German Shop bass circo 1900?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by John Romey

Yes this is the first one. I bought two this summer and one is still being restored.

Yup - Viennese Contra bass or Violone had frets - comes from the hybrid gamba/violin origins! A lot of fun!

That bass thing is out of tune. Look at the spacings.

[John Romey]

you mean the frets? If so yeh they are movable... I move them every time I tune - and when I put the bass on the stand the frets often get moved...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by John Romey

you mean the frets? If so yeh they are movable... I move them every time I tune - and when I put the bass on the stand the frets often get moved...

And then the frets were removed and the Simandl method moved in..

[John Romey]

almost - bow changed a bit and the tuning too obviously