Tyrol, bohemian , German?

[Ken Smith]

The best of luck to you and your new bass. It's always best for the bass to find a new home.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

Carlos, do you know if your bass has an integral bass bar or not. I have just begun restoration on a 7/8 that fits the description of the lowest model-the purflingless one that Ken describes. Mine has an integral bass bar. The top looks like it has kept it shape, so I am wanting to leave it in-Any suggestions from anyone? I am encouraged that mine has a possibility of sounding better than I anticipated. Thanks

NO! Scrape it out. It is NOT a Bassbar. It only 'looks' like one. The shape is good by luck, not by design. Make it into a real bass with a proper 'Bar and all the correct blocks, neck stand, angle etc.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

Ken, are these so-called integral bars---should they always be scraped out? Or, does a new bar installed always help the bass, if so, how? Just trying to learn something here- thanks

If the 'Bar is part of the Top then it doesn't function like a Bar either. Also, do not spring the Bar when you put the real one in. Arnold can explain it better than I can but a chunk of wood left in the Top does not act like a real bass-bar does in just about every-way. You are not putting in a 'new' bar. You are putting in its 'first' bar. It never had one!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

okay, thanks Ken-Yes, I have already learned my lesson on the springing-in

Arnold, no hurry, but if you have the time-please explain

Anyone else have any experience or words of wisdom about removing an "integral bar" and installing a new bass bar? Is there a big difference?
thanks

What, don't you trust me? Can you count on your fingers the number of Luthiers that RUIN basses with bad bass bars or sprung in or integral left in?

Trust me when I tell you that I cannot count the number of basses that have gone thru my hands. Now you just need to do it and/or learn how to. There is no other option as far as repairing the bass and making it right as far as I can see.

If Arnold has time I am sure he will try to explain it. Right now he has to finish the C extension on my big English Bass (Panormo School), pour the top mold for the Storioni and get that bass going and completed this year and then finish one of his basses so he can start the copy bass and finish that as well b4 x-mas. I will be a very very happy man if all goes as planned. .. Then, he can log on and answer questions... lol

Practice practice practice..

[Charles A Thomas]

I have a GA Pfretzschner that is currently under the knife. It had an integeral bass bar which was removed. I wasn't sure it was the thing to do and had to decide whether or not to do it. Turns out there was a crack along side the bass bar so it had to come out, dumb you can be, luck you gotta have. I don't know if it means anything, but the purfling on the back has the same shape, elongated teardrop, I think it is from that same period, it is definatly a Pfretzschner though, it has football shaped stamp inside with makers name

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Charles A Thomas

I have a GA Pfretzschner that is currently under the knife. It had an integeral bass bar which was removed. I wasn't sure it was the thing to do and had to decide whether or not to do it. Turns out there was a crack along side the bass bar so it had to come out, dumb you can be, luck you gotta have. I don't know if it means anything, but the purfling on the back has the same shape, elongated teardrop, I think it is from that same period, it is definatly a Pfretzschner though, it has football shaped stamp inside with makers name

Do you know what a Pfretzschner actually is? It can be any bass that the importer stuck that label in. I have seen many and they were not all the same except for the label, made in USA! The label that is.

Integral Bar? YES, it's not a real bar so get it shaved out and put a real bar in to save the bass. How was the crack fixed under the bar area?

[Charles A Thomas]

No, I don't claim to know anything about the history of this bass, I wish I did. I do know what a good stringbass sounds like. I have the bass in the shop of Robert Ross in Denver CO. I believe him to be a compitent repairman. He has sent me pictures of his progress, the ribs were shortend, and new block on lower bout, he has cleated some cracks on bass bar side of lower bout rib, he has leveled a sag in the top under g-string side of bridge, he has splined a open crack and it looks like all cleats have been replaced. The bass bar has been removed and some over thickness has been changed. The last time I talked to him he said he added some spruce to the area where the sag was. I went on his advice to do the work on this bass, I am hopefull on the outcome.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Charles A Thomas

I have a GA Pfretzschner that is currently under the knife. I don't know if it means anything, but the purfling on the back has the same shape, elongated teardrop, I think it is from that same period, it is definatly a Pfretzschner though, it has football shaped stamp inside with makers name

Just to be clear tell me which of the three designs are on the back of your bass and also how close to the one you pick is yours? Similar or exact!



I assume it's 1 or 2 but posted the last one which is also a common type design on the backs of German and Germanic style Czech basses as well.

The first is typical of north and east Germany and the second is usually from the Tirol German region.