Care to venture an opinion on origin?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Brian Glassman

Ken, not sure if you saw my question about origin the the integral bass bar thread so I'm posting it here.

I've been told German perhaps 1920's and there is a small stamp/imprint in the lower bout rib near the end pin that reads GERMANY.

It used to have typical individual hat-peg style tuners.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10778581..._03caQxLqZzwE#

Thnx, BG

Oh, ok. I didn't think there was any question on that at all in your last thread. The period seems right, between the two wars. The scroll button to me suggests The German/Bohemian border area and shop made. The button being hand carved as it looks slightly off center.

On the integral bar area, don't look so deep on that factor alone. This is something done for hundreds or years. I have even seen it on an Italian bass once. It's a shortcut that needs to be corrected before it causes self damage. If the bar wasn't important, why did they leave a chunk of wood pretending it had one? Over time, the pressure from the bridge will move the wood to sink or crack. One good thing maybe is that with an integral bar, there is no 'spring' in it. A bar well fitted with no spring set across the grain slightly and towards the outer lower bout will help spread the sound better across the top while supporting it. From what I have seen, 'springing' the bar only creates tension in the top that will eventually cause it to sink or implode. I see nothing at all good about a bar being 'sprung in'.

Your 1920s German origin seems spot on.