Quote:
Originally Posted by Sid Sagee
Hey Ken
Thanks for your info but this bass is from the 1800's. A few reputable luthiers, one here in Canada and one in Italy have seen the bass and mentioned that it was most probably from the 1800s and worth about $25,000. I still have to find an expert evaluator to hopefully find out the maker and its exact age. The bass is a 7/8 size.
Cheers
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Naa, I don't see that at all. The scroll and tuners are 20th century. The Top of the bass looks like others I have seen from c.1900-1930s.
When basses like this get played and travel around, they get old fast. Finer handmade basses stay loner with each owner and seem to stay in good health like being used in an Orchestra hall for 10-40 years or so and not knocked around as much.
I doubt there is an actual maker for this bass or others like it as these are made in shops with many workers and out workers.
Look at my Lowendall if you get a chance. 1910 and has been repaired all over the top. The roundback is many times more durable and healthier than if it were a thin flatback. Construction matters as does the care of a bass.
If you go to sell this bass to a dealer, see how fast their opinions will change as well as the price.
Here are some German Basses of mine and maybe a Czech or two to compare ages and wear.
http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=2450
http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=2635
http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=2666
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ian/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ner/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ack/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...man/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ert/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ald/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ead/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...bel/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double.../tyrolean.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...ina/index.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...gue/index.html
These are just a few of the basses I have sold or still have (a few in stock). I have seen many many more. When you buy your bass from a shop, the appraisals are often way inflated to justify what you paid. Try getting 25l or even half of that for you bass and see what happens. Unless it is something special, you wont see that kind of money.
When you buy a diamond ring, they give you an appraisal for much more. If that value is true, then why was it sold for less from the shop?
It is easy to get caught up in values when you get a bass but like I said before, unless it is something special, big prices are not easy to get.
Some of the more common looking Flatbacks I have sold were in the 3-5k range. Why? Well, there are very common and also they need a lot of repairs. Take for instance that neck repair on the back of your bass. Is it grafted inside the back far down so that it holds the neck like an intact unbroken back button area does? Right there, that's a huge expense to re-do if not expertly done structurally as well as cosmetically. Looks alone does not make a healthy instrument!
Oh, and 7/8ths size? Basses in Europe IF sized like commercial German/Czech basses are 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4. There are no 5/8ths or 7/8ths basses, UNTIL they hit North America. Then, they are re-sized for marketing. 1/2 becomes 5/8 because no one wants a 1/2 size and 4/4 becomes 7/8 because 4/4 is too big. lol.. Same bass, new size!
