and skills.

 

After setting up and repairing hundreds of violins, violas, cellos and basses at Artley's, Bob decided in 2001 to open his own shop in Greensboro to do what he liked to do best — setting-up and repairing double basses.   

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Teresa Rasco

Teresa is Bob's wife and business partner. They met at the University of North Texas, where Bob was studying jazz. She manages the books and helps with bass rentals, general inquiries, and tries to keep some semblance of order amongst the creative crew.  She took home a Shen 1/2 size bass a few years ago (if you can't lick 'em, join 'em) and still enjoys playing. She loves North Carolina mountain music, even without the double bass, and also plays the accordion.

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Tony Morton

Tony Morton is a Greensboro, NC native.  He began lutherie work in 2003 at Keith Roscoe's shop, crafting boutique, hand-made electric basses and guitars, before transitioning to working exclusively on double bass repairs, set-ups, and restorations at the Bass Violin Shop in 2014. With a wide range of lutherie skills, Tony does masterful neck grafts, neck resets, edge doubling, and all the other repairs that double basses may require.

 

He currently lives in Browns Summit, NC, with his amazing wife and three daughters in their country house surrounded by woods, Tony enjoys working in his garden and woodshop, and occasionally hiking to a nearby lake. 

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Cody Rex

Originally from Ohio, Cody holds degrees from Bowling Green State University, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. At the Bass Violin Shop, he manages double bass and bow sales, showroom inventory, double bass rentals, the BVS website, and is resident photographer for our social media pages. Most recently, Cody trained with Lynn Hannings at the University of New Hampshire Violin Craftsmanship Institute and is in charge of bow rehairs and repairs.

 

In addition to being an essential member of the BVS team, he is the Associate Principal Bass of the Winston-Salem Symphony, Assistant Principal Bass of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. As a freelance bassist, he performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Opera orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and others.

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Cody lives with his wife, Emily, and he can be found hiking and kayaking around North Carolina.

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Rachel Anne York

Rachel was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. She earned her undergraduate degrees in music performance (double bass) and art & design from East Carolina University, and an MFA in studio art from the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME. 

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She has had several stints working on small organic farms, and now enjoys growing vegetables and native plants at home. She worked for several years at Greensboro's beloved Scuppernong Books, and while living in Maine, managed a neighborhood market with a focus on local food. She continues playing bass with various ensembles, including experimental music, musicals, and orchestras, and loves to sing folk ballads. 

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Rachel worked at the Bass Violin Shop 2014-15, and is happy to be back assisting with

all manner of shop operations. 

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