5 string neck graft or not?

[Mike Weems]

Thanks Robert that just reinforcess all the info that Ken and Arrnold came up with and Yes this bass had indeed already been converted. I will take it back to a 4-string. When it is complete I will come back to this thread and post some pics.

[Mike Weems]

Insrument come out great thanks again for the help. I have a flat back in horrific condition and not sure of it's time and origin. I will post photos soon.

[Ken Smith]

Now that I see a better pic of the top with the purfling going around, combined with that round back, I think this is possibly a Saxon Bass more so than Czech. Similar basses were made on both sides of the border but with that Purfling, I have to go with German. That purfling was done to imitate the French basses of the late 19th and more so early 20th century. I don't recall seeing any of that from the Bohemian side of the border. That is more a German bass than Bohemian with that Top and purfling style.

I would like to see the outside of the back, the upper half with the neck button. That will confirm my theory.

[Mike Weems]

Thank you so much for the info. These are the best photos that I have of this bass concerning the button. The bass was purchased just as I was finishing it so I do not have it in the shop at this time. The costumer that purchased it is coming back in, as she wants a different flavor string than I provided. I will get better close of the back at that time.

P.S. I found this forum to be invaluable.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mike Weems

Thank you so much for the info. These are the best photos that I have of this bass concerning the button. The bass was purchased just as I was finishing it so I do not have it in the shop at this time. The costumer that purchased it is coming back in, as she wants a different flavor string than I provided. I will get better close of the back at that time.

P.S. I found this forum to be invaluable.

Mike, I have what I need here to see it. The Back is not purfled around like the top. Some basses are same front and back and some not. Still, this looks like typical German work from Saxony (Markneukirchen, Klingenthal or Dresden) or Berlin, not Czech.

[Mike Weems]

That's great. I'll be able to pass that along to the new owner. I will be starting a new thread for a flat back in the next few days. It came to me from the same source and I need help identifing it's origan and time period. I was told it is German circa 1890's but I'm not so sure.