My German 3/4. Love to here you thoughts

[Pete Wood]

I've had this german 3/4 for about 16 years. I played it through a music degree and then in orchestras, pits, at church, in jazz bands, in neo-swing band with a punk drummer and pretty much everything in between. The body is really very small and it doesn't do much fundamental under C on the A string. However, it's been pretty good to me and only suffered one crack in the belly in the whole time I've had it. It was restored by John Ferwerda in Melbourne just before I bought it. I was told at the time that it was dated to the 1920s, but the seller couldn't be sure. Love to hear your thoughts on when and where you think it was made. There are no markings or labels anywhere on the bass so it's a bit of mystery really.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/bass.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/belly.jpg
Belly. A bit rough round the edges and the bass side has sunk a little, but it seems to be stable.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/back.jpg
Back. Amazing flame maple.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/ribs.jpg
Ribs. These are slightly waving in a few spots and have one repair but seem good aside of this.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/headstockscroll.jpg
Headstock and gears.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/neck1.jpg
Neck. This is pretty much the nastiest thing about the bass. This repair was done who know's when, but it wasn't done all that well. I suspect that it probably need a graft. However, again, it's been stable and hasn't moved. It's just not very nice is all. The shop that sold it to me cheekily told me that it needed a new neck when I wanted to trade it some years back... grrr. Anyhow, I ended up keeping it.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/stpeterscia/Upright%20bass/inside.jpg
Inside.

Love to hear your thoughts on it.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, nice bass. Probably from the German/Czech area of Markneukirchen/Schonbach. The wood is nice and so is the model. I agree with the 1920s but the gear plate doesn't fit so well. These might be newer than the bass.

I have seen necks repaired like that that held up just fine. Next time it breaks (if it does), repair it with a graft as you mentioned.

As far as the sound problems, it probably has thick plates and possibly an integral bar. The work to correct that would be costly but the bass would be better. Only the most skilled bass luthiers should attempt such a modification.

[Pete Wood]

I believe the bassbar is seperate. How do you mean "thick plates"?

[Ken Smith]

I believe the bassbar is seperate. How do you mean "thick plates"?

Plates are the Top and Back. Thick means way too thick for the density of its own wood, hence tone loss. This was the way of these 'shop' basses.

How do you know your Bassbar is separate from the Top and not just part of it? Integral bassbars were quite common on these basses.

I had a bass not so different from this one that needed all of this work I just mentioned. It sounded beautiful when done. Like an Italian bass made from German wood.

[Pete Wood]

ok. I was told the bass bar was seperate.

Is there anyone you know of in Sydney who might be able to do this work?

[Ken Smith]

ok. I was told the bass bar was seperate.

Is there anyone you know of in Sydney who might be able to do this work?

Try this guy. He makes and works on basses. http://www.smithbassforums.com/member.php?u=131
http://bresque.studio205.net.au/

[Pete Wood]

thanx, will do