Italian or fake (hungarian)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Gunter Grass

well, thats a clear message. not even an old fake.
it´s discusting how many fakes of old basses are floating around.
i had hope that it could be a simply build old bass, but i was wrong.
thank you very much for sharing your experience.

I have seen here in USA fakes selling for $25,000, $50,000 and even heard of one that was $160,000 where the customer though they bought a real famous made old bass. I think if you cross the street with a red light against you, the punishment is more than selling a fake bass. No one I know has gone to Jail yet but I know some of the dealers that sell these fakes. I have had them myself and sold them as new-made basses, antiqued to look old and at a reasonable price for the bass what it was. They can sound good but we had to restore and repair them here first before selling.

[Gunter Grass]

well, i am happy i have not bought it. i think another problem is, that some people (including me) are hoping to find some treasure hidden somewhere and making a great deal, but you have to be more than lucky finding a rare bass for a few hundred bucks.

anyway, hope never dies i guess!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Gunter Grass

well, i am happy i have not bought it. i think another problem is, that some people (including me) are hoping to find some treasure hidden somewhere and making a great deal, but you have to be more than lucky finding a rare bass for a few hundred bucks.

anyway, hope never dies i guess!

More basses, even real ones that are old are more often sold as a more famous maker than the bass actually is. Then there are the dealers, some of them the same on occasion, that just come up with never before seen basses from famous makers as well. Like you said, as if hidden away in time till now.

If you believe that, I have a winning Lottery ticket I will sell you for half price.

[Martin Sheridan]

Just came across this thread. Antiquing a bass is not the same as trying to pass it off as old. Did the seller say it was old? Was the seller himself knowledgeable? Too me it looks like the bass was just stained with a very dark oil bass stain. Old basses look much different and it may take you awhile to learn how to see them. They will usually have many old cracks in the top and the sides especially at the bottom bouts. If it's a flat back it will often have old cracks in the back. As wood ages it turns brown and the older it is the darker it is. Plus both inside and outside it going to pick up a lot of dirt. The bass you picture is a new bass with a stain and some shading.

There are contemporary makers who can do a really good job distressing and instrument to look old. Many of these makers have seen the originals and might even have one in their shop. I know of no American maker who is trying to make fakes.

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[Gunter Grass]

dear folks,

somebody offered me another bass. the seller told me that this is an old italian or english bass. again, i am not sure if this is a fake. very hard to tell!
to me it definetly looks old, but the back of the bass looks a little strange?
i would be thankfull for any ideas or identification-marks! my eyes are not experienced enough to really tell.

thank you in advance!

[Gunter Grass]

here is more:

[Ken Smith]

This bass has the same type of work as the other. Possibly the same guy in Hungary made both. If the bass is not close to $100k-$400k and has some history of where it has been and who played it, it is not an old Italian or English bass. Old basses don't just pop up from no where.

Now, I have seen a few, bought and sold a few and even have a few old looking recently made basses. I sell them as new basses that are made to look old but never represent them as being old. If you like the bass and it sounds good, buy it at the right price. But, don't go thinking that you might have a Busan or Goffriller for a steal at 1/10th the price.

One of the best restorers and makers in Europe is now also working in his 2nd Berlin shop as well as in Hungary, back and forth. Raez Barnabez. He is one of the guys that can tell what is fake or not because he knows the guys in Hungary that are doing this kind of work. Ask him!