Your thoughts about this bass

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Van Basten

Hello,

Does anyone have any comments this bass?
The label states "Johann Radeck Bürger", the seller says it's Austrian and he bought it from a Hungarian musician. Asking price is 3200$

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37572284@N08

Any thoughts about the structural quality, guessed value, age, ... are welcome.

Any ideas why there is a horizontal seam on the back?

Thx in advance!

Bob

I looked at the bass and it looks like a modern/recently made Romanian/Hungarian (aka Gypsy) Bass that was antiqued in the making.

Austrian bass from a Hungarian musician?.. lol.. THAT is the smoking gun in two ways at least.

Let me explain why to you and anyone else running into these scams.

First off, unless that maker is currently making Basses, he does not and did not exist before 1960. There are two famous names used here as one that once did exist centuries ago and they are Radeck (Vienna) and Bürger (Germany 17 c.). There is a name like you list (Vienna, 1778-1797 or 1803) but the ', Burgerl' (with an L) is after the name like a place or something (on a facimle label in the Javolec book). It is very common for these Gypsy 'fakers' to mis-spell names. They most often do unless they directly copy a label. They usually copy a Bass or a label or both but often make some kind of mistake that screams out FAKE at least to the trained eye.

Ok, here is what's wrong that stands out with this bass and the statement.

There were never any basses made in Austria or Veinna that I have seen with Violin corners. If so, please show me one.

Second, the way these guys work in Hungry is they buy usually a Bass or Violin in Romania and then in Hungry, out of work Musicians combined with 'Jointers' (cabinet makers?) will antique them in every way possible including breaking and fixing them to look old. The bass looks like it has never been played. The wear is often in areas that do not get worn when playing. It is simple math. If you can't figure how it can be worn where it is and not where it isn't, then walk the other way!

Romanian/Hungarion fakes today is a HUGE business. Don't be a victum. If the Bass is nice, pay only a fair price for it as a new bass that is antiqued. Sometimes they need to be totally re-built internally so that makes it not such a good deal.