A Pfretzschner in the hand...(AKA the Farm Wife)

[Mark Plummer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Some of these shop basses regardless of the label are very good basses indeed. Not necessarily professional orchestra quality but good for most other things professionally or otherwise.

That's what the luthier said, good jazz bass, probably not a good orchestral bass. Fine by me.

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Fix the Bass, play the Bass and enjoy the Bass. That's what I will suggest at this point.

That's the plan, the cost of gettng her up and playing is very reasonable, so i don't think I can go wrong. Thanks for your opinions and advise. I'll post the "after" pics.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mark Plummer

That's what the luthier said, good jazz bass, probably not a good orchestral bass. Fine by me.




That's the plan, the cost of gettng her up and playing is very reasonable, so i don't think I can go wrong. Thanks for your opinions and advise. I'll post the "after" pics.

Please post all the dimensions of the bass (in INCHES!). Then when the Top is off, have him measure all the graduations of both the Top and back thicknesses. I have the Morelli completely re-graduated and IT turned into a GREAT Orchestra Bass. You could use THAT Bass in the NY Philharmonic or any other professional top notch orchestra. If the wood is good and the model is good and the Bass is well repaired, it can be improved in most cases. I have lost count how many de-commissioned Basses I have brought back to life and everyone better than anyone in our lifetime (just about..) has seen or heard the particular Bass.

I am 100% FOR restoring good candidates. GOOD, is the key work there as some Basses can cost more in the end to fix than they are worth fully restored.

[Mark Plummer]

Measurements (in inches, I think I've measured it right)

Full Height - 71
Body Height - 43.5
Scale - 41.5 (per luthier)
Upper bout - 20
Lower bout - 25
Waist - 15.75 (at the bridge)
Rib depth - 8.25

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mark Plummer

Measurements (in inches, I think I've measured it right)

Full Height - 71
Body Height - 43.5
Scale - 41.5 (per luthier)
Upper bout - 20
Lower bout - 25
Waist - 15.75 (at the bridge)
Rib depth - 8.25

Body measured from saddle to the Tip by the neck?
Ribs measured with or without the top and back? Should be rib material only!
Waist measurement should be measured across the narrowest part.
Width measurements should be measured across the Top and not the back using the widest at the upper and lower portions and most narrow in the center.
Basses with a wider waist will need a taller bridge to clear the center bout edges when Bowing. Basses with wider upper bouts will need a bigger neck stand to play over the shoulders in thumb position.

Either way, this is a regular modern 3/4 Bass. I will guess now that it might be a 'D' neck but you will have to string it up to be sure. Most earlier German Basses pre/post wwI had longer string lengths. It was not uncommon to see 43" s.l. on a 3/4 Bass and 44" on a 7/8 (4/4) model. As I guessed before even without the #s, these measurements indicate to me a post wwII Bass.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Yup, German shop bass. I'd guess between the two WW's. One thing that strikes me as especially nice is the carving work on the back of the scroll. Is the neck maple or beech?

Nice Score!

[Mark Plummer]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Is the neck maple or beech?
Nice Score!

Neck is Maple.

Went to the luthier today!!!!!

Now the waiting begins.....

[Mark Plummer]

Update!

Spoke with the Luthier today, top is off, ribs are repaired, ETA.


May


He's apparently swamped and I'm in no hurry, soooooo, he'll work on it as he gets time.