Is my bass French or German?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by David McKinney

I'm in the process of selling a lovely bass I've had for a couple years. It was restored by Reid Hudson who identifies it as French, and a luthier I respect a lot also believes it to be French (via photos only).

However, the potential buyers who have looked at it all believe it to be German.

Would anyone here like to weigh in?

It's in excellent structural condition, and aside from the discoloration around the bridge is in great cosmetic condition as well.

Thanks for looking and sharing your thoughts.

Here are some photos:

I am curious what makes either of them think this is French?

The Gears are German and possibly the scroll. If these two are original to the bass then probably it's German. Also, basses from this period from France and almost all of the French basses never have an angled flatback. I have only seen a couple of them that had that style back and they were either very old, modified/cut or, just rare if not incorrectly attributed.

You can still respect your luthier but on this bass, I think it is German. If it is French by the other two guys please tell me from them what maker or shop made basses like this and when.

Also, on the gears, I can see these were replaced but the plugs on the pegbox are large as if to cover up holes from hatpeg gears. I have never seen a French bass with hatpegs.

The 3 main things that usually rule out a french bass from the 19th-20th century are;

1-Hatpeg gears

2-outer rib linings

3-angled flat back

Not all German basses are factory looking. Besides Germany and France, basses were also made in Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden and other surrounding countries. You almost NEVER hear anyone say they have a bass from one of these lesser known producers of string instruments.

It could be one of those rare turn of the century French basses that look German but usually it's the other way around.

[Nicholas Feigenbaum]

Beautiful bass man!