Info on my 1900's German 7/8 shop bass

[Chris Brunhaver]

First post here. I just wanted to say how much I like this forum. It certainly has a very high "signal to noise ratio", as compared to other forums and is a great resource.

I am planning on selling my current double bass and was hoping for some more information and opinions etc. It is a german "shop" bass without an original label. There is a label from Hammond Ashley, where it was regraduated in 1978 which reads "circa 1900 German 7/8".

It was owned by a teacher and local symphony player who had a fingered low C extension and I've had it about 15 years.

It had some significant bumps and bruises (bassbar crack, new bass bar, a number of cracks in the top on the lower right bout, broken neck block) from an accident (before I owned in and one during when I owned it but was expertly restored by Sarah Balmforth, here in the Seattle area and has been solid since (even living in Northern Nevada for 7 years).

I was a bit curious about what went on with the scroll, which I've attached a picture of the back of. Was this just cracked and glued or was it grafted or something?

It has a round back and gamba corners. Measurements are are a 43.25" string length, 45" body length, ~27.5" lower bout, ~21" upper bout, 7.5" lower ribs, ~7" upper ribs, and a D neck.

Sound-wise, the bass has a huge low end (everything for the A down to the low C really resonates the floor) and a fairly mellow upper range.

I know this is a common question, but are there any clues as to which shop this came out of (by the attached pictures)? It looks quite a bit like Ken's morelli but with a different purfling pattern near the button. Maybe a Wilfer? It looks a lot like this bass: http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=477

On sound alone, I think would be a $15,000 bass, but due to the unknown origin and repair work I was looking to get more like $12,000. I took it to Hammond Ashley and they suggested I take it to Roberson's, Cincinnati bass cellar or David Gage to sell it but I didn't particularly want to ship it that far or pay a 25% commission.

Does this sound reasonable to sell online or should I reconsider that? Any other comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris



http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6066/sideyt.jpg



http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/7...dextension.jpg



http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2574/backdixo.jpg



http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4581/frontahc.jpg



http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/6...ckofscroll.jpg