Oldest and Finest Plywood/Laminated bass I have ever seen..

[Ken Smith]

I just got this bass in and the details are beyond what I have seen in the past. It was probably made in Schonbach (W.Bohemia), but had an old faded squarish sticker that has "Ma..........." on the top line and "........any" on the bottom, hence 'Made in Germany' which is probably where it sold from, c.1920-1930 estimated.
The ebony strips across the neck heel runs 'under' the outer linings, the Purfling is inlaid about 1.5mm deep and the gears and gear plates are nicely engraved and etched but looks handmade. The Scroll button is also typical for this region. The bass seems to be 3-plys with no delamination anywhere, made with flame maple outer lam's for the back and ribs, the top outer layer is vertical spruce and the neck/scroll is beechwood. The back is round with an angle break like a Panormo or old Italian bass. String length with a proper bridge is over 42" and a D-Eb heel.

Have you ever seen a laminated bass this old or this fine before regardless of its condition?

This Bass has been SOLD.

[FrankDeets]

I had a bass from moennig and sons made in 1933 of that exact model type but it wasnt made of plywood. but the design is the exact same. For my bass I know that the parts were made in Germany then shipped to the luthier and then assembled. kool find!

[Ken Smith]

I had a bass from moennig and sons made in 1933 of that exact model type but it wasnt made of plywood. but the design is the exact same. For my bass I know that the parts were made in Germany then shipped to the luthier and then assembled. kool find!

I think my bass was either from Benedict Lang (I) or Karl Hofner, both from Schonbach at the German/Czech border.

I am pretty sure these basses were exported fully made and varnished but the strings slackened or off the bass and bridge not on as well. Sometimes the seams were opened at the bottom to let the bass move and adjust so it doesn't crack on the carved basses.

[Richard Simon]

Ken,

The design on the back of your bass looks identical to mine (below).

- edges around f-holes are blackened, so you can't see ply or no ply
- it's a flatback
- label reads: "Made in Czecho Slovakia" and "Antonius Stradivarius copy"
- as the photo of the top shows, the grain is pretty wide
- neck is new; old one broke in shipping
- two long cracks on top, not aesthetically repaired but holding together

Would one assume correctly that this bass is also laminated?
Also, can you tell approx. the year or the decade it was made?

Thank you.
-richard

[Ken Smith]

Ken,

The design on the back of your bass looks identical to mine (below).

- edges around f-holes are blackened, so you can't see ply or no ply
- it's a flatback
- label reads: "Made in Czecho Slovakia" and "Antonius Stradivarius copy"
- as the photo of the top shows, the grain is pretty wide
- neck is new; old one broke in shipping
- two long cracks on top, not aesthetically repaired but holding together

Would one assume correctly that this bass is also laminated?
Also, can you tell approx. the year or the decade it was made?

Thank you.
-richard

The "Czecho Slovakia" ma,e/country was formed after WWI, so after 1918/1919. So, it has to date after that. I think shortly after the war labels were written as "Czechoslovakia", one word, not two. So I would date this bass closer to the first war, maybe 1920-30's or so.

On the back design, it is not exactly the same but similar, as seen on many basses made on both sides of the German/Czech border. More then one shop used this design, usually a Bohemian Crest or Blume/Flower as I have been told by one person at the current Hofner company in Germany (northern Bavaria?) that originated from the border in Schoenbach.

On the laminated part, Plywood does not crack like that. Spruce does, so your Top is probably a carved Spruce top. On the back however, I think it could be plywood but you can look all around the edges and find at least one spot that shows the grain either crossing the edge or showing 2 of more lines making up the laminates for the back. Most plywood backs are round/molded but it would be cheaper to make it flat with an upper bend. The Ribs as the C-Bout joints can be examined in the same manner.

On the "Strad." part of the label, LOL. Strad. never made doubles basses but there were two bass gambas he made, smaller than a Cello and at lease one of them were modified with added wood into the Cello shape retaining its original flatback. You might as well have Hamburgers or Cheese steaks say 'copy of Strad. as he may have made those as well! :rolleyes:

[Richard Simon]

Ken,
The edges "seam" to tell the story:
- spruce top
- laminated back - flat, with upper slope

After buying (and selling) a number of decent Kays recently - uncomfortable with their skinny necks - I think this Czecho could be the indoor/outdoor bass for jazz I've been looking for. Plays well with others, using Spiro mittels and an Underwood p/u.

Lastly: do tuning plates or keys or gears afford any additional clues as to country of origin or date?

Thanks for sharing your insights.

[Ken Smith]

Lastly: do tuning plates or keys or gears afford any additional clues as to country of origin or date?

Thanks for sharing your insights.

On the tuners/plates, to a degree. Aside from being cleaned and polished, gears like this are are usually pre WWII.

You can find gears like these on many German and Czech basses. They just buy and use them. Also, some gears can show up on basses that were made after the gear company stopped using them if there were lying around for a few years afterwards as well.