Bass ID help

[David Hosking]

Hello all,
The Craigslist ad only has three photos:

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/msg/3781048278.html

"Beautiful antique 4/4 upright bass. We had it professionally restored. There are typical cracks as you would expect with an instrument of this age but the finish is beautiful, it is structurally strong and sounds great. We are downsizing to a smaller house and are selling many items and unfortunately have to part with it. 900 OBO.."

I called the seller who stated he purchased it from an antiques dealer 3-4 years ago for his teenage aspiring-bassist son. "Professionally Restored" means a furniture restorer refinished it 1-2 years ago and may have "puttied" a crack on the top.

No label.

Son lost interest, and it sits unplayed because of the effort required playing it.

The seller graciously measured the object:

43" Mensure
46": LOB
21 1/2: Upper Bout
26 3/4: Lower Bout
7"-9" Rib depth

No sound post. Strings sound floppy and somewhat detuned (over the cellphone). Upper left bout has a crack. Light is visible through the back seam.

What is your opinion?:)

http://images.craigslist.org/3E13I53J35N85Fd5Jcd523e531e28bcd413e6.jpghttp://images.craigslist.org/3G23K53J95Nd5L25E1d52437b8f08bd6b1056.jpghttp://images.craigslist.org/3G83Ic3H85Ic5K35M5d52eb5468fe74551c02.jpg

Thank you!

[Ken Smith]

Even if you get this bass for free, repairing it might cost more then its value. I can't see the wood thru that finish stuff what ever it is. The original varnish is gone. This looks like an early 20th century Czech/German border factory bass. These sold for maybe $100 then or less.

All I can say is that this is risky business. How long has the bass been strung up without a sound post? Fixing a sunk-in top properly is more then this bass is work. The last two I have of these, each in fair condition without any shoemaker repairs sold for less than the cost to repair a bass like what you show.

[David Hosking]

Thank you, Ken, for the quick identification and precautions to be taken, thus avoiding making a risky decision. :D

[Shawn Charniga]

I got the name and number of the furniture guy from the seller. Can't help my morbid curiosity about what this poor old girl got slathered in.

[Shawn Charniga]

The furniture guy just called me back. He refinished the bass in nitrocellulose lacquer after filling several finish gouges with epoxy. Ouch.