What is my Bass?

[Jim Mortimore]

I have a new bass and I'm trying to determine what it may be...

It does appear to be old inside the bass, the wood looks old. Their are no markings or labels in the bass. It does have new gears.

It looks as if the upper left shoulder has been reduced at some point in the life of this bass.

Any ideas and opinions on it are greatly appreciated.

Measurements:

Upper 20 1/2
Mid 15 3/4
Lower 25 1/2
LOB 44
String Length: 40 1/2
Rib Depth: 8 1/2

pictures are here...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154313346055134.1073741833.675505133&type=1&l=35ce6fcb00

[Ken Smith]

I have a new bass and I'm trying to determine what it may be...

It does appear to be old inside the bass, the wood looks old. Their are no markings or labels in the bass. It does have new gears.

It looks as if the upper left shoulder has been reduced at some point in the life of this bass.

Any ideas and opinions on it are greatly appreciated.

Measurements:

Upper 20 1/2
Mid 15 3/4
Lower 25 1/2
LOB 44
String Length: 40 1/2
Rib Depth: 8 1/2

pictures are here...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154313346055134.1073741833.675505133&type=1&l=35ce6fcb00

How is it that you bought it and don't know?.. It's obvious to me what it is most likely. Where did you but it?

[Jim Mortimore]

Hi Ken,

I bought this bass at an antique auction in the UK. I liked the sound of it and plan to keep it set up as my main arco bass. I have no idea's what it may be other than it looks German. Any thoughts on it you'd like to share would be appreciated.

[Anselm Hauke]

looks like a brand new hungarian/romanian bass to me

[Ken Smith]

looks like a brand new hungarian/romanian bass to me


Yup, not been played before ever. And.. NOT cut down.. Just made that way to fool those with no experience looking at fakes.

I have and have had many modern basses that were antiqued to look old. Not all the people selling them sold them truthfully either.

How old does this bass really look? http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/marconcini-model/

I have two others here of that model, all of which I had made for my shop here and most guess they are 100-150 years old. Days maybe, but not years.

[Jim Mortimore]

wow, it didn't occur to me it might be a gypsy bass.

The bass does have quite a few repair patches on the inside and outside that look as if the bass has history... fooled me.

You guy are the experts so thanks for commenting on this one.

[Anselm Hauke]

but, no matter who made it and how old it is, it can also be a good instrument.
how much did you pay?

[Ken Smith]

but, no matter who made it and how old it is, it can also be a good instrument.

I had and Orchestra rehearsal tonight and I brought a recent Hungarian copy bass as well. A copy (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/marconcini-model/) of my own Marconcini (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/marconcini/). I had 3 of them made. The first one is on my website and it can pass for old. We are currently doing some modifications and repairs to it. The other two were set-up and just adjusted for playing but we didn't take these apart. I played the one in the front of the pic tonight. Next time I will try the other bass. They need to be played and already after just one rehearsal or playing, it is sounding better than it did sitting still in the rack. Enjoy your bass. :cool: