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-   -   Bass ID (http://www.smithbassforums.com//showthread.php?t=2750)

Luca Fattorini 02-15-2018 09:38 AM

Bass ID
 
6 Attachment(s)
Hi all

I found a private selling this full-size bass (114cm string lenght) just few weeks ago. There's no label inside and he doesn't know the provenance.

The bass was supposed to have been decades unplayed.

Could you help me to find the origin ?

Thanks in advance.

Ken Smith 02-15-2018 12:34 PM

This is a Low End (made on the cheap) Germanic bass, turn of the century or so, Flat back with plain woods and beech neck. Many ugly repairs but not too many of them. Over or re-varnished as well. 114cm is WAY too long for playing anything today professionally unless you are over 6 feet tall, a Giant. 107 or less should be the maximum length in my opinion.

Even if this is for free, playing this bass long term can be painful in the short and long run. Both physically and musically.

Luca Fattorini 02-15-2018 01:05 PM

Which repairs specifically ?
Could it be an old 3 strings ('cause of the scroll) ?
And which could be its value ?

Ken Smith 02-15-2018 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luca Fattorini (Post 28174)
Which repairs specifically ?
Could it be an old 3 strings ('cause of the scroll) ?
And which could be its value ?


Scroll Repaired, back repair where the neck broke out from it before, bad over varnishing, etc.. Value for a bass that no one wants to play? I don't want the bass at any price. Fixing it and making it 42" scale will cost more than the bass is worth many times over. It is just too big. 3-string basses were made into the 20th century. That means nothing. The health of the bass means a lot and the size. If too big to play comfortably, I don't see it being worth any investment at all.

Luca Fattorini 02-16-2018 08:52 AM

Ok, I understand. Unfortunately, and that's a problem, the sound is amazing.
This is really tempting...

Luca Fattorini 02-16-2018 08:55 AM

Ops, the owner made a mistake. The string lenght is 107

Ken Smith 02-16-2018 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luca Fattorini (Post 28177)
Ops, the owner made a mistake. The string lenght is 107

107 is ok but for a beginner, 103 -105 is better. Still, the repairs are not so good but if the bass is cheap, take it to a bass luthier b4 you buy it and have it checked out.

Luca Fattorini 02-16-2018 09:50 AM

A luthier checked it and told me that instrument is fine.
Is there something specifically, at your advice, that I can ask him to check again ?

Ken Smith 02-16-2018 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luca Fattorini (Post 28179)
A luthier checked it and told me that instrument is fine.
Is there something specifically, at your advice, that I can ask him to check again ?

I don't know who he is, what he sees or what he knows. The Standards here might be different than there.


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