Wreck of an old Yankee
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Ken,
I sent these pictures to Arnold and borrowed his reply for the title of this posting. Sadly, it would cost a fortune to restore this bass and they're asking $7,800! Michael |
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So, what did you want to discuss about this? |
More pictures
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I thought I'd share the pictures in the off chance it might be rescued by some idealist with deep pockets or the required skills. It is a smallish bass (they're calling it a church bass) but with a pretty big sound.
It's in Dover NH |
I have photos and measurements on the way. The clerk I spoke with claimed it had been "verified" (as what, he declined to say) and dropped the asking price by almost a grand during our five-minute phone conversation.
Looks like a neat little old bass. If only the decimal place in the asking price wasn't so far off to the right... |
$?
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From the pictures I can't tell if it's Yankee or Bohemian bass. I have not seen many Yankee basses with a round back. That wood also looks more European than the maples I have seen on Yankee Basses. I don't know what it is but looking at the condition, I can tell you that it is more expensive to restore than it might be worth in the end if done properly. If it was a small Italian bass it might be worth it, but it's not Italian. Buying an unknown Germanic style instrument (Yankee or Bohemian) of a small stature in poor condition can be a huge risk. Spending money on basses like this can turn deep pockets into no pockets as well as loosing your shirt, not just your pants, so be careful! |
The shop (assuming I called the right one, there are two in Dover) is calling it a Mittenwalder and gave the overall length as 72" and the lower bout width as 24". If they are correct about what it is, it's horrendously overpriced.
EDIT -- Whatever it is, it's blockless and has had a hard life. Anyone interested in hosting the photos I was sent? I'm on paternity leave and won't be near a computer for a good long while. |
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I think the store owner will be looking at this bass for a long time if he wants more than $4k for it. There may be scary things inside, too but it would be a nice instrument for someone. I made a brief video playing it so send me your e-mail in a PM and I'll send it. Michael |
?$
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Some better shots of the scroll would also help. On the value, if this is a mid-late 19th century German or Danish bass from the Hamburg region (which some parts were formerly in the Danish kingdom) then it would be priced in the mid-teens at best IF fully restored (for about that much or close to it!), a string length of at least 40" and a sound that can be used in both a collegiate level orchestra and suitable for solos and auditions. Also, possibly used for a jazz player that will pay this much for a bass that probably needs amplification. It is risky even if it is a good bass or even a pedigree that can be named but would be a little known maker. So, like I suspected, this is probably NOT a Yankee bass. |
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