Bohemian Bass

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

My bass is what it is. I figured it to be a shop bass. In fact, it is similar to my Juzek labeled bass except for the Eb neck and shorter neck stand and much plainer wood. The neck measurements, in fact, seem to be identical. But, for jazz, it sounds really good (which is why I bought it) and records really well and I know this from playing lots of basses upwards into the $20's (Arnold's Ergo bass, for one, which I loved and thought sounded fantastic). If you feel my post should be in the 20th Century area of the forum, fine by me, and thanks for your time on this.

Well this Bass is on the fence as far as date and style. That's why I posted the Thread up to 1920 to cover the earlier 20th century Shop Basses and Blockless wonders as they are old Basses now, just not the handmade ones. This Thread is fine where it is. I did move one other Thread there but I would think that people here read everything so it doesn't matter much as long as it's close..

[stan haskins]

good thread - this is why I followed Ken over here, too . . .

Hey, Ken - I love the look of all those handmade Bohemians you posted. The bottom one (the fiver) looks a little off-kilter, like the shoulder on the bass side is higher than the shoulder on the treble side. Is that just a trick of the photograph, or is that on purpose - and if so, what purpose do you think it serves? (I imagine, if anything, it would make the bass harder to play . . .)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by stan haskins

good thread - this is why I followed Ken over here, too . . .

Hey, Ken - I love the look of all those handmade BOhemians you posted. The bottom one (the fiver) looks a little off-kilter, like the shoulder on the bass side is higher than the shoulder on the treble side. Is that just a trick of the photograph, or is that on purpose - and if so, what purpose do you think it serves? (I imagine, if anything, it would make the bass harder to play . . .)

I don't know. I just 'borrowed' those shots from a few websites in Europe namely Contrabass Shoppe, World of Basses and B.Kort. Maybe it was made or later cut like that. It's common to see cut-down Basses with uneven shoulders. I see it all the time and it is either done for the player or an accident of some sort. Just a guess on my part.

[Ken Smith]

here's what I believe to be a 19th century Bohemian Bass.