a Bass by Louis Lowendall (1842-1918)
 

I have a beautiful violin shaped model here now made in 1910. Fully Restored with C-Extension by AES NY, August 2016.


Stamped in the back of the Peg box;
-----------------------
Lowendall's

4 .........S?(can only see the 4 and the S faintly)

Grand
Concert
---.---- (design there)

Stradivarius
-----------------------
This is a 7/8ths (or 4/4 size of its time), 'BERLIN' stamped in the upper back button. Beautiful reddish brown varnish (the red well faded), with a grafted neck, original scroll with slight scars from a previous mechanical C-Extension. Wide lower bouts, deep ribs w/outer linings, slightly sloped shoulders and easy to play. Well arched round back tapered and the upper bout ribs taper towards the neck to 6 1/4" wide. Well flamed maple throughout with fine-medium grained spruce top. Deep warm tone with good projecting power.

Measurements:
String Length; 41.75"
Top; 44"
Back; 45 1/2" including button
Upper Bout; 20.25"
Middle Bout; 15.25"
Lower Bout; 27.75"
Ribs (not including plates); 8 5/8", upper bout tapers to 6.25"/Neck.

This looks to be the real deal from its period, a professional orchestra bass. For more information on L. Lowendall and his son Louis Jr., read this article from the 1893 exhibit in Chicago.

My Lowendall debut..
 

First concert was tonight (Saturday) with the Lowendall with rehearsal the night before. I have another rehearsal later today (Sunday) and one on Wednesday. So far, the bass works well on stage. The test continues.. :)

The Bass section from Left to Right; Chris Clark (Saxon bass early 20th century), Larry Jones (W.Uebel, Saxony late 19th century), Harvey Kaufman (1980 Pollmann), Ken Smith (1910 Lowendall).

after the test on a few gigs..
 

The Lowendall impressed me so much and in many ways, that I have decided to put it thru a full restoration. I dropped it off at AES in NY last Saturday. It will then likely become my main personal bass. In the mean time (4-6 months), I am using my Pollmann. (Edit: I mean the Marconcini.. no, no.. I mean the Marcucci. Back to the Italian.. lol)

shop..
 

My Bass was made here in this building but in 1910, at 121 Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin.

Fully Restored with C-Extension by AES NY, August 2016. :)

FYI, I sold my fine English bass nearly 2 years ago and replaced it with a nice Italian bass (both were my main orchestra basses at the time) and now, the Lowendall has replaced them both. I find this bass to be about as good as nearly any of the other fine English or Italian basses I have owned and used in the past.

Lowendall from Dresden
 

Ken,
Here's another Lowendall for sale, from the maker's Dresden years. Unlike yours, it has cello-like shoulders, which have been mentioned (as impediments to easy playing) in earlier posts.
The photo showing "1886" includes some letters that suggest "March."

The back (photo wouldn't upload) has impressive flame.


The luthier who has taken care of it for 30+ years replaced the bass bar and glued some cracks, and says it is in good shape.

This bass is overseas and its transport could be costly. Plus, thanks to the coronavirus there is absolutely no work now or for the foreseeable future. Shrugging shoulders and all, though, it is tempting.
May I ask how much you are asking for yours? Thanks.

Nice bass but 20-30k to cut it down and fix it properly. I can see the bass bar area is sunk in a bit there in your picture. I would suggest Robbie McIntosh for the job. He's like on of the best. He fixed my Hart top and restored my Marconcini.

I see the 1883 in the rib there, not 1886. I had something similar on my Gilkes English bass as well in the rib. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...mages/1884.jpg


Now, in talking with a few people in the business, we all agree from the varieties of basses SOLD by Lowendall that they vary so much, it is more likely that they BOUGHT the basses from Bass making shops and re-branded them.

There were some great basses makers in Germany at that time and even the Cello model that I have now seen about 4 of them, no two look the same.

Here is the inside of MY bass during restoration a few years ago which was done completely by Arnold Schnitzer himself..