Is this a Lamy?

[Greg Cordez]

Hi Ken,

I could really use some of your advice and expertise on this one please. Im looking into buying this bass, i havent seen it yet as its a fair distance from where i live. Its advertised as a Lamy but has no label in it. I spoke with the very nice chap who is selling and he said that it was Malcolm Healy (a respected UK luthier, you may know him?) told him it was most likely a Lamy. I keep looking at the photos and see its similarity to a German bass.
Heres the photos, sorry about the quality but its all i can for now.

What do you think? French or German and potential value perhaps?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Greg

[Ken Smith]

Hi Ken,

I could really use some of your advice and expertise on this one please. Im looking into buying this bass, i havent seen it yet as its a fair distance from where i live. Its advertised as a Lamy but has no label in it. I spoke with the very nice chap who is selling and he said that it was Malcolm Healy (a respected UK luthier, you may know him?) told him it was most likely a Lamy. I keep looking at the photos and see its similarity to a German bass.
Heres the photos, sorry about the quality but its all i can for now.

What do you think? French or German and potential value perhaps?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Greg

The Scroll and tuners are 100% French. But, not the Bass. The bass from these pics look like a German bass, Saxony region. The Scroll is late 19th-early 20th century. The bass is slightly younger, turn of the century- 1st quarter 20th century.

That's what I can see from these pictures. I don't know Malcom Healey except by his website. The varnish on the bass looks German. The varnish on the scroll looks typical French. The head may have come from a Lamy.

Maybe ask Healey directly instead of taking the word of the seller. Then, ask some other shops like Tom Martin, Houska and Thwaites. If they see this in person, they should know. This bass to me is NOT French, just the head. That's from what I can see here. Looking in person and inside the bass might tell a different story.

[Greg Cordez]

Thanks Ken, really appreciate your help on this.