[Brian Casey]

Thanks Ken and Joel.

Ken - I knew you'd appreciate the historical text I found. I was impressed to find it too, and was happy to be reminded of the WPA Federal Writers' Project. I can't help but wonder if there are funds out there for a contemporary version. I think they should interview you in your shop, Ken, and Arnold too, of course.

I'll go ahead and divulge the final price, since it was posted on Craigslist here locally - and was the same price as the Jaeger the same person is still selling: $5700. He mentioned that was his break-even point, having had a bunch of repairs done to it over the several years he had owned it.

I appreciate what you're saying about the three significant things going for this bass. For me, what sold me on it in the first place is the sound. I've been auditioning basses in this vein for several years now, between searching for the jazz bass that became the Pfretzschner I have now and leading up to me buying this one. This one has a big, booming and fast-speaking sound that I hadn't heard in any other bass near it's price range. Because of the graduation of the top, it has that 'boooom' when you thump on the top, as opposed to the deep 'thud' I get from my other bass with the same pressure. Ken - you mentioned during my earlier seach that would be the case with many of these shop basses; that the tops were thicker than they might otherwise be coming into the US. I'm now wondering if I should consider having the top on my other bass graduated. If that's the cause for the difference in sound, it would be a good idea. Still pondering that. Anyway, thanks for all the sage words - and I encourage anyone else to join the conversation. To me, this post is a prime example of the good that Ken is doing by hosting this site and responding so thoroughly to all the threads.

And Joel - I appreciate your perspective. I think I got a great bass at any price, and that's what really counts. I think I could move it without a financial loss if I had to, but I don't intend to any time soon. In another year or so, I'll probably be on the lookout again for the next big thing. For now, and into the future, though, I'm very happy with what I've got. That 2001 Christopher has landed in my (finished) basement, where it will stay until I can find a future owner or student who may want to borrow it until they can get their own instrument. I don't expect to be playing it much anymore when I have these two well-trained, 70+ year old fellows around to make music on.

- brian