My "new" Tyrolean/German bass:

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Juras

The back does not appear to be original to me. I have not often seen tightly flamed maple like this in a double bass. The color is slightly different than the sides(which also have a nice figure to them).

Another of the top:

Ok, do two things on the Back issues. Measure the purfling on the Top and see if it is identical. Then get a UV/black light and look over the bass in the dark and see if the opaque colors are the same on the back, ribs and scroll. You will see repairs and some purple from touch-up but check the hue between those areas. Look at the top as well. The varnish under uv looks closer on the top than under the eye.

I have seen many many basses with high tight flame from all over Germany from north to south of that country from about a century or two back. The back is a 'slip match', not a book match. This is more of a hand made instrument than a factory bass from looking at the back which shows repairs consistent with its age.

Scroll Pics? All sides please.